The Hershey Company produces and markets Milk Duds under license from Highlander Partners, a Dallas-based private equity firm that owns the brand. F. Hoffman & Co. of Chicago originally created Milk Duds in 1928, and the candies joined The Hershey Company in 2000. The candies are named after the difficulty the maker had in forming the chocolate-covered caramels into perfect balls. Milk Duds are a popular treat at movie theaters, but people also enjoy them at home while watching movies or TV shows.