California Loses Piece of Confectionery History as 100-Year-Old Candy Factory Shuts Down
The Bay Area’s confectionery landscape is set to change dramatically with the imminent closure of Annabelle Candy Factory, a beloved institution known for its iconic Rocky Road candy bar. The Hayward-based company, with roots stretching back to the early 20th century, will shut down operations on September 27, ending a sweet era in California’s culinary history.
Promise Confections CEO Michael T. McGee submitted a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) to the California Employment Development Department, citing a lack of “financial sustainability” as the primary reason for the closure.
The shuttering will result in the layoff of 43 employees, including 17 production workers, marking the end of a significant chapter in the region’s manufacturing sector.
Annabelle Candy Factory’s story is deeply intertwined with California’s immigrant history. Founded by Russian immigrant Sam Altshuler in 1917, the business began as a street vendor operation on San Francisco’s Market Street. The company’s growth led to the opening of a factory in San Francisco around 1952, named after Altshuler’s daughter. By the 1960s, the expanding business had relocated to Hayward.