Built on generations of tradition...

Hilliards Candy, now in its fourth generation and over 85 years in the candy business, is a family owned and operated business started in 1924 by Perley and Jessie Hilliard. Their first store was opened in Wollaston, Massachusetts, at the intersection of Beach and Beale Streets. From that grew a candy business of fourteen stores at different times situated throughout the greater Boston area, Martha’s Vineyard and one in W. Hartford, Connecticut.

Perley and Jessie learned about the candy business and the art of candy-making from Jessie’s father, Marcellus Parker. In the early 1900s, Mr. Parker owned his candy store, Parker’s Candy, located in Haverhill Massachusetts. Perley and Jessie raised seven children; Douglas, Ruth, Elizabeth, Alan, Dorcus, Phillip, and Christine, while developing their candy business. Each child was involved in the business and they had up to seven stores open at one time. Some of the store locations were: North Quincy, West Roxbury, Newtonville, Newton Highlands, Newton Center, North Weymouth, Lexington, Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard, Hanover, and Weymouth Landing.

In 1950 Alan, and his wife Barbara, opened the landmark North Easton store. This location became the main kitchen that produced much of the candy for the other stores. As the Hilliard children grew older and decided to pursue other career paths, the family business slowly reduced in size.

In 1981, Alan’s daughter Judy, and her husband Charles McCarthy, bought the business in Easton. Since assuming the business they expanded product lines and updated many aspects of the business while maintaining the old fashioned quality. In 1989 they opened a new store in Hanover, and in 2003 opened their third store in Canton, Massachusetts. During this time they raised three children; Brad, Erin and Maegan. In 2005, they were happy to welcome the fourth generation into the business when their daughter Erin, and her husband Nelson Fernandez, decided to get involved. Most recently, Maegan has joined the management group. Together, they are proud to preserve the Hilliard tradition by using the same family recipes and commitment to confection perfection that started so long ago

Proud member of the following organizations:

Retail Confectioner International  
Judith Hilliard McCarthy, Past Member of the Board of Directors  

New England Retail Confectioners Association Past President Charles C. McCarthy 

New England Ice Cream Retailers Association                                               

Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce 

Easton Chamber of Commerce, Nelson Fernandez board of directors.

Hanover Chamber of Commerce

Click here to View or Print PDF