Fruit Stripe
Fruit Stripe was an American fruit-flavored chewing-gum brand known for brightly striped pieces, zebra-striped wrappers, temporary tattoos, and its Yipes mascot.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Fruit Stripe was a confectionery brand centered on brightly colored, fruit-flavored chewing gum. The product was created by James Parker and introduced by Beech-Nut in 1960 under the original concept of a five-flavor gum. Its individual pieces were distinguished by colored stripes, while the packaging used zebra-like striping that became one of the brand's most recognizable visual features. The gum was sold in flavor assortments rather than as a single permanent flavor, allowing the brand to present itself as playful, varied, and strongly associated with fruit candy. The original chewing-gum assortment was described as containing wet 'n wild melon, cherry, lemon, orange, and peach smash. A separate bubble-gum assortment used cherry, grape, mixed fruit, lemon, and cotton-candy flavors. The combination of intense colors, short-form novelty appeal, and collectible packaging gave Fruit Stripe an identity distinct from more conventional gum brands. Its wrappers also functioned as temporary tattoos, extending the product experience beyond chewing and giving children an additional reason to interact with the packaging. Fruit Stripe's marketing developed around animal imagery and a deliberately exuberant tone. Early promotional characters included the Fruit Stripe Gum Man, an anthropomorphic pack of gum, and the Stripe Family Animals, which included a zebra, tiger, elephant, and mouse. Over time, the zebra became the enduring face of the brand. Later named Yipes, the character appeared prominently on packages and in promotional materials, often alongside the slogan "Yipes! Stripes!" Yipes was depicted in a variety of energetic activities, including skating, skateboarding, baseball, basketball, surfing, and other sports. The brand also supported character-based merchandise and promotional items, including a coloring book, plush toys, and a bendy figure released in 1988. Ownership of the brand changed several times. Nabisco acquired Fruit Stripe in 1981 through its purchase of Beech-Nut's Life Savers candy business from E. R. Squibb. The Hershey Company later sold the Fruit Stripe brand name to Farley's & Sathers Candy Company in 2003. Farley's & Sathers merged with Ferrara Pan in 2012, creating Ferrara Candy Company, and Ferrara became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrero in 2017. These transactions placed Fruit Stripe within progressively larger confectionery groups while retaining its established brand identity. The brand expanded beyond gum with the introduction of Fruit Stripe Gummy Candy in 2022. The original gum line nevertheless remained the product most closely associated with the name. In January 2024, Ferrero announced that it would end further production of Fruit Stripe gum, effectively closing the principal chapter of the brand's long-running chewing-gum business. As a result, Fruit Stripe is best understood as a discontinued gum brand with a legacy built on novelty packaging, temporary tattoos, animal mascots, and highly recognizable striped presentation.
History
Fruit Stripe originated in 1960 when James Parker developed what was described as a five-flavor gum. Beech-Nut brought the product to market, establishing the basic formula and presentation that would define the brand: fruit-oriented flavors, brightly striped gum pieces, and packaging with a zebra-stripe motif. The brand's assortment format allowed several flavors to appear together. The chewing-gum selection included wet 'n wild melon, cherry, lemon, orange, and peach smash, while a bubble-gum selection used cherry, grape, mixed fruit, lemon, and cotton candy. The visual and promotional identity of Fruit Stripe developed alongside the product. The wrappers were not merely containers; they also served as temporary tattoos, giving consumers an interactive novelty associated with the brand. Early advertising used the Fruit Stripe Gum Man, an anthropomorphic gum package, as well as a group of animal characters known as the Stripe Family Animals. The group included a zebra, tiger, elephant, and mouse and appeared in advertising and related merchandise, including a coloring book and plush toys. The zebra eventually outlasted the other characters as the brand's principal mascot. It was later given the name Yipes and became a recurring feature on Fruit Stripe packaging. The phrase "Yipes! Stripes!" was associated with the character and reinforced the brand's visual emphasis on stripes. Promotional depictions showed Yipes participating in numerous recreational activities, including inline skating, skateboarding, baseball, hang gliding, basketball, bicycling, snowboarding, surfing, soccer, tennis, and eating grass. A promotional bendy figure featuring Yipes was produced in 1988. Fruit Stripe changed corporate hands during the consolidation of the American confectionery industry. In 1981, Nabisco acquired the brand through its purchase of Beech-Nut's Life Savers candy line from E. R. Squibb. In 2003, Farley's & Sathers Candy Company acquired the Fruit Stripe brand name from The Hershey Company. Farley's & Sathers later merged with Ferrara Pan in 2012, forming Ferrara Candy Company. Ferrara became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrero in 2017, placing the brand within the international Ferrero confectionery group. The brand later broadened its format with Fruit Stripe Gummy Candy, introduced in 2022. This was a product extension beyond the traditional gum format, although the original chewing gum remained the item most strongly identified with Fruit Stripe. In January 2024, Ferrero announced that it would stop producing Fruit Stripe gum. The announcement marked the end of production for the product that had carried the brand since its 1960 launch. Fruit Stripe's historical importance rests less on corporate scale than on its distinctive combination of multi-flavor gum, striped wrappers, temporary tattoos, animal characters, and a memorable zebra mascot.
