Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America

Steve Almond explores the American candy industry through a nationwide journey investigating why beloved candy bars like Caravelles, Choco-Lites, Oompahs, and Marathons have disappeared from shelves. He discovers an industry dominated by large conglomerates, where smaller manufacturers of quirky regional bars—including the Twin Bing, Idaho Spud, Goo Goo Cluster, and Valomilk—struggle to remain competitive. Combining candy history, social commentary, and personal memoir, Almond examines how he grew up consuming candy and how the candy industry itself has transformed over time. The book blends humor with reflection on the evolution of American candy culture, offering both an insider's look at candy manufacturing and a nostalgic account of the candy bars that defined an earlier era.