BOISE, Idaho -- The Idaho Candy Company shipped 120 Idaho Spud Bars to Connecticut this week for the USS Idaho's first meal aboard the nuclear submarine, connecting the Gem State's sweet tradition with its newest naval namesake.
The Virginia-class attack submarine received the iconic marshmallow and coconut bars Aug. 21 as part of an inaugural dinner that celebrated Idaho's culinary heritage with elk steaks, baked potatoes and huckleberry pie.
Paul Sturdivant, a former U.S. Navy nuclear engineer who purchased Idaho Candy Company with his wife, Megan, in July, said contributing to the historic meal held special significance.
"As a Navy veteran, it's an honor to contribute to the USS Idaho's first meal with our Idaho Spud Bars," Sturdivant said. "The history of the nuclear Navy is one in the same with the history of Idaho and we're proud to be part of this milestone."
The USS Idaho, built by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, was christened in March 2024 and is scheduled for commissioning in spring 2026. The submarine incorporates advanced acoustic stealth technology developed at the U.S. Navy's Acoustic Research Laboratory in Bayview, Idaho.
The vessel's galley and wardroom feature murals depicting Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains and Redfish Lake.
Idaho Candy Company has operated from the same Boise factory at 412 S. 8th St. since 1909, where original equipment from the early 1900s still produces confections. The company was founded in 1901 by T.O. Smith, who began making candy in his home before building the business into a regional institution.
The Idaho Spud Bar, introduced in 1918, remains the company's flagship product, a cocoa-flavored marshmallow center covered in dark chocolate and coconut. The factory continues to produce two other original bars: the Old Faithful Bar and Cherry Cocktail Bar, along with newer additions like Huckleberry Gems.
The USS Idaho represents the Navy's fourth vessel named for the state, following three previous ships, including the battleship USS Idaho that served from 1919 to 1946.