Heritage Sweets

Buttered brazils, fourpence a quarter pound at Woolworths in the 1910s

Our American parent first sold weigh-out sweets in 1886. At 5c per quarter our sweets were under a quarter of the price in rival stores. Frank Woolworth bought candy in huge quantities and from day one chose only "hygienic factories" with proven manufacturing processes.

In Britain we've sold pic'n'mix since our first day in 1909, though the brand name wasn't used until the 1950s.

American stores always featured a window display of pic'n'mix on Saturdays in the period 1886 to 1939

Weigh-out sweets ever since 1909

A weigh-out sweets display from the 1930s features in the Museum of London. (Image courtesy Museum of London) The first store in Liverpool's weigh-out sweets included fudge, marshmallows, wrapped butterscotch squares, fruit drops, licquorice allsorts, buttered brazils, peppermints and jellies. They have all been in the range ever since. Prices varied from 2d to 4d per quarter (approx 125g for between 1p and 2p); customers point out their selections to an assistant who used a stainless steel scoop to put the sweets in a bag before weighing them. Surplus sweets were packed into bags and sold pre-packed as a special.

All time favourite sellers

The all-time favourite brand-name for Pic'n'Mix sweets is 'Milady', who made a wide range of flavoured toffees always accompanied by their bright purple lady logo. Peanut brittle was also a special favourite for many years, alongside fruit thins and everton mints.

Until the 1960s we used to roast peanuts on the premises and stores 1-1000 all included a chimney in the ceiling for this. Since then the favourites have included Coconut Sandwiches and Rainbow Jellies from South Africa and Cabury's Chocolate Eclairs and Pascal's Fruit Bonbons.

 Milady branded sweets are the all time best-seller. Their reps used to set up window displays like this at the slightest invitation. This one is from 1933.

Candy counters in an American store in the 1900s