The Lancaster Caramel Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1886. It was Hershey's first successful candy company and helped him build a reputation. The Hershey Chocolate Company became a subsidiary of the Lancaster Caramel Company in 1894. He sold the company for $1 million in 1900, but kept the Hershey Chocolate Company because he felt that there was a large market for chocolate confections.