Nostalgia: Stenhousemuir firm was the toffee king of Scotland

When local folk are asked the question “what has Falkirk district given to the world?” they most often offer Irn Bru or the Carronade, but there is another worthy candidate which not only delighted generations of children but helped provide dentists across the land with a lifetime’s work.
Staff breaking and wrapping tablet in the early days.Staff breaking and wrapping tablet in the early days.
Staff breaking and wrapping tablet in the early days.

Highland Cream Toffee made by the McCowan family in Stenhousemuir was probably the most popular sweetie bar produced anywhere and its iconic wrapper with the Highland cow was known the world over.

One American lady who stayed in Scotland in the 1950s recalled that “we took home a large supply of McCowan’s toffee with us and I rationed it out for weeks.”

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In the 1980s Findlay Russell organised a series of talks in the Age Concern Hall in which some of “the old boys” who had managed local companies in years gone by came along to share their memories.

McCowan's staff pictured in 1932.McCowan's staff pictured in 1932.
McCowan's staff pictured in 1932.

I remember Robert Barr and Bruce Jones giving very interesting presentations but the undoubted star was the Toffee King himself Robert, or Bob, McCowan. Bob told us that it was his father Andrew who started the business in the early 20th century.

He came originally from Muthill near Crieff and had started work as a herd boy in the Sma Glen. At the time cattle were still being driven to the Tryst ground and young Andrew must have decided that he would find new opportunities in the Lowlands. At first he drove a horse and cart delivering parcels which arrived by barge on the canal. Later he delivered lemonade for Reid’s of Bainsford and later still opened his own shop in Church Street selling a variety of goods including sweeties.

According to Robert, his father began experimenting with “his mother’s old jeely pan” over an open fire producing tablet which was the first McCowan’s product.

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Despite the lack of sugar during the first war the company prospered and more and more products were developed including rock, snowballs and macaroons and the famous ‘lucky tatties’ with the occasional halfpenny hidden in the middle.

By this time Bob, a trained engineer, was working full time and in 1924 McCowan’s moved to the Tryst Road. A couple of years later the famous ‘Coo Candy’ with the distinctive wrapper made its first appearance. It was an instant success and along with the Penny Dainties became the firm’s great money spinner. When Andrew McCowan died in 1951 there were 200 girls and 40 men employed in Stenhousemuir and a decade later Bob decided to sell the business to Keilers of Dundee which later became part of the Nestle group.

Bob stayed on for a while and the McCowan’s name was retained as were the company’s famous products. There were new things added like Wham Bars and Fizzy Lizzies but none ever reached the popularity of Highland Cream.

Unfortunately this is not a story with a happy ending. The company changed hands several times and was subject to mergers, takeovers and liquidations, finally closing its doors in 2011. Many attempts were made to revive the business over the years but to no avail. You can still buy the toffee – made down in Blackpool I think.