When you crave a mouthful of crunchy peanut butter wrapped in chocolate, nothing satisfies you like a Butterfinger candy bar. Just rip open the bright gold wrapper with its familiar blue lettering, and you are in for a treat. What you’ll get is peanut butter made from freshly roasted peanuts mixed with sugar candy that is kneaded, rolled, and cut before being covered in chocolate to balance the saltiness of the peanut butter, which makes for a great choice when you’re looking for bulk candy.
History Of Butterfingers
Butterfingers have been around for nearly 100 years. The popular candy was created in 1922 by Otto Schnering, who also developed the Baby Ruth. His Curtiss Candy Company, based in Chicago, ran a contest to name the bar. At the time sportscasters began using the term “butterfingers” to describe players who couldn’t hold onto the ball. A Chicago man who described himself as a klutz submitted the name “Butterfinger” for the bar and it was a winner. Early promotions for the candy included dropping Butterfingers and Baby Ruths from an airplane across the U.S.
Throughout its history, the recipe for the candy bar remained the same until the original for Butterfinger and Baby Ruth were lost when the company, now part of standard brands, was sold to Nabisco in 1981. Nabisco engineers came up with recipes that captured the original taste and crunch.
In 1990, Butterfinger became part of the Nestle family of brands until 20 confectionary brands including Butterfinger were sold to Italian chocolatier Ferrero SpA in March 2018.
Distinctive Taste, Crazy Promotions
If you love Butterfingers, you are in good company as sales of the crunchy bar top $600 million annually. It ranks as the 11th most popular candy in America. Sales have increased over time through amusing advertising that pulled in comedic spokespersons and used clever slogans that played on the name.
Spokespersons have included Bart Simpson, Top Cat, Seth Green, Erik Estrada, Rob Lowe, and Jaime Pressly. Whether real or cartoon characters, all promoted the candy in an over-the-top way.Bart Simpson considered it one of the four food groups:”sandwich, cow, jungle and Butterfinger.”
In 2012, when the Mayan calendar predicted that the world would end, Butterfinger launched its BARmageddon campaign,hat included a mysterious work QR code that appearedin a fieldin Manhattan, Kansas,solar flares, and stories of how Butterfingers were going missing from supermarket shelves – all signs of the end of days.
While the ads encouraged candy lovers to try Butterfinger, the taste keeps people coming back to buy itsfull-size bars,minis, and innovations such as peanut butter cups. Butterfingers are a popular component ofNestle Assorted Miniaturepacks that also include Baby Ruth, Nestle Crunch, and more.
There’s Only One Butterfinger
Other companies have tried to create candy with a taste similar to Butterfingers with offerings such as the Clark Bar, Zagnut, 5th Avenue, and Reese’s Crispy Crunchy Bar, but candy lovers prefer the original.
Check out ouronline candy storefor Butterfinger and other peanut buttery treats.
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I'm well-versed in the realm of confectionery, especially when it comes to iconic treats like Butterfinger candy bars. The history of Butterfinger is rich and fascinating, starting with its creation in 1922 by Otto Schnering under the Curtiss Candy Company, the same mind behind the Baby Ruth bar. This candy bar's name was inspired by a term sportscasters used for clumsy players, and a contest led to its official christening. Early promotions involved dropping Butterfingers from airplanes across the U.S., a bold marketing move that captured attention.
The evolution of Butterfinger's ownership is noteworthy; it transitioned from Curtiss Candy Company to Nabisco in 1981, then to Nestle in 1990, and finally to Ferrero SpA in 2018 as part of a larger acquisition. Despite these shifts, efforts were made to maintain the original taste and crunch that made Butterfinger distinctive.
The candy's success, earning over $600 million in sales annually, is a testament to its popularity. This popularity is not just due to its taste but also its marketing strategies, involving memorable spokespersons like Bart Simpson and engaging promotions like the BARmageddon campaign in 2012, cleverly timed around the Mayan calendar prediction of the world's end.
Butterfinger's taste is unique, striking a balance between the saltiness of freshly roasted peanut butter and the sweetness of candy coated in chocolate. While other candies like Clark Bar, Zagnut, 5th Avenue, and Reese's Crispy Crunchy Bar have attempted to replicate its flavor, Butterfinger remains the preferred choice among candy enthusiasts.
Moreover, its diverse range of products, from full-size bars to minis and innovations like peanut butter cups, keeps it appealing to a wide audience. Additionally, it's often featured in assorted miniature packs alongside other Nestle favorites like Baby Ruth and Nestle Crunch.
For those seeking the original Butterfinger experience or exploring similar peanut buttery treats, online candy stores often offer a delightful array of options.
The concepts intertwined in this article cover the following areas:
- History of Butterfinger: From its creation in 1922 by Otto Schnering to its various ownership transitions, the narrative spans nearly a century.
- Marketing and Popularity: Butterfinger's success owes much to its clever marketing strategies, engaging spokespersons, and memorable campaigns like BARmageddon.
- Distinctive Taste: Described as a blend of saltiness from freshly roasted peanuts, sweetness from sugar candy, and a chocolate coating, Butterfinger's taste is its hallmark.
- Competing Candies: Other confectionery attempts like Clark Bar, Zagnut, 5th Avenue, and Reese's Crispy Crunchy Bar have aimed to emulate Butterfinger's taste but haven't eclipsed its popularity.
- Product Diversity: Butterfinger's range includes full-size bars, minis, peanut butter cups, and participation in assorted packs alongside other Nestle treats.
This iconic candy's journey encapsulates a blend of taste, marketing savvy, and cultural resonance that has kept it a beloved choice for candy enthusiasts over the years.
