Delightful Development Co. Purchased Lammes Candies Brand
The Texas-based hospitality group has acquired the historic candy maker to preserve its legacy and expand distribution.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Following the closure of its Airport Boulevard location in spring 2026, the 141-year-old Lammes Candies brand has been acquired by Fort Worth-based Delightful Development Co. The deal marks a new chapter for the company, which recently launched holiday pre-orders through a revamped website.
Why it matters
This acquisition represents an attempt to stabilize a multi-generational legacy brand after operational closure, shifting the business model from its historical independent manufacturing base to a partnership with a larger hospitality firm.
The brand operated for 141 years prior to its spring 2026 closure, a significant tenure compared to the $800 purchase price paid for the business in 1885. While the brand returns to market, the specific scale of its future physical footprint remains under evaluation.
The players
Delightful Development Co.
A Fort Worth-based hospitality company focused on brand acquisitions and operations.
Lammes Candies
A historic Texas confectionery manufacturer known for a 141-year operating legacy.
The details
The new ownership team has partnered with the fifth-generation family members to maintain the brand's established recipes and traditions. Operations are pivoting toward digital distribution, with the new website now accepting holiday pre-orders for core items like Sherbet Mints. Additionally, the company has secured a retail distribution channel by placing products in Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations.
Timeline
1876 marked the founding of the business by William Wirt Lamme.
1885 was the year David Turner Lamme purchased the business for $800.
1957 saw the opening of the original Airport Boulevard kitchen.
Spring 2026 was when the brand ceased operations.
November 1, 2026 is the date nationwide shipping commences.
Market Landscape
This acquisition follows a pattern set by modern hospitality firms seeking to revitalize legacy food brands through digital-first distribution strategies. It marks a departure from the company's traditional reliance on stand-alone brick-and-mortar retail presence.
Operators should monitor this shift toward digital-first distribution and partnerships with larger chains like Cracker Barrel as a template for preserving legacy retail brands. Evaluate whether current physical assets could be optimized through similar third-party retail channels.
The takeaway
Legacy brands require a blend of traditional quality control and modernized distribution networks to survive ownership transitions. Keep a close watch on the company's 2027 product release schedule to identify which segments of the historical inventory are being prioritized for growth.
What happens next
Nationwide shipping of product orders is scheduled to begin on November 1, 2026.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts and brand transitions, visit the Openings & Closings section.
More information
Review current product offerings and pre-order availability on the Lammes Candies website.
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Do you trust that revived heritage brands maintain the same quality as the originals?
