Red Ripperz

Red Ripperz is an Australian confectionery brand associated with Allen's, the Nestlé-owned sweets business. The product consists of red, raspberry-flavoured chewy candy formed into elongated bars and sold in individual twist-wrapped pieces. A standard piece weighs approximately 10 grams, although the brand has also been sold in smaller formats and multipack presentations. The product was previously known as Redskins or Red Skins. That earlier name and associated packaging became controversial because the term has long been used as a racial slur directed at Native Americans and First Nations people. The branding issue was not limited to the product name. Earlier packaging included an illustration of a Native American wearing a traditional headdress, while an advertising campaign broadcast in New Zealand in 1996 depicted comedian Mark Wright in Native American clothing and using an accent. New Zealand's Advertising Standards Complaints Board upheld a complaint about that advertisement after considering objections to its cultural representation. In the late 1990s, the packaging illustration was replaced with a more neutral red character. The brand name itself remained in use for many years, however. In June 2020, Nestlé announced that the names of Redskins and Chicos would be changed, stating that the existing names were inconsistent with the company's stated commitment to respect and inclusion. The announcement occurred amid a broader wave of corporate and cultural reassessments following the worldwide protests associated with the killing of George Floyd. On 16 November 2020, Nestlé announced Red Ripper as the proposed new name for Redskins and said that packaging using the name would reach stores in early 2021. The proposed renaming generated additional discussion because “Red Ripper” was also a nickname associated with Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. The final retail branding became Red Ripperz, retaining the product's recognizable red, raspberry-flavoured chewy format while replacing the disputed former name. Red Ripperz remains positioned as an accessible, nostalgic impulse confectionery product rather than a premium or health-oriented food. Its principal differentiation is its soft, chewy texture, raspberry flavour, bright red appearance, individually wrapped bar format, and connection to the established Allen's sweets range. In June 2025, Allen's expanded the product's format through an apple-and-grape assortment marketed as the Ripperz Remix pack. This introduced additional flavours while preserving the Ripperz identity. Available information identifies Australia as the brand's principal market; detailed international distribution, launch dates, financial performance, and current management specific to Red Ripperz are not publicly established in the supplied reference material.

Red Ripperz developed from a confectionery product formerly marketed in Australia and New Zealand under the names Redskins or Red Skins. The product's basic format was a small, elongated, red chewy bar with raspberry flavouring, individually wrapped in paper. Its identity was built around an immediately recognizable colour, flavour, shape, and inexpensive snack format rather than a complex product range. It was manufactured by Nestlé and sold through the company's Allen's confectionery portfolio. The original branding attracted cultural criticism because “redskin” has been used as a derogatory term for Native Americans and First Nations Canadians since at least the nineteenth century. The issue became publicly documented in New Zealand in 1996, when the country's Advertising Standards Complaints Board considered a complaint about a television advertisement. The commercial featured comedian Mark Wright wearing Native American clothing and adopting an accent, accompanied by a mock drumbeat. Nestlé New Zealand argued that the advertisement was inoffensive, but the board upheld the complaint. Packaging also contributed to the controversy. Earlier versions showed a Native American figure wearing a traditional headdress. During the late 1990s, this image was replaced with a more neutral red character, reducing the explicit visual reference while leaving the product name unchanged. The continued use of the former name meant that the brand remained exposed to criticism even after the packaging imagery had been modified. Nestlé revisited the naming issue in June 2020. Alongside the announcement that Chicos would also be renamed, the company said that the names no longer reflected the inclusive character of modern society and were out of step with values based on respect. The decision came during a period of heightened public attention to racial language and representation, following the global protests connected with the death of George Floyd. It formed part of a broader reassessment of established consumer brands whose names or imagery were considered offensive or exclusionary. On 16 November 2020, Nestlé announced Red Ripper as the new name intended to replace Redskins. The company indicated that the revised packaging would appear in stores in early 2021. The proposed title was itself questioned because “Red Ripper” had been used as a nickname for Andrei Chikatilo, a Soviet serial killer. The product ultimately appeared in retail as Red Ripperz, a spelling that preserved a connection with the historic product while establishing a distinct contemporary brand identity. The renaming maintained the core confectionery proposition: a red, raspberry-flavoured chewy bar sold as an individual sweet or in multipacks. In June 2025, Allen's broadened the range through Ripperz Remix, an assortment featuring apple and grape versions. This represented a flavour extension rather than a fundamental change in the product category or format. Publicly supplied material does not establish a separate corporate structure, standalone headquarters, financial results, executive team, or comprehensive distribution map for Red Ripperz. The brand is best understood as a product brand within Nestlé's Allen's confectionery house, with Australia as its clearly documented market.

• 2025

  Ripperz Remix flavour extension

  [1]Red Ripperzen.wikipedia.org

  Allen's released a Ripperz Remix pack containing apple and grape versions of the confectionery.

