Jujyfruits

Jujyfruits is an American confectionery brand whose candies are chewy, starch-based pieces molded into distinctive fruit and vegetable forms. The brand began production in 1920 under the Heide Candy Company and became associated with movie-theater confectionery, where its firm texture and small, colorful pieces made it a recognizable companion to other boxed and bagged candies. Heide also produced Jujubes, another gummy-style candy that helped establish the company’s presence in cinema concessions and the broader American candy market. The classic Jujyfruits assortment is distinguished less by literal flavor-shaped matching than by its unusual molded forms. The pieces have traditionally represented an asparagus bundle, banana, grape bundle, pea pod, pineapple, raspberry, and tomato. Their colors indicate the principal flavor profile: red pieces are raspberry, black pieces have anise or licorice character, green pieces are lime, orange pieces are orange, and yellow pieces are lemon. The banana-shaped candy carries the word “HEIDE,” linking the product visually to its original manufacturer. The pieces are relatively firm and can become harder with age or when chilled, a texture that differentiates them from softer gelatin gummies. A sour variety has also been available. The brand’s flavor history includes a notable reformulation. Until January 1999, the green Jujyfruits were mint flavored. Hershey, whose corporate ownership of the brand preceded later Ferrara ownership, changed the flavor to lime after a customer survey indicated that mint was not favored by consumers. This change illustrates how a seemingly small sensory attribute can be adjusted while preserving a long-established candy’s shapes, colors, and overall identity. Jujyfruits has also had a modest history of promotional activity and popular-culture visibility. During a promotion in the 1970s, consumers could send five dollars and a token from a Jujyfruits carton to Heide Candy Company to receive a brass buckle and leather belt. The brand later appeared in the television series Seinfeld, including the fifth-season finale “The Opposite,” and was briefly mentioned in the sixth-season episode “The Scofflaw.” It was also featured in the romantic fantasy film Beastly, whose character Lindy is described as having a fondness for the candy. The brand is currently manufactured by Heide Candy Company, which operates as a subsidiary of Ferrara Candy Company. Public reference material identifies the product as active but does not establish a separate corporate headquarters, standalone public listing, or independently reported financial results for Jujyfruits. As of January 2024, listed ingredients included corn syrup, sugar, modified and unmodified cornstarch, natural and artificial flavors, white mineral oil, carnauba wax, caramel color, and artificial colors including Yellow 6, Blue 1, Yellow 5, and Red 40.

Jujyfruits began production in 1920 under the Heide Candy Company. The product emerged as a chewy, starch-based confection molded into recognizable fruit and vegetable shapes rather than conventional uniform drops. Its assortment included asparagus bundles, bananas, grape bundles, pea pods, pineapples, raspberries, and tomatoes. The banana form was stamped with “HEIDE,” making the manufacturer part of the product’s visual identity. During the twentieth century, Jujyfruits became particularly associated with movie houses. Heide’s Jujubes were another prominent gummy-style product sold in the same general confectionery context, and the two brands helped reinforce Heide’s presence in cinema concessions. Jujyfruits’ firm texture, bright colors, and unusual shapes gave it a distinctive place among theater candies. Unlike many soft gummies, the pieces could harden with age or when chilled. The flavors historically corresponded to color rather than to the depicted shape. The range included raspberry for red pieces, anise or licorice for black pieces, lime for green pieces, orange for orange pieces, and lemon for yellow pieces. A significant flavor adjustment took place in January 1999, when the green candy changed from mint to lime. Hershey, then the parent company connected with the brand, reportedly made the decision after a customer survey showed weak consumer preference for mint. The reformulation preserved the green color while changing the taste toward a more conventionally fruit-oriented profile. Jujyfruits also supported promotional marketing. In the 1970s, a carton-token promotion allowed consumers to send five dollars and a token from a Jujyfruits carton to Heide Candy Company in exchange for a brass buckle and leather belt. This type of mail-in offer extended the brand beyond the candy itself and gave consumers a collectible branded item. The candy has remained visible in popular culture. It appeared in the fifth-season finale of Seinfeld, “The Opposite,” and was briefly mentioned again in the sixth-season episode “The Scofflaw.” Jujyfruits were also referenced in the romantic fantasy film Beastly through the character Lindy’s fondness for the candy. These appearances reinforced the product’s status as a recognizable legacy confectionery brand. In its current corporate context, Jujyfruits is manufactured by Heide Candy Company, a subsidiary of Ferrara Candy Company. Available ingredient information from January 2024 lists a starch-and-syrup confectionery base with sugar, modified and unmodified cornstarch, flavors, coating ingredients, caramel color, and artificial colors. The brand remains active, although public sources provide limited information about its standalone sales, management, geographic distribution beyond the United States, or separate corporate finances.

• 2024

  Ingredient information documented

  [1]Jujyfruitsen.wikipedia.org

  Ingredient information available as of January 2024 described the product as a starch-based candy containing corn syrup, sugar, cornstarch, flavorings, coating ingredients, colors, and other listed additives.

• 1999

  Green flavor changes from mint to lime

  [1]Jujyfruitsen.wikipedia.org

  The green pieces were changed from mint flavor to lime following a customer survey.

• 1970

  Mail-in belt and buckle promotion

  [1]Jujyfruitsen.wikipedia.org

  During a 1970s promotion, consumers could submit five dollars and a token from a Jujyfruits carton to receive a brass buckle and leather belt.

• 1920

  Jujyfruits production begins

  [1]Jujyfruitsen.wikipedia.org

  Jujyfruits began production under the Heide Candy Company.

A heritage American candy brand positioned around distinctive molded shapes, firm chewy texture, colorful fruit-associated flavors, and movie-theater nostalgia.

• Chewy molded candy · 1920

  Classic Jujyfruits

  The core Jujyfruits assortment consists of firm, chewy, gumdrop-like pieces molded into asparagus bundles, bananas, grape bundles, pea pods, pineapples, raspberries, and tomatoes. Colors correspond to flavors rather than shapes, including raspberry, anise or licorice, lime, orange, and lemon. The banana shape bears the Heide name. Pieces may become harder with age or refrigeration.

• Sour chewy candy

  Sour Jujyfruits

  A sour variant of Jujyfruits is also available. It retains the brand’s molded-piece concept while adding a sour taste profile to the established chewy starch-based candy format.

• 1970Jujyfruits belt and buckle mail-in promotion

  United States

  Consumers could mail five dollars and a token from a Jujyfruits carton to Heide Candy Company to receive a brass buckle and leather belt.

  Outcome. The promotion extended the brand into collectible merchandise and demonstrated the use of carton-based mail-in incentives.

  Source

• 1999

  Reformulation of the green candyOther

  Background

  Green Jujyfruits had traditionally been mint flavored, but a customer survey indicated that mint was not a popular choice.

  Action taken

  The flavor of the green pieces was changed from mint to lime while retaining the green color.

  Aftermath

  The brand continued to use a fruit-oriented flavor assortment, with lime replacing mint for the green pieces.

  Source

• 1999

  Green Jujyfruits flavor changed from mint to lime[1]Jujyfruitsen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Other

  The green pieces were reformulated from mint to lime after a customer survey found that mint was not a popular flavor. The change occurred while Hershey was the parent company associated with the brand.

• Jujyfruits production associated with Ferrara Candy Company[1]Jujyfruitsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Jujyfruits are manufactured by Heide Candy Company, a subsidiary of Ferrara Candy Company.

1. 1Jujyfruitsen.wikipedia.org