Dots

Dots, also marketed under the name Mason Dots and trademarked as DOTS, is an American gumdrop candy brand. The product was introduced in 1945 by Mason and became part of the Tootsie Roll Industries portfolio in 1972, when Tootsie Roll acquired the Mason Division of Candy Corporation of America. Before that transaction, Dots had been manufactured by companies associated with the Mason business, including the AU and Magenheimer confectionery operations in New York. The core product is a soft, chewy, fruit-flavored gumdrop with a compact rounded shape and a glossy appearance. The Original Dots assortment traditionally includes cherry, lemon, lime, orange, and strawberry. The brand has also used extensions to broaden its flavor range and create seasonal or promotional varieties. These have included Tropical Dots, Yogurt Dots, Sour Dots, Wild Berry Dots, Hot Dots, Dots Elements, Watermelon Dots, assorted lemonade flavors, and numerous holiday offerings. Crows, a black-licorice gumdrop created in the late nineteenth century, is treated as part of the wider Dots family even though it predates the original Dots product by decades. Dots are positioned as an accessible, shelf-stable, chewy confection sold primarily in boxed theater-style and retail candy formats. Their branding emphasizes recognizable colors, multiple fruit flavors, portability, and a long-running American confectionery heritage. Seasonal products have used visual and flavor cues associated with Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, patriotic celebrations, and spring. Examples include Ghost Dots, Bat Dots, Candy Corn Dots, Holiday Dots, Lumps of Coal Dots, Valentine Dots, Cherry Lover's Dots, Easter Dots, and Springtime Dots. The brand is manufactured and marketed by Tootsie Roll Industries, which states in its advertising that more than four billion Dots are produced annually at its Chicago plant. The company also describes Dots as America's leading gumdrop brand by sales, although no independently verified sales figure is provided in the available reference material. Product and corporate descriptions identify the candy as vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, halal, and kosher. The Orthodox Union certification for kosher status is reported as having begun on December 1, 2009. Dots therefore occupies a durable niche within the American non-chocolate candy market. Its historical continuity comes from retaining the basic gumdrop format while periodically introducing new flavor systems, coatings, colors, and holiday packaging. The brand remains active under Tootsie Roll Industries, with Original Dots serving as the central line and limited or seasonal varieties providing additional merchandising opportunities.

Dots originated in the United States in 1945, when Mason introduced the gumdrop product and trademarked the Dots name. The candy was initially produced through the Mason organization and related confectionery manufacturing operations, including AU and Magenheimer facilities in New York. Its basic format—a small, soft, chewy gumdrop sold in several fruit flavors—provided a straightforward platform for color-coded assortment and later flavor experimentation. A major ownership change occurred in 1972, when Tootsie Roll Industries purchased the Mason Division of Candy Corporation of America. Through that acquisition, Dots became part of the Tootsie Roll portfolio and was subsequently manufactured and marketed alongside other established confectionery brands. Tootsie Roll's Chicago plant became associated with large-scale Dots production. Company advertising has stated that more than four billion pieces are produced there each year and has promoted Dots as America's leading gumdrop brand. The product family expanded substantially after the original launch. Wild Berry Dots appeared in 2000 as sweet, chewy pieces with a tart crunchy coating, although the variety was later discontinued. Tropical Dots followed in 2003, offering a more exotic flavor profile. Hot Dots, also called Cinnamon Dots, were introduced in 2004 and discontinued in 2006. Yogurt Dots arrived in 2007 with flavors including banana, orange, blackberry, and lemon-lime. Dots Elements, introduced in 2008, linked pomegranate, cinnamon, green tea, and wintergreen flavors to the themes of earth, fire, water, and air; this line is no longer produced. Sour Dots were introduced around 2009–2010 and used citric acid to give the candy a sharper flavor profile. The brand has also developed an extensive seasonal program. Easter Dots were introduced in 2010, while later products used Halloween themes such as Ghost Dots, Bat Dots, and Candy Corn Dots. Christmas-themed products evolved from Christmas Dots to Holiday Dots, with different two-color flavor combinations. Valentine Dots, Cherry Lover's Dots, Patriotic Dots, and other assortments used color and flavor combinations tied to particular occasions. Watermelon Dots were introduced in 2022, followed by Holiday and Lumps of Coal varieties during the 2023 holiday season and Springtime Dots in 2024. Assorted Lemonade Dots were also introduced in 2023. Crows is the oldest product associated with the family. The black-licorice gumdrop was created in the 1890s by confectioners Ernest Von Au and Joseph Maison. A popular story claims that the candy was intended to be called Black Rose but was printed as Black Crows after a printer misunderstood the name. Available historical research rejects that explanation, noting that the Crows name was copyrighted before the candy was sold in wrappers. Dots remain an active Tootsie Roll Industries brand. The portfolio combines a long-standing Original Dots product with rotating flavor innovations and seasonal releases. Product descriptions emphasize that the candies are vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, halal, and kosher. The available material does not establish a separate Dots corporate entity, independent headquarters, or standalone financial reporting; the brand is best understood as a confectionery product line within Tootsie Roll Industries.

• 2024

  Springtime Dots introduced

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  Springtime Dots launched in grape, mango, strawberry, and pineapple flavors.

• 2023

  New holiday and lemonade varieties

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  The brand introduced Lumps of Coal Dots and Holiday Dots variations during the holiday season, as well as assorted lemonade flavors.

• 2022

  Watermelon Dots introduced

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  Watermelon Dots used red-and-green coloring to evoke the appearance of a watermelon.

• 2010

  Easter Dots introduced

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  Easter Dots were introduced with blueberry, lemon, lime, cherry, and orange flavors.

• 2009

  Sour Dots introduced

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  Sour Dots entered the market using citric acid and a five-flavor assortment of cherry, lemon, orange, grape, and green apple.

• 2008

  Dots Elements introduced

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  Dots Elements linked pomegranate, cinnamon, green tea, and wintergreen flavors to the four classical elements; the variety is no longer produced.

• 2007

  Yogurt Dots introduced

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  Yogurt Dots launched with banana, orange, blackberry, and lemon-lime flavor variants.

• 2003

  Tropical Dots introduced

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  Tropical Dots expanded the portfolio with flavors such as Island Nectar, Wild Mango, Grapefruit Cooler, Carambola Melon, and Paradise Punch.

• 2000

  Wild Berry Dots introduced

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  Wild Berry Dots launched with a tart, crunchy coating over the chewy candy and were later discontinued.

• 1972

  Tootsie Roll acquires the brand

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  Tootsie Roll Industries acquired Dots through its purchase of the Mason Division of Candy Corporation of America.

• 1945

  Dots introduced and trademarked

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  Mason introduced the original Dots gumdrop and trademarked the Dots name.

• 1890

  Crows created

  [1]Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org

  Crows, a black-licorice gumdrop later associated with the Dots family, was created by Ernest Von Au and Joseph Maison in the late nineteenth century.

An established American chewy gumdrop brand built around colorful fruit flavors, recognizable packaging, broad dietary certifications, and frequent seasonal or limited-edition variations.

• Gumdrops · 1945

  Original Dots

  The core Dots assortment consists of soft, chewy, fruit-flavored gumdrops in cherry, lemon, lime, orange, and strawberry. The pieces are distinguished by bright colors and are sold as the standard expression of the Mason Dots brand.

• Flavored gumdrops · 2003

  Tropical Dots

  Introduced in 2003, Tropical Dots broaden the flavor profile beyond the original fruit assortment. Listed flavors include Island Nectar, Wild Mango, Grapefruit Cooler, Carambola Melon, and Paradise Punch.

• Flavored gumdrops · 2007

  Yogurt Dots

  Yogurt Dots were introduced in 2007 and use a flavor concept distinct from the regular fruit line. The reported assortment includes banana, orange, blackberry, and lemon-lime.

• Sour gumdrops · 2009

  Sour Dots

  Sour Dots use citric acid to give the chewy gumdrops a sharper taste. The five-flavor assortment includes cherry, lemon, orange, grape, and green apple.

• Licorice gumdrops · 1890

  Crows

  Crows are black-licorice-flavored gumdrops created in the 1890s. Although older than Dots, they are treated as part of the broader Dots family under Tootsie Roll Industries.

• Seasonal confectionery

  Seasonal and limited-edition Dots

  The brand has released occasion-specific products including Ghost Dots, Bat Dots, Candy Corn Dots, Holiday Dots, Lumps of Coal Dots, Valentine Dots, Cherry Lover's Dots, Easter Dots, Patriotic Dots, Watermelon Dots, Assorted Lemonade Dots, and Springtime Dots.

• 2009

  Introduction of Sour DotsProduct launch

  Background

  The established gumdrop brand expanded into a more intensely flavored segment.

  Action taken

  Tootsie Roll introduced Sour Dots using citric acid and five fruit flavors.

  Aftermath

  Sour Dots became one of the brand's named product varieties alongside Original, Tropical, Yogurt, and other lines.

  Source

• 1972

  Acquisition of the Mason confectionery divisionM&A

  Background

  Dots was part of the Mason Division of Candy Corporation of America, whose products and operations were acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries.

  Action taken

  Tootsie Roll Industries purchased the Mason Division, bringing the Dots brand into its confectionery portfolio.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition established Tootsie Roll Industries as the owner and marketer of Dots and enabled the brand to continue under a larger confectionery company.

  Source

1. 1Dots (candy)en.wikipedia.org