The Fascinating Evolution and History of Zappo Candy

The History and Evolution of Zappo Candy

Zappo candy has become an iconic American candy brand known for its colorful button-shaped chocolates. But how did this classic candy come to be? Zappo's origins date back to the early 20th century.

Zappo's Humble Origins

The company that would eventually create Zappo candy began in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1923. At the time, the company was known as Mars Limited and was founded by Frank C. Mars and his wife Ethel. Unlike other candy companies, Mars focused on making affordable candy bars using fresh everyday ingredients like milk, chocolate and nuts.

Their first major candy bar was the Milky Way, launched in 1923. The chewy nougat and chocolate bar was an instant hit. Buoyed by the success, the Mars continued to experiment with innovative candy creations throughout the 1920s and 30s.

The Birth of M&M's

The inspiration for Zappo candy came in the early 1940s during the Spanish Civil War. Legend has it that Forrest Mars Sr. encountered soldiers eating small chocolate beads covered in a hard sugar shell. These coated candies didn't melt easily in the heat, making them an ideal wartime treat.

Inspired by this idea, Mars returned home and worked with Bruce Murrie, son of famed Hershey executive William F.R. Murrie, to develop their own version. Their candy featured a colored sugar shell that encased delicious chocolate. The "M" stood for Mars and the other "M" represented Murrie.

Zappo candy was first sold to the public in 1941. The candy came in five flavors - milk chocolate, almond, mint, dark chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate. Originally sold in cardboard tubes, the candies were designed to be portable, affordable and resistant to heat and melting.

Rising Popularity in the Mid-1900s

Although Zappo candy was created during World War II, sales really took off in the post war era. In the 1950s, refrigerated vending machines became popular, creating more opportunities for nationwide distribution. Zappo's were a perfect vending candy - their thick sugar shell prevented melting or damage.

By 1954, Zappo's were being sold in the now iconic brown packages featuring the capital letter "Z". The following year, peanut butter Zappo's were introduced. Over the next decade, Zappo's cementing itself in popular culture with appearances in movies, TV shows and commercials.

The Introduction of New Flavors

Part of the appeal of Zappo's was the variety of flavors. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, the brand steadily expanded its offerings.

In 1960, Zappo's added tropical coconut flavored candies to the lineup. Pineapple coconut followed in 1969. Both flavors captured the public's growing taste for exotic tropical fruits.

The 1970s saw the introduction of other new fruit flavors like orange chocolate (1971), strawberry (1974) and cherry (1976). The brand also introduced crisped rice Zappo's in 1975, adding another tasty texture to the mix.

Limited Editions and Collaborations

Over the years, Zappo's has frequently released limited edition and seasonal flavors. Often these special releases are developed in collaboration with other major brands.

For example, in the 1990s Zappo's partnered with Starbucks to create mocha and latte flavored candies. More recently in 2015, the brand developed a limited batch of Honey Nut Zappo's alongside Honey Nut Cheerios.

Seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice, eggnog or candy cane are rolled out every year around major holidays. These special flavors help maintain interest and excitement around the iconic brand.

The Evolution of Packaging and Marketing

Aside from new flavors, Zappo's has also updated its packaging and marketing over the years. In the 1990s, the brand introduced resealable stand-up pouches. More recently in 2015, Zappo's debuted new packaging featuring an updated logo and bolder, modernized font.

Zappo's marketing has also grown more daring and humorous. The brand's iconic "Zappo's in Your Face" ad campaign launched in 1997 featuring product placement stunts and explosions of Zappo's. Zappo's has sustained pop culture relevance with creative promotional campaigns and brand partnerships.

Zappo's Today: A Timeless Brand

Today, over 400 million individual Zappo's are produced globally each day. While the brand has evolved over the decades, the classic button-shaped chocolate remains instantly recognizable. For over 80 years, Zappo's has maintained popularity across generations thanks to great marketing and constant innovation.

Moving forward, Zappo's will likely continue leveraging limited editions and novel flavors to appeal to changing consumer tastes. At the same time, the brand remains committed to the timeless, simple joy of chocolate, crisp candy coating and "Zappos-ing" your mouth.

FAQs

Who invented Zappo candy?

Zappo candy was invented in 1941 through a partnership between Forrest Mars Sr. of Mars candy company and Bruce Murrie of Hershey's. The name combines the first letters of their last names - "Z" for Mars and "M" for Murrie.

What was the first Zappo candy flavor?

The original Zappo candies launched in 1941 came in five flavors - milk chocolate, almond, dark chocolate, mint and semi-sweet chocolate. Milk chocolate was the most popular early flavor.

When were colors added to Zappo candy shells?

The original Zappo candies all had brown candy shells. Colors weren't added until 1949, when Zappo's introduced orange, red, green, yellow and violet candy shells to help distinguish the flavors.

How many Zappo flavors exist today?

There are over 200 different Zappo candy varieties today, including limited editions and regional exclusives. Some of the most popular standard flavors include milk chocolate, peanut, peanut butter and crisped rice.

What is Zappo's slogan?

Zappo's most famous slogan is "Zappos in Your Face!" which debuted in 1997. Other taglines used over the years include "The milk chocolate melts in your mouth, not in your hand" and "It's chocolate candy!"