Starburst (History, Flavors, Marketing & Commercials)

Starburst is a soft fruit-flavored candy in the form of a type of taffy. They come as rectangular or “box” shaped pieces of individually wrapped candy in a variety of colors and flavors. Starburst themselves are chewy, interesting to look at, and generally are fruit-flavored. Starburst is advertised as being made with real fruit juice, and the fruity chewy snack has become popular in several countries.

The soft taffy-like nature of Starburst helps differentiate the candy from some of the more “loved yet typical” chocolate bars that tend to dominate the candy sections and kitchens. Starburst had a slow start when it was first created, first being invented in the 1960s under a different name before gaining more widespread popularity. The candy provides a colorful and chewy fruit snack that is convenient to eat, thanks to coming in easy-to-handle packages and having individually wrapped pieces.

History

Starbursts are rectangular pieces of soft taffy-based candy that come in various colors and are individually wrapped. Currently, Starburst candy is produced and supplied by the Wrigley Company, which is a subsidiary of Mars Inc. It is a fruit-flavored candy that comes in numerous flavors like Tropical, Sour, Very Berry, and Original to name a few. It has been one of the most popular candies in America. However, it wasn’t called Starburst at the beginning.

Starburst was invented around the year 1960, in the United Kingdom. According to some rumors, a man named Peter Pfeffer made the originally named version of starburst for the first time in 1961, (with other claims that it was in 1960 or 1959). However, he called the candies Opal Fruits back then. During that time, there were simpler flavors of the candy which included lime, orange, lemon, and strawberry. In order to produce the candies on a larger scale, Peter introduced the candies to the Mars Company, which brought them to the UK markets five years later. The candy then traveled to the US in 1967, under the name of Opal Fruits, where it was eventually renamed Starburst.

After the candy’s arrival in the United States, various varieties were launched in the following years. In 1984, Starburst Strawberry Fruit Chews were launched, followed by Starburst Tropical Fruit Chews in 1988 and California Fruit Chews in 1989. After that, Starburst Jellybeans were launched in the market in 1995 along with Starburst Candy Canes.

After the 60s candy became popular, not only in the US but in various other countries, the name Opal Fruits lost its fame and began to fade a bit from people’s recollection. This was because the brand name of the candy was changed to Starburst, which became its global identity by around 1998. There are several indicators that Starburst was briefly sold under the name “M&M Fruit Chewies” before it was changed soon after.

Starburst’s slogan has also varied over time. As per the recent marketing of the candy since 2014, the slogan stands as “Unexplainably Juicy”. Earlier, the slogans for Starburst were “Share something juicy” and “Starburst: a pack of contradictions”. During its first production under the name “Opal Fruits”, its advertising tag line was “Opal Fruits – made to make your mouth water!”. This slogan was introduced by Murray Walker.

Starburst does not contain any form of artificial color or flavors. The Mars Company decided to change the ingredients of starburst by removing artificial flavoring and colors back in 2016. It came at a time when consumer preferences were taking a shift towards natural ingredients. The company joined the movement of various other companies in that year, who pledged to restrict any use of artificial colors in their products.

As for if Starburst’s ingredients are vegan and vegetarian friendly, there seems to be some conflicting information about that. Spoonuniversity published an article where they called Mars and found out Starburst contains gelatin and is not vegan. However several sources of conflicting information claim that the United Kingdom versions of Starburst are vegan friendly and that it was indicated on its packaging.

The flavors of the candy have been transforming over time. When the candy first came to America, the manufacturers over there introduced new varieties of the candy. These included flavors like Kiwi Banana, Mango, Apple and Tropical Punch among others. Some of Starburst’s flavors had also been inspired by movies. During the time of the popular days of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”, the Tropical Punch and Kiwi banana flavors were changed to Royal Berry Punch in the honor of the movie.

While Starburst is generally expected to be sweet, the candy was introduced with a twist in 2002. Starburst released its Sour Fruit Chews which gave its customers a new flavor to enjoy, proving that Starburst does not always have to be sweet. Many other varieties of flavors were released in the following years. For instance, the Starburst Squirt product was launched by Mars Australia in 2003, which had a liquid center jelly. 2006 had the company release a limited edition candy named Starburst Juicy Bursts. Some recently launched new flavors of the candy include Starburst Fruity Slushies in 2013, which has a combination of different flavors.

