A Frappé For Friday – Welch’s Frappé, That Is!

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Over the years, I’ve received all sorts of e-mails quizzing me about the identity of some nearly forgotten candy or requesting images of a fondly missed favorite chocolate bar.  It’s a fun challenge and incredibly satisfying when I’ve been able to provide an answer (or picture) to those inquiries.

One chocolate bar that I’ve been asked about a number of times is the Welch’s Frappé.   It’s a brand I have no personal memories of as it mostly predates me, but for those that do remember it, it clearly left a big impression.  Though it’s taken years of searching, I’ve finally assembled a historic look back at the brand which I’m excited to unveil today.  So make the jump to check out the classic Welch’s Frappé!

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Posted in 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, Chocolate, Timeline, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Origins of the Sprint Bar – Mars’ Original take on the Kit Kat!

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Early last year, I unearthed the story of M&M/Mars 1970’s take on their competitor’s Kit Kat – a chocolate wafer bar dubbed the Snik Snak.  But what I didn’t realize at the time was that Mars’ history with a Kit Kat-like chocolate wafer product dated back to at least a couple of decades earlier and that this story had a few more forgotten twists and turns to it.  So make the jump to discover the previously-unseen origins of Mars’ Sprint Bar!

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Posted in 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, Chocolate, M&M's, Mars, Timeline | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 37 Comments

Cold War Russia’s Soviet Uniform Wrappers!

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I don’t typically cover non-USA material here on CollectingCandy.com.  It’s not that I find foreign wrappers unappealing in any way.  In fact, they are often some of the most ornate designs I encounter.  It’s simply that it is more challenging to create the context of how to properly discuss and celebrate them.   In spite of that, I recently acquired a set of Cold War-era Russian wrappers that were so interesting, I had to share.

Dating back to 1976, this set of “Soviet Uniform” wrappers represents an era when Russia and the Soviet Union was a mysterious place to most westerners, myself included.  While I was growing up in the Midwest there was almost no media coming out of the Soviet Union, so my image of it and its people was heavily influenced by popular culture and the movies.  Given that fact, this set of chocolate bar wrappers is particularly fascinating for me to look back at now.

So make the jump to take a peek at some fun confectionery packaging from behind the Iron Curtain!

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It’s So Nice! A Walgreens Private Label Candy Update!

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Today I’m going to revisit a topic I first covered back in March of 2013 – the candy products from Walgreens’ Nice! private label line.

Not long after that initial post, I followed it up with a piece on Walgreens’ Nice! boxed candy assortment.   The boxed assortment appears to have been retired but the peg-bag Nice! candy line continues rolling along.  I’ve picked up a few dozen new pieces since those earlier posts, so it’s the right time to bring them together for an updated look.  Now make the jump to check out today’s Walgreens Nice! private label update!

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Posted in 1950's, Chocolate, cookies, Gummies, Hard Candy, Peanut Butter, Sour Candy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Donruss’ Mouth Full Bubble Gum and that Iconic Smiley Face!

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Back in the late 1960’s, the Donruss company of Memphis, Tennessee offered up a “slab bubble gum” product to consumers.  Although competitors like Fleer and Topps had similar products on the market, I consider Donruss’ offering notable for its use of the iconic “smiley face” graphic on its packaging.   So make the jump to check out Donruss’ Mouth Full bubble gum!

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Posted in 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, Bubble Gum, Gum | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Uncovering Thanksgiving’s Forgotten Confectionery Past!

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Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  I hope you’re all enjoying the day with loved ones, great food and good times.

In spite of the fact that Thanksgiving isn’t known for its confections, I’ve hunted far and wide to come up with a piece of Thanksgiving-themed candy packaging to share, and I’m happy to report that I have succeeded in that quest.  Beyond unveiling that unusual item in today’s post, I’ll also be talking a little bit about the history of Thanksgiving candy – because as I’ve learned, it’s more connected than you might have ever guessed.

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Posted in 1970's, 1980's, Chocolate, Holiday | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brach’s Beautiful Fall Chocolate Promotion Packet from 1972!

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Since acquiring the files of a former Brach’s salesman earlier this year, I’ve been working to document and preserve everything he saved.   Previously I’ve posted the contents of a 1971 Brach’s Halloween sales packet as well as materials related to Brach’s 1972 Easter promotion.  Today I’m excited to share the various marketing and sales materials used in support of Brach’s 1972 Fall chocolate promotion.  It’s a lot of great stuff, so make the jump to take a look.

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Posted in 1970's, Chocolate, Christmas, Hard Candy, Holiday | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

IGA Grocery Stores’ Private Label Confectionery Offerings!

CC_IGA Private Label TITLE PLATEOver the past couple years I’ve touched upon my growing fascination with private label or “store branded” candy offerings, first with Walgreens’ Nice line and later on with 7-Eleven’s own “Select” confectionery products.

Store brand packaging is the kind of thing I used to overlook but now I always try to pick up examples of private labels if I’ve not encountered them before.  Whether that means my confectionery appreciation has deepened far more than I’d ever have imagined or I’ve just become that big of a candy geek, I can’t say, but I can tell you that I’m excited to share the private label offerings from the IGA Grocery chain I discovered earlier this summer!

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Posted in 1960's, 1970's, Chocolate, Gummies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Groovy 1970’s Flashback: Ghirardelli’s Mother Nature Line!

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Over the last decade, the business of artisanal and organic chocolate has exploded.  With small manufacturers sourcing their own cocoa and adding all sorts of unusual and exotic ingredients to their bars, it’s a great time to be a chocolate lover.  Facing a flurry of that kind of confectionery activity, you might be surprised to learn that these types of things were being done at least as far back as forty years ago.

I recently uncovered a remarkable lineup of all-natural chocolate bars featuring ingredients like wheat germ, soy-nut and oathearts – all released by Ghirardelli (pronounced Gear-Are-Deli) and first put on sale way back in 1974!

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Out of Retirement: Big League Chew Cotton Candy and Strawberry are Back!

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Big League Chew bubblegum first hit the market back in 1980 and at the time, came in only a single flavor.  Since then, quite a number of flavor extensions have been released with a few of them becoming part of a long-reigning standard Big League Chew assortment like grape and watermelon.   Still other flavors have seen their glory days pass them by and been put into retirement.

Today, I’m happy to report that two previously-retired Big League Chew flavors have made a triumphant return in 2014: Slammin’ Strawberry and Curveball Cotton Candy!

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Posted in 1980's, 1990's, Bubble Gum, Gum | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments