ABOUT US

Foreign Candy began in 1976 when a high school German teacher in Hull, Iowa, started importing gummies as a classroom fundraiser. What started small quickly grew into a company known for bold innovation. We created Black Forest Gummies® and Mega Warheads®, two brands that became household names, and we continue to lead with favorites like Rips®, Rip ROLLS®, AfterShocks®, PIP squeaks SURPRISE®, Eiffel bonbons®, and a large variety of Kids Novelties. Produced around the globe, Foreign Candy remains a proven innovator in flavor, fun, and novelty.

In the summer of 1976, Peter W. De Yager, a high school German teacher, began taking his students abroad to experience the language and culture they were studying. During one trip to Germany, the group toured a gummy bear factory—and an idea was born. The students decided to sell gummy bears as a fundraiser to help pay for the next summer’s trip. The candy was a hit.

Seeing the opportunity, Peter thought, why not sell gummy bears to German Clubs across the country? It became the perfect project for his wife, Betsy, to run from their home while giving German students nationwide a new fundraising tool. The idea took off.

By 1980, the business had grown so much that Peter resigned from teaching. Their home could no longer contain the operation, so a new facility was built—and quickly doubled in size. Around this time, the Profit Potentials Company, a division of The Foreign Candy Company, Inc., was launched to sell domestic fundraising candies to groups nationwide.

In 1982, The Foreign Candy Company, Inc. was officially incorporated. Just a year later, the business expanded beyond fundraising and entered the wholesale market by developing the Black Forest® gummy trademark, which helped introduce gummies to American retail shelves. Building on that success, Foreign Candy went on to create Mega Warheads® Sour Candies, another brand that became a pop-culture phenomenon and solidified the company’s reputation as an innovator.

Though those early brands later moved on to new ownership, they solidified Foreign Candy’s reputation as a trendsetter. The company continued to innovate with enduring favorites, including:

• Rips® and Rip ROLLS® – a new twist on licorice with bold flavors and sour sugar.
• AfterShocks® – popping candy with an unforgettable, long-lasting crackle.
• PIP squeaks SURPRISE® – playful candy paired with collectible fun.
• Eiffel bonbons® – a sweet nod to classic French flavors.
• Endless kids’ novelty brands – from bubble gum sticks to quirky surprises, always designed to delight and entertain.

While production happens worldwide, every product remains an exclusive Foreign Candy brand, developed and nurtured by the company.

Today, Foreign Candy continues its legacy of innovation—delivering playful, high-quality, and imaginative candy experiences that keep surprising kids and the young at heart.