While there are many flavors and shapes of Starburst available on the market, opinions on the internet seem to stand that the pink and red flavor is at the top of people’s favorites list. This has become quite a strong preference over time, and it is not surprising considering that cherry and strawberry are very popular flavors, especially in the United States. It has gone to an extent that even the company that manufactures the candy has come to accept it. It has launched the FaveReds, which only contains pink and red Starbursts.

Starburst first appeared under another name at the start of the 1960s, as a little-known product of a somewhat simple design. Though this may seem somewhat humble in origins, candy has become very popular and has been a common sight in many convenience stores in several countries. In the year 2018, it became apparent that Starburst was one of the most popular candies in at least 9 states in the United States Of America, and the product has managed to spread from its modest start in the UK, to international success in a tight market like snacks and candy.

The Inventor Of Starburst

The person who invented Starburst appears to be Peter Pfeffer, though information on the topic is conflicting. Some say that Peter Pfeffer merely named what would become Starburst in a competition, and called them “Opal Fruits”, winning a competition for a few bucks. Other reports portray Peter Pfeffer as the inventor of Opal Fruits, with him showing the candy off in a competition and winning thousands of dollars worth of prize money before later selling the candy to a company for a larger scale of production. One way or another, It seems Peter Pfeffer either invented or at least helped name what would become Starburst candy today.

The Year Starburst Was Invented

There is some conflicting information on when exactly Starburst was invented, though at the time of its invention it was first called Opal Fruits. It seems that Opal Fruits, which would become Starburst, was invented between the years 1959 and 1961.

The Company that Makes Starburst

The company that makes Starburst is the Wrigley Company under the ownership of Mars. Wrigley Company is also responsible for products such as Skittles and the company Mars is well known for its namesake the Mars candy bar.

Info On Buying

Starburst is a commonly found candy and has been sold in stores such as CVS, ShopRite and Costco. Buying Starburst locally in stores is a great option because it is cheap to get a small amount for yourself. Another benefit to buying Starburst in a store near you is that you do not have to wait long to get it, and can have your candy in a few minutes. However, many flavors of Starburst exist and oftentimes stores only stock a few flavors out of the many that have been made.

This is also a complaint about other products that also have many flavors, such as Pringles. You can always try buying Starburst online to get a harder-to-access flavor. Buying Starburst online allows you to gain a wider range of flavors available for you to obtain, and you can often find deals on buying Starburst in bulk online as well. It is easy to buy Starburst online and it gives you many options available, and it is shipped right to you. This is a good option for those willing to wait a bit to obtain what they are looking for. You can check below for a list of stores that may sell Starburst candy, or continue below for offers to buy Starburst online and have it sent to you.

Logo

Buy Online

You can also buy Starburst at Old Time Candy by clicking the image below.

Stores That Sell

Here is a list of stores that may sell Starburst candy

1. Target
2. Walmart
3. Walgreen’s
4. Staples’
5. Dollar Tree
6. CVS
7. Stop And Shop
8. ShopRite
9. Costco
10. Big Y
11. Lowes
12. Sam’s Club

Flavors

Here is a list of some of the different flavors of Starburst candy.

• Strawberry flavor Starburst
• Watermelon flavor Starburst
• Orange flavor
• Blue Raspberry flavor
• Lemon flavor
• Fruit Punch Starburst
• Cherry flavor
• Blueberry flavored
• Raspberry flavored
• Blackberry
• Strawberry Banana flavored
• Tropical Punch flavored
• Green Apple flavor
• Sour Cherry
• Cherry Lime
• Dragon Fruit flavored
• Mango Melon flavored
• Passion Fruit Starburst
• Lime flavored Starburst
• Royal Berry Punch flavored
• Lemon-Lime Starburst
• Pina Colada flavored Starburst
• Kiwi Starburst
• Plum flavored
• Cherry Cool flavored Starburst
• Strawberry & Cream Starburst
• Sour Raspberry flavor
• Cherry Kiwi flavor
• Peaches & Cream flavor
• Orange Strawberry
• Orange Cream
• Grape Soda flavored
• Sour Strawberry Mix
• Guava flavor
• Banana
• Guava
• Grape Slushie flavor
• Sour Pineapple
• Kiwi Banana flavor
• Mixed Berries & Cream Starburst
• Pipin’ Pineapple flavor
• Sizzlin Strawberry Mango
• Fiery Watermelon
• Flamin’ Orange Starburst
• Blueberry acai flavor
• Passion fruit punch flavored
• Raspberry pomegranate
• Strawberry Starfruit Starburst
• Hey Mango-rena! flavored
• Optimus Lime Starburst
• Psychideli-melon flavor
• Disco Berry Starburst

