8-K

                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                               ___________

                                FORM 8-K

                            CURRENT REPORT
                PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                   SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

    DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): APRIL 18, 2000

_______________________________________________________________________________

                    TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES, INC.
         (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

_______________________________________________________________________________


         VIRGINIA                         1-1361                22-1318955
- -------------------------------  ------------------------  -------------------
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF  (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER)     (IRS EMPLOYER
 INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                            IDENTIFICATION NO.)



           7401 SOUTH CICERO AVENUE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS   60629
           -----------------------------------------------------
           (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)   (ZIP CODE)

                               (773) 838-3400
             --------------------------------------------------
             REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE




ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

On April 18, 2000, Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. ("Tootsie Roll") announced
that it entered into an agreement to purchase the assets of Andes Candies,
Inc. from Brach's Confections Inc. (the "Transaction").  The agreement is
subject to certain customary conditions, including approval under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.  Tootsie
Roll expects the Transaction to close in the second quarter of 2000.  Tootsie
Roll hereby incorporates by reference the press release, dated April 18,
2000, announcing the Transaction.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

          
         (c)  EXHIBITS

                 99      Press Release, dated April 18, 2000, issued by Tootsie
                         Roll announcing the Transaction.

         



                               SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                             TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES, INC.

Date:  April 20, 2000
                                             By: /s/ Ellen R. Gordon
                                                 -------------------------
                                                 Ellen R. Gordon
                                                 President



                                EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibits
- --------
        
   99      Press Release, dated April 18, 2000, issued by Tootsie Roll
           announcing the Transaction.

EX-99

TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES, INC.                         7401 South Cicero Avenue
                                                      Chicago, IL 60629
                                                      Phone 773/838-3400
                                                      Fax 773/838-3534

PRESS RELEASE

STOCK TRADED: NYSE                            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TICKER SYMBOL: TR                             TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2000


     CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 18, 2000 - Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.
announced today that it has signed an agreement to purchase the assets of
Andes Candies, Inc. from Brach's Confections, Inc.  Andes is a well known
chocolatey mint particularly known for its green creme de menthe center layer.

     Melvin and Ellen Gordon, Chairman and President, respectively, of
Tootsie Roll Industries, said, "We are excited about adding this well known
brand to the Tootsie Roll Industries' family of products.  The acquisition of
Andes underscores our belief that strong brands will continue to contribute
to the long term success of our company.  We are especially pleased to be
acquiring the manufacturing facility in Delavan, Wisconsin where we expect to
continue to make the high quality candy products."

     Tootsie Roll Industries is one of the country's largest candy companies
with headquarters in Chicago, operations in Tennessee, New York, Chicago,
Massachusetts, Maryland, Mexico, and Canada, and sales in Europe, the Middle
East, Central America, and the Pacific Rim.  The company sells a variety of
Tootsie Roll branded products such as Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Pops, Caramel
Apple Pops, Child's Play, Charms, Blow Pops, Blue Razz, Cella's Cherries,
Mason Dots, Mason Crows, Junior Mints, Charleston Chew, Sugar Daddy, Sugar
Babies and Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy.

     Tootsie Roll products have been manufactured and sold in the United
States since 1896 and have been a part of Americana for many generations.
Andes Candies had 1999 sales of approximately $34 million.  Tootsie Roll
Industries' 1999 sales were over $396 million.  For more information about
Tootsie Roll Industries, visit the company's website on the Internet at:
http//www.tootsie.com.

ERG:mw