Built on generations of tradition... Alan Hilliard - 1950 opening of our Easton location. Mouse over the picture and see the view from across the street. Hilliards time-tested recipes and commitment to quality have created a legacy of excellence. Hilliards Candy, now in its fourth generation and over 80 years in the candy business is a family owned and operated business which started in 1924 by Perley and Jessie Hilliard. Their first store was opened in Wollaston Massachusetts on the corner of Beach and Beal Streets and 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 Hilliard learned about the candy business and the art of candy-making from Jessie's father, Marcellus Parker. In the early 1900 's, 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. 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, Member of the Board of Directors   New England Retail Confectioners   New England Ice Cream Retailers Association   Metro South Chamber of Commerce   Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce   South Shore Women's Business Network   Easton Chamber of Commerce   Hanover Chamber of Commerce