Licorice Snaps
Rare revivals. First death 2001, relaunch 2002, hiatus 2009, occasional runs after that — and today the company's own FAQ says production is halted 'for the foreseeable future.' Hope, like licorice, is chewy.
Last verified Nov 7, 2026
The Red Vines company's other candy: crunchy pastel shells over chewy black licorice, first sold in 1935 and kept in grandmothers' candy dishes ever since. American Licorice keeps killing it; fans keep objecting.
Filed under: Candy & Gum · the ’70s & earlier
📅 Timeline
- 1914American Licorice Company founded in Chicago by Martin Kretchmer.
- 1935Snaps first sold — sworn first use December 1935 in the company's trademark record.
- 2001Discontinued on falling sales; per the company history, the Alsip, Illinois plant had converted to continuous production and could no longer make batch candy.
- 2002Relaunched after fan outcry, with production largely moved to California; sales tripled once packaging options expanded.
- 2009Production went on hiatus; only occasional limited-time runs followed.
- 2026The company's own FAQ says Snaps are halted 'for the foreseeable future'; nothing is purchasable on its shop.
❓ People also ask
Can you still buy Licorice Snaps?
Not right now. American Licorice's own shop says Snaps are not currently being produced, and retail listings are sold out or marked discontinued.
When did Licorice Snaps first disappear?
2001, per the company history — one account places the production change behind it around 1999 — and a fan uproar brought them back in 2002.
Who makes Licorice Snaps?
American Licorice Company, the Red Vines people, in the licorice business since 1914.
🧾 Sources
- American Licorice Co., Snaps Candy collection and FAQ (2026)
- USPTO TSDR, SNAPS trademark record (first use December 1935) (2012)
- Encyclopedia.com, American Licorice Company (International Directory of Company Histories) (2004)
- CandyFavorites, A Brief History of American Licorice and their Fabled Licorice Snaps (2014)