This November, it will be 100 years since Charles See opened his first candy shop at 135 N. Western Ave. in Los Angeles. In 1949,  the family’s candy factory in Baldwin Hills broke ground, where it still churns out chocolates, peanut brittle and other sweets using some of the original equipment from 1921.

For the first time in the company’s history, See’s is asking customers what their next candy piece should be with the launch of “What’s Your Sweet Idea?”

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Shop ladies on Western Ave. (Courtesy See’s Candies)

Fans can submit their candy creation on sees.com/sweetidea January 5 through January 20. Research and development experts will sort through submissions and pick the top candies for final voting which will be held February 15 through March 1. The winner will be released in November as part of the centennial celebration.

In addition, every month throughout this year, See’s will be launching a new Sweet-of-the Month. Kicking off the year-long celebration, a signature favorite will now be available in dark chocolate. The Dark Butterscotch Square is made with brown sugar, vanilla and heavy cream coated in rich dark chocolate and is available in a box of six for $8.25 while supplies last.

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Early candy shop (Courtesy See’s Candies)

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Delivery coaches (Courtesy See’s Candies)

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Courtesy See’s Candies

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Inside See’s Candy factory, pre-pandemic. Safety protocols are currently in place in the factories including  masks and social distancing   (Michele Stueven)

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See’s Candies turns 100 this year (Michele Stueven)

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The Baldwin Hills factory has been there since 1949. Safety protocols are currently in place in the factories including  masks and social distancing . (Michele Stueven)

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