Twizzlers
| A pack of Strawberry Twizzlers | |
| Product type | Candy |
|---|---|
| Owner | The Hershey Company |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 1845 |
| Website | http://www.twizzlers.com/ |
Twizzlers is a brand of red licorice candy in the United States and Canada. Twizzlers is the product of Y&S Candies, Inc., of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, now a subsidiary of The Hershey Company.
History
Y&S Candies, the manufactures of Twizzlers candy, is one of the oldest confectionery firms in the United States. The company was established in 1845 as Young and Smylie, and adopted Y&S as its trademark in 1870. National Licorice Company was created in 1902 through the merger of three small firms: Young & Smylie, S.V. & F.P. Schudder and H.W. Petherbridge. The company changed its name to Y&S candies Inc. in 1968 and was acquired by Hershey Foods in 1977.
Since 1999, Twizzlers have been manufactured in Memphis, Tennessee, in a Y&S plant that also makes chewing gum and other candies. From 1970 through 1999, it was manufactured at a plant in Farmington, New Mexico, but relocated the operation to Memphis because of rising transportation costs.[1] According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest licorice twist ever made measured 1,200 feet (370 m) and 100 pounds (45 kg) and was made at the Y&S Candy Plant in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This record-breaking twist became a Guinness World Record, on July 19, 1998.[2]
Flavors and varieties
While the original flavor introduced in 1845 was licorice, since then the company has begun to produce Twizzlers in strawberry, chocolate, cherry, and watermelon flavors, and a variety of shapes and sizes. In addition to their Twists, Bites, and Nibs of various sizes, Y&S introduced Pull 'n' Peel in 1994, and both Twerpz and Strawz in 2004.[3] Limited edition cherry cola and "rainbow" (fruit variety consisting of strawberry, orange, lemonade, watermelon, blue raspberry and grape) flavors were introduced in 2006. Today all these flavors of "rainbow" Twizzlers are still sold in stores and movie theaters. The company also manufactures a special 2-foot-long (61 cm) variety; the regular length of Twizzlers is 8 inches (20 cm). Hershey most recently introduced the Sweet and Sour Filled Twist. They come in two different colors, red and yellow, and both have a gooey, fruity filling inside. In 2011 a new variety called Super Long Nibs was also introduced, combining the flavor and texture of the classic Nib with the length of a standard Twizzler.
All Twizzler products are kosher certified by the Orthodox Union. Twizzlers do not contain animal gelatin or other animal products, and are approved by PETA as a vegan-edible confection.[4]
References
- ^ "Twizzlers operation leaves Farmington for Tennessee". Albuquerque Journal. January 18, 1999.
- ^ Twizzlers History.
- ^ "Twizzlers History". Hersheys.com. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
- ^ "> Shop! Shop! Shop! > Candy". PETAKiDS.com. Retrieved 2010-10-07.