History of
Glico
Nutritious Candy
1919
Encounter with Glycogen
More than 100 years ago, EZAKI Ri-ichi, the company's founder, was on the banks of the Hayatsue River, a tributary of the Chikugo River near the Ariake Sea, when he saw oyster broth being thrown away from a cauldron. Although Ri-ichi had seen this before, a recent newspaper article about oysters containing the nutrient glycogen came to mind. It was a light-bulb moment, one that only Ri-ichi could have had as he continually thought about how he could contribute to society at large. This is the origin of “Glico,” a nutritious candy that continues to nurture children's minds and bodies while its flavor and enjoyment evolve.
1922
Glico Nutritious Candy
Ri-ichi came up with the idea of using glycogen in Saga, his hometown, and, despite his lack of experience, after receiving the advice of a university professor that “prevention is better than cure,” he set out to create candies that would contribute to the health of children. Ri-ichi put his heart and soul into product planning with his Creativity. Ri-ichi thus invented Glico, a nutritious candy, and moved his family to Osaka. However, he had a tough time as a latecomer to the market.
1922
Creativity in Product Planning
In commercializing Glico nutritious candy, Ri-ichi used his Creativity to distinguish Glico from other caramel candies on the market. The name “Glico” was taken from glycogen, but instead of calling it “Glico Caramel,” Ri-ichi stuck with “Glico” nutritious candy over the objections of those around him. The shape of the caramel was not like other companies and adopts a heart shape, which is the center of the human body and represents sincerity. Although it was said to be impossible to create a heart-shaped mold to create candies with the machines of the time, he succeeded in developing the mold through trial and error. Additionally, the “Goal-in Mark” depicting a runner crossing a finish line, which has been the symbol of the product since its launch, was chosen through voting at nearby elementary schools, and the catchphrase “300 meters on just one caramel” was determined after the calories in the Glico nutritious candy were calculated. Furthermore, Ri-ichi showcased his talent as a marketer who was ahead of his time by using red for the caramel boxes to catch people's attention at a time when yellow was the common color.
1922
“Rolling a Stone from the Top of a Mountain”
He began test marketing Glico nutritious candy in Osaka and received a poor response from wholesalers. Ri-ichi then thought that if he could sell to a top retailer, he could convince wholesalers to sell the product to general retailers, and as a result of repeated negotiations, he was able to get Glico nutritious candy sold at the Mitsukoshi Osaka store, which at the time was the largest department store in Osaka. That day, February 11, 1922, was later designated as the anniversary of Glico's founding.
1923
Flyers with Discount Coupons
Ri-ichi was one of the first to devise flyers each with a coupon inside and use it for sales promotions, which is something that is common today.
1927
Glico with Miniature Toy
Ri-ichi had been developing the idea of Glico with a toy from the time he was considering the commercialization of Glico nutritious candy. He said, “When I observe children closely, the two most important missions for children are eating and playing... So I decided to offer children nutritious candy with a small toy.” Born from this idea was the nutritious candy Glico containing a miniature toy chosen in order to improve children's knowledge and emotional development.
1929
Small Box with a Toy
The popularity of Glico with a small toy skyrocketed with the creation of a small box especially designed to be integrated with the main box. This made it more difficult for toys to break, and allowed for a greater variety of toys.
1931
Glico Caramel Vending Machine with Video Player
Ri-ichi developed an innovative vending machine that played a movie with music when a customer bought Glico. The deployment of about 100 units in department stores and subway stations in Tokyo created quite a stir.
1933
Start of Serialization of Short Ads About 3 cm2 in Size in Newspapers
With advertising budgets tighter than those of the leading companies, the company came up with a method of submitting advertisements to newspapers in advance and having them published when space was available. Glico’s posts increased in the second year and developed into an advertisement for reader participation.
1935-1940
Original Miniature Toys are Included
1947
Glico Toy Candy
Glico nutritious candy, production of which had been stopped during the war due to food rationing, was revived with permission to sell it as a toy with candy.
1950
Glico Nutritious Candy Returns
The small toy box reappeared, and Glico, the nutritious candy, returned to its original form.
1953
From Heart-shaped to Square-shaped
In order to mechanize the molding and packaging process and increase productivity, the shape of Glico nutritious candy was changed from a heart shape to a square shape.
1957
Premium Sales Campaign
A nationwide sales campaign was aimed at consumers who were beginning to seek enrichment in their lives, and the stamp and coin campaign was a big hit, especially among children.
1967
1, 2, 3 Glico
To increase product value, comprehensive revisions, including the size of the candy and toys, were undertaken. The company also made separate toys and packages for boys and girls.
1987
Revival of the Heart-shaped Glico after 34 Years
2001
Time Warp Glico
Kaiyodo's elaborate figurines reproduce the nostalgia of the 20th century. The model figures became very popular with adults who once had their heart set on getting a Glico toy.
2001
Time Warp Glico Toys
- Rounds 1 to 4: Themes include vehicles, electrical appliances, daily life, and so on.
- Round 5: Tetsujin 28-go Edition
- Round 6: Japan World Exposition Osaka 1970 Edition
2010
Asobi Glico
This Glico had a total of 10 different wooden toys for the family to play with together, such as daruma drop blocks and building blocks.
2010
Asobi Glico Wooden Toys
2017
Asobi Glico, an App to Learn While Playing
Users download the app to their smartphone or tablet and hold the camera up to an animal-themed wooden toy, which moves freely responding to the touch or stroke of the user's finger.
2022
Limited Edition Sale of Creators’ Glico to Commemorate the Company’s 100th Anniversary
Ten of Japan's leading creators created their own idea of Glico as a toy.
2022
Creators’ Glico Toys
