American Licorice was founded in 1914 by Martin Kretchmer in Chicago, initially sold black licorice twists from a cart. The brand gained early recognition when it famously created a licorice shoe for Charlie Chaplin to eat in "The Gold Rush" film in 1925. That same year, the company expanded westward, opening a facility in San Francisco. In the 1950s, American Licorice innovated beyond traditional black licorice, introducing "Raspberry Vines," which the public affectionately dubbed "Red Vines" due to their similar texture and shape. This iconic red candy, still made with the original recipe, quickly surpassed black licorice in popularity, becoming the company's best-selling brand and a staple in American confectionery.