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients of Starburst.

• Glucose Syrup,Sugar
• Palm Fat
• Concentrated Fruit Juices 1.4%* (Apple, Orange, Blackcurrant, Strawberry, Lime, Lemon)
• Acid Citric Acid
• Modified Starch
• Acid Malic Acid
• Dextrin
• Flavourings
• Maltodextrin
• Antioxidant Ascorbic Acid
• Emulsifier Lecithin
• Colours Anthocyanins
• Beta-Carotene
• Spirulina Extract

Nutrition

Serving Size:	1 pieces (5g)	% Daily Value *
Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat	3.4
Calories	20
Total Fat	0.4g	1%
Saturated Fat	0.4g	2%
Trans Fat	0g
Cholesterol	0mg	0%
Sodium	0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrates	4.3g	1%
Dietary Fiber	0g	0%
Sugars	2.8g
Protein	0g
Vitamin C		4.4%

• * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Counting The Number And Assortment In a Package

Snack History decided to count the number of Starburst candies included and the flavor assortment contained in a package of original Starburst. In this case, we used a 2.07 OZ package of original Starburst. In the package were the flavors Cherry, Strawberry, Lemon, and Orange. We counted a total number of 12 individual Starburst candies within the package.

Out of these 12, there was an equal amount of each flavor/color. 4 individual candies for each flavor and 4 flavors total, for 12 candies with 4 of each flavor/color inside the package. This is in contrast to a product like Skittles, which had a preference for including more of some flavor than others in the same package.

Review

This review is for the original Starburst

When you open up a package of Starburst, you are greeted with an assortment of different colored little square candies. They are interesting looking, though a bit odd to behold and beg to be tried. Eating Starburst is an interesting experience, they are a very chewy candy, taffy-like and slick and smooth in texture. The different flavors included in the package are Cherry, Orange, Lemon, and Strawberry.

Each flavor of the four different varieties included in the original version is fairly distinguishable in their taste; The strawberry tastes like strawberry (kinda), the orange flavor tastes mostly like orange, and so on. The flavors do taste somewhat artificial, and fairly vague, but they manage to pull off a passable representation of the fruit flavors they represent.

Starburst gives off almost no smell to it, and that comes off as slightly unusual when you’re talking about a bright and fruity-looking candy. It does not, however, hold back the flavor, as Starburst gives you a powerful “electric” fruit-flavored taste to each of its different colored varieties. Overall Starburst is a good candy that is an unusual experience to eat, they are oddly textured and look somewhat unique, but the candy has an enjoyable flavor to each of the flavors options included. This is a good pick when you are looking for an extremely chewy and strong-flavored fruit candy to enjoy.

Packaging Style

The Starburst logo displays the brand name in red bubble text on a yellow background. This is kept consistent through all of its various packaging. The S in Starburst has a white curve on top, which is meant to resemble a drop of juice. This reminds us that Starburst is fruit-flavored. The packaging material of Starburst is a mixture of paper, aluminum, and plastic.

Individual pieces of Starburst are wrapped in paper. The color of the paper corresponds to the flavor. Cherry is wrapped in red, strawberry in pink, lemon in yellow, orange in orange, so on and so forth. The individual Starburst is then packaged in a wrapping, most commonly a narrow cube-shaped roll. In the classic roll, you can find twelve individual Starbursts. Starbursts also come in bags of various sizes. In the classic roll and in the bags, there is often a 1:3 ratio maintained. For each flavor represented in the packaging, you will find 3 individual candies in that particular flavor.

