In 1870, Gunther Farley and two of his brothers founded Gunther Chocolate Company. Gunther Chocolate Company merged with another smaller candy company (started by another member of the Farley family) in 1891, creating Farley Candy Company. Farley manufactured a full line of chocolate candy, as well as gummi, starch, jell, and candy coated peanut items.

The demand for Farley products required more space. In 1988, Farley’s established a packaging and distribution center on the West Coast as well as leasing a warehouse distribution center in Bedford Park, Illinois. With four candy manufacturing plants, Farley Candy Company had the second largest bag candy manufacturing facility in the United States.

Farley Candy Company and Sathers Candy Company merged under the umbrella of Favorite Brands International, in 1996. In 1999, Nabisco purchased Favorite Brands, and Kraft Foods purchased Nabisco in 2000.  Kraft Foods sold assets from Farley's Candy Company and Sathers Candy Company in 2002, forming Farley's & Sathers Candy Company, Inc.