- 2024
Traditional gum discontinued
[1]Ferrero announced that further production of Fruit Stripe gum would cease.
- 2022
Fruit Stripe Gummy Candy launches
[1]A gummy-candy variety extended the Fruit Stripe name beyond chewing gum.
- 2017
Ferrara becomes a Ferrero subsidiary
[1]Ferrara Candy Company became wholly owned by Ferrero.
- 2012
Farley's & Sathers merges with Ferrara Pan
[1]The merger created Ferrara Candy Company, which became the brand's operating confectionery company.
- 2003
Farley's & Sathers acquires the brand name
[1]The Fruit Stripe brand name was acquired by Farley's & Sathers Candy Company from The Hershey Company.
- 1996
Wildlife fundraising promotion
[1]Fruit Stripe donated five cents from each Jumbo Pack and Variety Multipack sold to the World Wildlife Fund, raising approximately $100,000 for endangered animals and habitat preservation.
- 1988
Yipes promotional figure released
[1]A bendy promotional figure based on the Yipes zebra mascot was produced.
- 1981
Nabisco acquires the brand
[1]Nabisco obtained Fruit Stripe through its acquisition of Beech-Nut's Life Savers candy line from E. R. Squibb.
- 1960
Fruit Stripe introduced by Beech-Nut
[1]James Parker's five-flavor gum was first sold by Beech-Nut, beginning the Fruit Stripe brand's commercial history.
Products and positioning
A playful, brightly colored novelty confectionery brand built around multiple fruit flavors, striped gum pieces, zebra-themed packaging, temporary tattoos, and character-led marketing.
Chewing gum · 1960
Fruit Stripe Chewing Gum
The core Fruit Stripe product was a brightly striped, fruit-flavored chewing gum sold in five-flavor assortments. The identified chewing-gum flavors were wet 'n wild melon, cherry, lemon, orange, and peach smash. Zebra-striped wrappers doubled as packaging and temporary tattoos, making the product notable for its interactive presentation as well as its flavor variety.
Bubble gum
Fruit Stripe Bubble Gum
Fruit Stripe also appeared in a bubble-gum format with a separate five-flavor assortment. The listed flavors were cherry, grape, mixed fruit, lemon, and cotton candy. Like the chewing-gum line, the bubble-gum presentation relied on colorful striping and character-oriented packaging to create a playful, novelty-driven product experience.
Gummy candy · 2022
Fruit Stripe Gummy Candy
Fruit Stripe Gummy Candy was introduced in 2022 as a product extension into a non-gum confectionery format. The launch preserved the Fruit Stripe name while broadening the brand's product architecture beyond its long-established chewing-gum identity.
Marketing campaigns
- 1996Endangered Animals and Habitat Preservation Promotion
United States
Fruit Stripe committed five cents from every Jumbo Pack and Variety Multipack sold to the World Wildlife Fund. The promotion connected the brand's animal imagery with conservation fundraising and reportedly generated about $100,000 for endangered animals and their habitats.
Outcome. Approximately $100,000 was raised for the World Wildlife Fund.
Brand decisions
2024
End production of Fruit Stripe gumStrategyBackground
The traditional Fruit Stripe gum product had been sold since its introduction by Beech-Nut in 1960.
Action taken
Ferrero announced in January 2024 that it would cease further production of Fruit Stripe gum.
Aftermath
The announcement ended production of the core chewing-gum product and left the brand's continuing status outside the gum line unclear.
2022
Extend the brand into gummy candyProduct launchBackground
Fruit Stripe had historically been identified primarily with chewing gum and bubble gum.
Action taken
Ferrara/Ferrero introduced Fruit Stripe Gummy Candy, adding a gummy format to the brand.
Aftermath
The extension broadened the product format, while the traditional gum remained the brand's best-known offering until its later discontinuation.
Recent events
- 2024
Ferrero announces the end of Fruit Stripe gum production[1]
Other
Ferrero announced in January 2024 that it would cease further production of the traditional Fruit Stripe gum product.
- 2022
Fruit Stripe Gummy Candy introduced[1]
Product launch
Fruit Stripe expanded beyond its traditional gum format with the introduction of a gummy-candy variety.
- 2017
Ferrara becomes part of Ferrero[1]
M&A
Ferrara Candy Company, which held the Fruit Stripe brand after its merger with Farley's & Sathers, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrero.
- 2003
Fruit Stripe brand acquired by Farley's & Sathers[1]
M&A
Farley's & Sathers Candy Company acquired the Fruit Stripe brand name from The Hershey Company.
Sources1 sources
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