• 2021

  Product released under Red Ripperz branding

  [1]Red Ripperzen.wikipedia.org

  The renamed product was ultimately released under the Red Ripperz name.

• 2020

  Nestlé announces brand-name change

  [1]Red Ripperzen.wikipedia.org

  Nestlé announced that Redskins and Chicos would be renamed to better reflect the company's stated commitment to respect and inclusion.

• 2020

  Red Ripper announced as replacement name

  [1]Red Ripperzen.wikipedia.org

  Nestlé announced Red Ripper as the proposed replacement for Redskins and said the new packaging would be available in early 2021.

• 1996

  New Zealand advertising complaint upheld

  [1]Red Ripperzen.wikipedia.org

  The New Zealand Advertising Standards Complaints Board upheld a complaint about a Redskins television advertisement featuring Native American clothing, an accent, and a mock drumbeat.

• 1990

  Packaging imagery becomes more neutral

  [1]Red Ripperzen.wikipedia.org

  During the late 1990s, the former packaging illustration of a Native American wearing a traditional headdress was replaced by a more neutral red character.

An accessible, nostalgic Australian chewy confectionery brand within the Allen's portfolio, centered on raspberry flavour, a bright red appearance, individually wrapped bar-shaped pieces, and occasional flavour extensions.

• Chewy confectionery

  Red Ripperz

  The core Red Ripperz product is a red, raspberry-flavoured chewy confectionery formed into elongated bars. Individual pieces are twist-wrapped in paper and weigh approximately 10 grams in the standard format, although smaller sizes have also been available. The product is associated with the Allen's brand and is sold as an accessible snack or impulse sweet. Its current name replaced the former Redskins or Red Skins branding following Nestlé's 2020 renaming decision.

• Assorted chewy confectionery · 2025

  Ripperz Remix

  Ripperz Remix is an assortment introduced by Allen's in June 2025. The pack includes apple and grape versions, extending the Ripperz concept beyond the established raspberry flavour. The launch preserved the brand's chewy confectionery positioning while offering flavour variety in a mixed-pack format.

• 2020

  Controversy over former Redskins name

  Nestlé announced the renaming of Redskins because the term was regarded as offensive and inconsistent with the company's stated values of respect and inclusion.

  Source

• 2020

  Controversy surrounding proposed Red Ripper name

  The proposed replacement name Red Ripper attracted criticism because it was also associated with Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. The final retail name became Red Ripperz.

  Source

• 1996

  Complaint over Native American-themed advertising

  A New Zealand advertising complaint concerning a Redskins commercial was upheld. The complaint focused on the use of Native American clothing, an accent, and stereotyped audio elements.

  Source

Read more

• 1996Redskins television advertisement

  New Zealand

  A television advertisement for the former Redskins brand featured comedian Mark Wright dressed in Native American clothing, using an accent, with a mock drumbeat in the soundtrack.

  Outcome. The New Zealand Advertising Standards Complaints Board upheld a complaint about the advertisement.

  Source

• 2025

  Launch Ripperz Remix flavour assortmentProduct launch

  Background

  The established Ripperz identity offered an opportunity to broaden the range beyond its traditional raspberry flavour.

  Action taken

  Allen's released a Ripperz Remix pack containing apple and grape versions.

  Aftermath

  The launch expanded the brand's flavour offering while retaining its chewy confectionery format.

  Source

• 2020

  Rename Redskins and ChicosStrategy

  Background

  Nestlé reassessed the names amid heightened public scrutiny of racial language and branding following the George Floyd protests.

  Action taken

  Nestlé announced that both product names would be changed to reflect what it described as a more inclusive and respectful approach.

  Aftermath

  The Redskins product was ultimately relaunched as Red Ripperz.

  Source

• 2020

  Select replacement name Red RipperStrategy

  Background

  Nestlé needed a new name for the long-running confectionery product after deciding to retire the Redskins branding.

  Action taken

  Nestlé announced Red Ripper as the proposed new name and planned new packaging for early 2021.

  Aftermath

  Because the proposed name generated controversy over its association with Andrei Chikatilo, the product was released with the spelling Red Ripperz.

  Source

• 1990

  Replace Native American packaging illustrationStrategy

  Background

  The former packaging used an illustration of a Native American wearing a traditional headdress, contributing to concerns about cultural stereotyping.

  Action taken

  The illustration was replaced during the late 1990s with a more neutral red character.

  Aftermath

  The visual reference was reduced, but the product continued to use the Redskins or Red Skins name until the later renaming process.

  Source

• 2025

  Allen's releases Ripperz Remix apple and grape assortment[1]Red Ripperzen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Allen's released a Ripperz Remix pack containing apple and grape versions, extending the Ripperz concept beyond its established raspberry flavour.

1. 1Red Ripperzen.wikipedia.org