You may not realize it, but chances are good that your parents and even your grandparents have indulged in the goodness of Y&S licorice treats. That’s because Y&S Candies has been around since 1845, satisfying the sweet tooths of young and old alike for over 150 years!


Y&S Candies, one of the oldest confectionery firms in the United States, was founded in 1845 in Brooklyn, NY by Charles Albert Smylie and J.S. Young. Known simply as Y&S, the company was owned & operated by four generations of the Smylie family, with each serving as president of the company. It was this family pride and tradition that became the foundation of Y&S.


Each generation of the Smylie family put their heart and soul into the company, resulting in the unwavering standard of quality that America has come to know from Y&S. From our earliest products, including licorice lozenges, pellets and wafers…to our newest line of premium “grown-up” licorice, YOUNG & SMYLIE; Y&S has been able to stick by the motto, “Our products offer our only argument!”


Y&S has long embodied a sense of community, increasing its factory employment by twenty percent during the Great Depression in an effort to stem the tide of unemployment. In later years, Y&S showed its true colors during WWII, sending regular shipments of sweets to lift the spirits of military men and women serving overseas. The confidence and good will of the public has always been Y&S’ most valuable asset, and has fostered our deep-rooted commitment to helping others, and giving back to the community, both local and abroad.


In 1902, Y&S merged with two other confectionary firms to become the National Licorice Company and our first plant was built in Brooklyn, New York. Y&S grew rapidly over the next 75 years, opening additional plants in Moline, Illinois; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Farmington, New Mexico and even Montreal. The company changed its name to Y&S Candies, Inc. in 1968 and in 1977, opened a state of the art plant in the beautiful rolling hills of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which has been producing some of America’s favorite confections ever since!

At Y&S, we’re proud to continue the Smylie family legacy of offering time-honored treats to generation after generation since 1845. Now you can treat yourself to an old fashioned tradition, with new YOUNG & SMYLIE premium licorice!