The company dates back to 1922 when two Englishmen, George Bond and Ronald Samuel started a confectionery manufacturing company in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada called Bond and Ronald. The company manufactured sugar confectionery items and some chocolate specialties. For many years, the firm remained small and localized to the Manitoba market. Fruit slices were originally made from imported Agar seaweed strips which were cut, soaked overnight and then used to produce jelly in eighty pound batches. The jelly was cooked in an open gas-fired cooker and allowed to cool at ambient room temperature. The manufacturing process was slow and very labour-intensive. However, as Agar was and still remains one of the very best natural gelling agents to bring out true fruit flavour in jelly, our fruit slices always proved to be a popular item in the company's product line.
In 1957, Charles Fletcher bought the company and expanded operations. The fruit slice products were expanded, new packaging was developed and the product marketed throughout Canada. Fruit slices quickly became listed in grocery stores, department stores, and mass merchandise stores throughout Canada. In 1967, Mr. Fletcher split the growing company into two separate entities; Cavalier Candies Ltd., to concentrate on the manufacturing of sugar confectionery and Cavalier Foods Ltd. (formally Bond Foods Ltd.), to concentrate on imported confectionery products. In 1970's, flow wrapping of the fruit slices was introduced and the Pizazz®" individually wrapped bulk line was developed.
In 1986, Walter Fletcher entered the family business and expanded operations further, including the Pizazz® fruit slice line. Many of the fruit slice products' labour-intensive functions were mechanized and automated. Today, Cavalier Candies Ltd. is Western Canada's largest sugar confectionery manufacturer and the largest manufacturer of Agar Fruit Slices in North America.
Cavalier uses the finest ingredients in the manufacture of its fruit jelly slices. Quality ingredients have been carefully selected over the years and, where possible, natural colors, flavours and other ingredients are used. Cavalier fruit jelly slices are certified Kosher throughout the year and are annually certified "Kosher for Passover" under the careful supervision of Rabbi Babad from Congregation Tartikov, Brooklyn, NY.
Cavalier markets and ships its products to customers throughout Canada and the United States.
