Jolly Ranchers were first introduced in 1949 by the Jolly Rancher Company, founded by Bill and Dorothy Harmsen in Golden, Colorado. Initially, the company produced chocolate candies, but they later switched to hard candies, and that’s when Jolly Ranchers were born. These brightly flavored hard candies became especially popular for their unique, bold fruit flavors.

The candy quickly grew in popularity and became a beloved treat, eventually being acquired by Beatrice Foods in 1966 and later by The Hershey Company in 1996. Since then, Jolly Ranchers have remained a popular candy, available in various flavors and products.