Popularity

Along with M&M’s and Skittles, Starburst is considered to be one of Mars Inc.’s most well-known brands. Perhaps its greatest asset is the continued emphasis on its four original flavors. It is easy to memorize, yet it provokes conversation about which flavor is the best. Just check Twitter and you’ll find fervent threads defending cherry, strawberry, orange, or lemon. Asking the question in social gatherings, too, proves to be an efficient icebreaker.

Starburst as a brand has a history of success in its marketing and advertising strategies. Perhaps its greatest PR success was its “Little Lad Dance” ad campaign from 2007, in which a man dressed in Victorian clothing performs a childhood dance and expresses his love for the Starburst Berries and Creme flavor.

The ad campaign, which went viral, conveys a clear message of Starburst’s brand: it is child-friendly, whimsical, and loveable. As of 2016, Starburst’s brand slogan is: “Unexplainably Juicy.” A punchier message, for sure, but still conveys a feeling of lovability.

Starburst Childhood Experience

My first experiences with Starburst were at my grandparents’ house. My grandmother kept a jar of Starburst on the kitchen counter of all the original flavors: cherry, strawberry, orange, and lemon. My mother disapproved of my cousins and me eating candy before dinner, but my grandmother snuck us the Starbursts behind my mom’s back.

My older cousins taught me how to unwrap a Starburst inside my mouth, and to this day I can still do it easily. Their favorites were the lemon and orange flavors, but my sister and I always loved the cherry flavors the most. We used to argue over who could take the last remaining cherry Starburst. All four flavors were delicious, though. They’re so chewy, flavorful, and colorful. Even writing about it makes my mouth water!

My tongue was always stained red after a visit to Grandma’s. I even snuck a few into my pockets and brought them home, much to my mother’s chagrin. I loved Starburst dearly, and my fondness for them lingers to this very day. I wish I could eat Starburst candy every day.

Starburst vs Now and Later

To many, Starburst might seem to be the same candy as Now and Later. But what is it exactly that makes one taffy candy different from the other?

Starburst and Now and Later are both brands of fruit-flavored taffy candy. Each individual candy is tiny and portable enough that you could fit at least four in the palm of your hand. Although both are cube-shaped, a piece of Starburst is slightly wider and a piece of Now and Later is slightly taller. Both candies are roughly 220 cubic centimeters.

The different varieties of flavors of Starburst and Now and Later share a fair amount of overlap. Both original offerings include cherry and strawberry flavors. As for the different original flavors, Starburst offers orange and lemon, whereas Now and Later offers bananas, apples, and grapes. In newer flavors, both Starburst and Now and Later tend to offer flavors that could be considered tropical and island-inspired. For instance, both offer a mango flavor; Starburst offers a pina colada flavor, whereas Now and Later offers a tropical punch flavor.

When it comes to taste, the experience of eating the two candies is fairly alike: sweet, tangy, and not too sharp. The texture of the two candies, on the other hand, is the main difference. If you prefer a soft, chewy texture, Starburst is your best bet. If you’d rather have a firm, brittle texture, you’re better off with Now and Later. Both candies are tasty enough, however, that either candy will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Lighting Starburst On Fire

Snack History was curious what would happen if you set Starburst on fire. Would it burn? What were its properties? So we decided to find out by taking a lighter and lighting Starburst on fire. We used an orange flavor Starburst candy and burned it for a significant period of time. Starbursts, as it turns out, are surprisingly resilient to fire; it does not burn, as much as it very slowly bubbles and melts.

We put the flame to the candy several times, for as long as 30 seconds at a time, and the Starburst stood up surprisingly well to it, retaining the heat and yet keeping its shape. After attempting to incinerate the poor starburst candy, we noticed it was pleasantly warm and soft mere seconds later and was easy to stretch and shape. This is opposed to how the candy normally is, firm and somewhat challenging to mold at room temperature. This was a fun experience, we can assure you.

Pictures

Commercials

Here are some video commercials featuring Starburst.

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A STARBURST COMMERCIAL AD FROM 2015 FEATURING JET FIGHTERS.

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