See's Candies

There's something kind of magical about a candy company that's been doing the exact same thing for over a century and somehow still feels fresh. See's Candies isn't trying to reinvent chocolate-they're just really, really good at making it the way Mary See did back in 1921.

And here's the thing: they mean it when they say "Quality Without Compromise." From the beginning, Mary took pride in her recipes and insisted on only the finest ingredients. Today, we're still committed to making candy the right way. No preservatives, no shortcuts, just actual ingredients you can pronounce. In a world where most candy companies are owned by massive conglomerates cutting corners, See's is owned by Berkshire Hathaway-and Warren Buffett famously calls it his favorite business. That's not nothing.

Walk into any of their 250+ stores and you'll notice the black-and-white checkerboard floors, inspired by Mary See's original kitchen. But the real tradition? Free chocolate and candy samples, and friendly customer service. Every single person who walks in gets a free piece. It's been that way since day one, and honestly, it's the kind of customer experience that feels almost quaint now.

The selection is wild-over 100 different candies and chocolates. Their Peanut Brittle, Victoria Toffee, and Chocolate Walnut Fudge? Still made using Mary's very own original recipes. The Scotchmallow (dark chocolate covering marshmallow and caramel) has a cult following. So does their California Brittle, which is basically buttery toffee with almonds covered in dark chocolate. And their peanut butter cups? They actually taste like real peanut butter, not that weird waxy stuff you get in most mass-produced versions.

Here's what's interesting: Our chocolates and candies are made in our own factories located in both Los Angeles and South San Francisco. From these chocolate factories, we send our delicious candies to the rest of our See's chocolate shops throughout the country. They control everything from production to retail, which means the candy you're getting is actually fresh. Most of their stores are in California (over 70%), but they've expanded to 21 states, plus international locations in places like Hong Kong and the Philippines.

The company's been owned by Berkshire Hathaway since 1972, when they bought it for $25 million. Warren Buffett has called See's "the prototype of a dream business"-and when you look at how they operate, you get it. They're not chasing trends or trying to be something they're not. They're just making really good chocolate, treating employees well, and giving customers a free sample every time they walk in.

So yeah, if you're looking for artisanal single-origin bean-to-bar chocolate with tasting notes of tobacco and leather, this isn't that. But if you want a box of genuinely delicious chocolates that taste like someone actually cared about making them? See's has been nailing that for 104 years.