09/26/2025
When the Life Savers plant opened in 1967, it quickly became more than just a factory in Holland, Michigan. For decades, the air around it carried the unmistakable scent of sugar and fruit — cherry one day, orange the next, sometimes even peppermint sharp enough to sting your nose. Kids riding their bikes nearby said it smelled like candy heaven, and workers carried the scent home on their clothes.
Inside, the plant was a world of its own. Whole families worked there — fathers on the machines, mothers on the line, sons and daughters joining after high school. For many, it was a steady paycheck and a promise: “You could retire from here.” Over time, the Life Savers plant became woven into Holland’s identity. The town didn’t just make candy — it made 200 million rolls a year, the only place in the country producing every single hard-candy Life Saver Americans popped into purses, glove compartments, or Christmas stockings.
It was a proud job. When people picked up a roll of Wint-O-Green or Wild Cherry at the store, workers knew, “That came from us.”
Then came the news no one wanted to hear. In the early 2000s, Kraft Foods, which owned Life Savers, announced the plant would be shut down. The reason? Economics. The move would save the company millions.
For Holland, it was devastating. Nearly 600 jobs disappeared, and with them, a sense of security. Workers who thought they would retire with Life Savers suddenly found themselves starting over. By 2002–2003, the doors closed for good. Sweet memories remain! I never thought I'd be so nostalgic about candy, but ok!
