Andes Candies

Andes Candies is an American confectionery brand best known for chocolate candies with a mint flavor. Its signature product, Andes Mints, generally uses a green package and a layered format that places mint-flavored filling between two layers of chocolate. The candies are sold as after-dinner treats, packaged snacks, and baking ingredients. The brand's history is commonly traced to 1921, when it was founded in the United States by Andrew Kanelos. Andes developed from a confectionery business into a mass-market packaged candy brand. In 2000, Andes Candies was acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries and became part of that company's portfolio of confectionery brands. Today, Andes operates primarily in the United States through Tootsie Roll Industries' manufacturing, sales, and distribution network, with mint chocolate remaining its central brand positioning. Publicly verifiable information about the company's early operations, complete product range, and some historical details is limited.

The history of Andes Candies is generally traced to 1921, when the business was founded in the United States by Andrew Kanelos. It began as a confectionery manufacturing and sales operation. As the packaged-candy market developed, Andes established a distinctive position around the combination of chocolate and mint, with Andes Mints becoming its best-known product. The product uses small individually wrapped pieces and a chocolate-and-mint layered format, making it suitable both as an after-dinner candy and as an ingredient in home baking and desserts. During the latter part of the twentieth century, Andes expanded from a more specialized confectionery business into a packaged candy brand serving the broader American market. In 2000, Tootsie Roll Industries acquired Andes Candies, adding it to the company's confectionery portfolio. After the acquisition, Andes continued to be marketed under its own name, with mint chocolate remaining central to its products and visual identity. Reliable public information about the company's earliest locations, detailed product development, and the terms of the acquisition is limited, so additional claims are not included here.

• 2000

  Acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries

  Andes Candies was acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries and subsequently became part of its portfolio of candy brands.

• 1921

  Brand founded

  According to public brand materials, Andes Candies was founded in the United States by Andrew Kanelos.

An American mass-market candy brand centered on the mint-and-chocolate combination, positioned as an after-dinner candy, an everyday snack, and a baking ingredient.

• Andes Mints

  Andes' signature product line uses a layered chocolate-and-mint format and is commonly sold as individually wrapped small pieces. It is marketed both as an after-dinner candy and everyday snack, and is also used in baking, cookies, and desserts. It is the product line most strongly associated with the Andes brand.