The Sears Candy Shop! Plus: The Return of WishbookWeb.com!

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Jason Liebig

Years before I launched CollectingCandy.com, I mounted an effort to create an online archive of vintage Christmas catalogs, like the old Sears Wishbooks.  That vintage Christmas catalog website was and is WishbookWeb.com and this week and I relaunched WishbookWeb with a bundle of all-new features, accessibility, and a brand-new look.  So today I’ll be connecting to that site’s return by first taking a look at Sears’ own in-store retail candy outlet called “The Candy Shop”.  Make the jump to check it out!

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Posted in 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, Chocolate, Christmas, Private Label | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

CollectingCandy.com’s 5th Anniversary!! Plus the World Premier of the Lost Big League Chew Flavor: Cola!

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Jason Liebig

Today marks five years exactly since CollectingCandy.com was launched (way back on February 6th, 2012) with a feature retrospective on the Big League Chew brand.   Since then, I’ve penned another 632 articles including the publication of over 6,000 images (many of which were things that had never been seen anywhere else online before).   It’s been a lot of work, but one heck of a fun time doing it.

Since the site launched on the glorious topic of Big League Chew, I thought it appropriate to dedicate today’s anniversary post to the same.  For a long time I’ve been wanting to take a look at the full variety of Big League Chew historical packaging I’ve brought together over the years.  Within this post you will find over 70 different Big League Chew packs represented, along with the world premier unveiling of a previously lost-and-forgotten flavor; Big League Chew Cola!  Make the jump to check it out!

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Posted in 1980's, 1990's, Bubble Gum, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Timeline | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Super Bowl Sunday 2017 and Snickers’ Football Phrase Wrappers!

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Jason Liebig

It’s once again Super Bowl Sunday, and once again I’ll be marking the day with some NFL tie-in candy wrappers!  This year I’ll be featuring Mars’ play on their successful “You’re Not Yourself When You’re Hungry” Snickers trait bar promotion, only with football-related traits.  So make the jump to check them out!

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Posted in Chocolate, Mars, Peanut Butter, Reese's | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Search for the 1970’s Blow Pop “Squarepack” and Charms Blow Pop’s Earliest Origins!

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Jason Liebig

When researching the history of candy, I sometimes come across things I’ve never seen before or didn’t previously know existed.  It often happens when I’m lucky enough to find a vintage store photo showing a candy display or aisle.

Today I’ll be sharing the story of my discovery-via-photo of the little known 1970’s Blow Pop Candies “Squarepack” along with its connection to Blow Pop’s earliest origins.  Make the jump to check it out! Continue reading →

Posted in 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, Bubble Gum, Gum, Hard Candy, Lollipop | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

The Secret History of Reese’s Pieces with Peanuts!

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Jason Liebig

Reese’s Pieces have been around since the late 1970’s, and over the years the brand has received limited run extensions in the form of Reese’s Pieces with the addition of Peanuts.  They did so just last year, but I was surprised to learn that the history of this brand extension goes back much further than I’d originally guessed.  Make the jump to find out just how far!

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Posted in 1980's, Chocolate, Hershey, Peanut Butter, Reese's | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

How a 1970’s Russian “Red Scare” Set M&M’s Mascots Back Twenty Years!

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Jason Liebig

Between 1976 and 1985, red M&M’s were banished from the world due to a Russian “red scare” having to due with a food dye additive.  It is a story that has been told before, but newly discovered evidence reveals an aspect of the tale that has never been considered before now; how M&M’s own red scare may have delayed the rise of their globally-popular mascot characters for twenty years.  Make the jump to check it out!

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Posted in 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, Chocolate, M&M's, Mars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Nestle’s Long Forgotten Bonanza Bar and A Tale of Two Product Launches!

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Jason Liebig

Today’s post is one I am especially excited to publish as the Bonanza bar has been on my list of lost-to-history brands I’ve long sought to uncover evidence on.  Until today, there have never been images or references to the Nestle Bonanza bar anywhere online – not a single mention – it was un-Google-able – but no more.  This entry is not only about the Bonanza bar, but about how two similar product launches can lead to very different outcomes.  So make the jump to check out Nestle’s long forgotten Bonanza bar!

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Posted in 1960's, Chocolate, Nestle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Christmas 2016: Hershey’s Decorative Foil Holiday Kisses Exclusives!

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Jason Liebig

Last year, Hershey’s started having fun with their seasonal Kisses by adding decorative foils to their already bountiful lineup of specialty holiday flavors.  Christmas 2016 saw the release of four different packs, each one exclusive to a different retail chain, making for a fun candy hunt.  Make the jump to check them out!

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Posted in Chocolate, Christmas, Hershey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

FYE’s Exclusive WWE Wrestling Chocolate Bars!

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Jason Liebig

Earlier this year, the FYE chain of stores released an exclusive line of deluxe chocolate bars featuring a line-up of current WWE Wrestling favorites.  Make the jump to check them out!

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Posted in 1990's, Chocolate | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Snickers Week Day 5: Poland’s Amazing Gremlins Wrappers!!

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Jason Liebig

cc_snickers-gremlins-title-plate

We’ve arrived at the final day of Snickers week but as the saying goes we saved the best for last.  Well, it’s the best as far as I’m concerned.  That’s because today’s look at Snickers wrappers inspired by the “You’re Not Yourself When You’re Hungry” campaign goes full Gremlins.  Make the jump to check it out!

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Posted in Chocolate, Mars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments