12 Classic Candy Brands That Are Worth a Fortune Now
Some classic candy brands are now worth a fortune, with rare wrappers, vintage packaging, and discontinued editions selling for hundreds or thousands of dollars among nostalgic collectors.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Traditional candy brands are not only tasty confections; they’re retro gems that have increased exponentially in value over the decades. From antique PEZ dispensers to retired Mars Bars, limited edition packaging, giveaways, and even sealed candy can fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Whether fueled by nostalgia or genuine collecting, the demand for vintage sweets demonstrates that sometimes the past is more valuable than memories!
1. PEZ Dispensers
Image from Ebay.ph
First introduced in the 1920s as breath mints, PEZ dispensers became popular in the 1950s when character heads were added. Limited editions, such as the 1982 Astronaut PEZ or the 1955 Santa Claus PEZ dispenser, have sold for thousands of dollars. Some rare PEZ dispensers can be sold for up to $32,000 at auctions!
2. Choco Pie (Vintage Editions)
Image from eBay
Though popular to this day, the older versions of Orion Choco Pie, particularly those in the 1970s and 1980s, are scarce. Rare collectibles exchange high prices for the original packs, especially rare Korean and Japanese issues. There have been cases of sealed vintage packs selling for hundreds of dollars based on nostalgia and historical appeal.
3. Hershey’s Bar (Vintage Wrappers)
Image from Etsy
Hershey’s has existed since 1900, and vintage wrappers and packaging are worth a small fortune today. One Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar wrapper from 1906 sold for more than $1,500 at auction. Mid-century decade factory-sealed bars are also highly valuable among collectors.
4. Mars Bar (Pre-1999 U.S. Version)
Image from Snack History
Mars Bars were discontinued in the U.S. in 1999 and replaced with the Snickers Almond bar. Unopened, original U.S. Mars Bars are rare and can sell for over $200 among nostalgic buyers. Collectors especially seek out promotional wrappers or bars with unique design elements.
5. Clark Bar (Vintage Editions)
Image from Collecting Candy
This peanut butter and chocolate classic, first introduced in 1917, was at risk of disappearing forever before being revived. Early 20th-century Clark Bar wrappers and advertising materials fetch high prices at auctions. A pristine vintage Clark Bar display box from the 1920s can be worth several thousand dollars.
6. Butterfinger (Early Promotional Items)
Image from WWII Soldier
First introduced in 1923, Butterfinger’s original marketing materials and novelty items are hard to come by. Original Butterfinger tins, posters, and even promotional comic books from the 1930s to the 1950s can be sold for hundreds to thousands of dollars. Unopened Butterfinger bars from the 1970s or older have also fetched astonishing prices.
7. Wrigley’s Chewing Gum (Vintage Packs & Ads)
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Vintage packs of Wrigley’s gum, particularly those pre-dating World War II-era rationing, are collectibles. Sealed packets from the first decades of the 1900s have brought more than $1,000. Wrigley’s early-20th-century advertising signs and mid-20th-century vending machines are also extremely valuable.
8. Necco Wafers (Pre-2018 Discontinuation)
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Necco Wafers were retired in 2018 only to be brought back in 2020, which means pre-2018 packages are collectible. People were shelling out more than $100 per pack during the panic of discontinuation. Hard-to-find flavors and old tins from the early 1900s are worth hundreds of dollars.
9. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (Vintage Packaging)
Image from Ebay.ph
First sold in 1928, Reese’s classic packaging is a treasure trove for collectors. A 1950s-era Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups box in mint condition can sell for hundreds of dollars. Vintage advertisements with retro slogans or retired varieties are also very desirable.
10. Bazooka Bubble Gum (Original Comics & Wrappers)
Image from Ubuy Philippines
Bazooka gum, known for its small comic strips featuring Bazooka Joe, has become very valuable. Unopened 1950s-1970s packs and vintage comic inserts can be worth hundreds of dollars, and certain promotional packaging versions can cost over $1,000.
11. Milky Way (Early Wrappers & Vintage Bars)
Image from Wikipedia
Released in 1923, Milky Way’s retro packaging and vintage advertising are scarce collector’s items. One mint condition 1920s wrapper sold for more than $1,500. Although scarce, unopened 1950s-70s bars have sold for similar premiums.
12. M&M’s (Rare Colors & Promotional Items)
Image from Confectionery News
Limited-release M&M’s, such as the classic tan-colored ones removed from production in 1995, are prized. Some special promotional M&M packaging from the 1980s and 1990s has been sold for several hundred dollars. Old dispensers, particularly the early ones with distinctive character artwork, can fetch thousands.