The End Of An Era As Fruit Stripe Gum Discontinued After 50 Years

This week, Ferrara Candy made a saddening announcement. One of their most iconic and beloved treats, Fruit Stripe Gum, will be discontinued after 50 years of production and consumption goodness. Ferrara has assured CNN that fans may still be able to purchase the gum at select retailers before supply runs out.

“The decision to sunset this product was not taken lightly,” said a representative with Ferrara. “We considered many factors before coming to this decision, including consumer preferences, and purchasing patterns – and overall brand trends for Fruit Stripe Gum.”

Fruit Stripe gum is being discontinued

“We have made the difficult decision to sunset Fruit Stripe Gum, but consumers may still be able to find the product at select retailers nationwide,” said the Ferrara representative. Fans had already noticed that the treat had less and less of a presence in retailers lately, and news actually arose in an announcement on OldTimeCandy.com.

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By time of writing, no clear reason for discontinuing Fruit Stripe gum has been given. 2021, Greg Guidotti, the General Manager of the Sugar Portfolio at Ferrara Candy Company, told Business Insider that Fruit Stripe gum sales had increased 4.5% over 2020. Ferrara then launched Fruit Stripe gummy candies, which Food and Wine reports may also be discontinued.

The past and future of Ferrara and Fruit Stripe gum

Gracing retailers since 1960, Fruit Stripe gum came in five flavors: Cherry, Lemon, Orange, Wet n’ Wild Melon, and Peach. Representing this short-lasting, flavorful gum was Yipes, their zebra mascot, along with the slogan, “Yipes! Stripes!” Each pack of gum came with a temporary tattoo of Yipes.

Online, fans are disappointed, with consumers taking to social media to say, “A piece of my childhood just died.” Another agreed, calling out its rapid loss of flavor with fondness, saying, “What? Why? Yes it lost its flavor after a few minutes BUT Fruit Stripe is iconic and my childhood choice when I got gum growing up! We need answers Ferrera [sic].”

Ferrara assured that it is still “delighted” to supply customers with other classic brands under the greater Ferrara Candy Company umbrella. Those include the likes of Chuckles, Pixy Stix, Gobstopper, Fun Dip, and more.

Ferrara also owns Nerds, which has been enjoying an exponential rise in popularity. The very first Nerds Super Bowl ad will air for Super Bowl 58.

Which nostalgic candy was your favorite, and have any of them gone off the market?