Are Nips candy still being made?

Nips candy are small hard candy lozenges that come in a variety of flavors and are wrapped in wax paper. They have been around since the early 20th century and were originally produced by the Pez Candy Company. Nips gained popularity over the years for their small size and portability. However, in recent years, the production of Nips candy has been discontinued in some countries, leading candy lovers to wonder – are Nips candy still being made?

The History of Nips Candy

Nips candy first appeared in the 1920s and were invented by Eduard Haas, the founder of the Austrian candy company Pez. At the time, the candy was called “Pep O Mints” and were marketed as “crystal mints.” The candies came in small trapeze-shaped lozenges that were individually wrapped in wax paper. The name “Pep O Mints” was likely a play on the name of the company “Pez” that produced them.

In the 1930s, Haas brought the Pep O Mints candy to the United States and the name was anglicized to “Nips.” The wrapping also changed from wax paper to aluminum and cellophane. The candy became popular in the US market and a variety of new flavors were introduced over the following decades. Traditional flavors included spearmint, cinnamon, and clove, though fruit flavors like lemon, orange, and cherry emerged later on.

One unique trait of Nips candy was the small portable size. The wrapped candies were only about 1-inch big, making them an easy on-the-go minty treat. The individually wrapped candies were frequently taken to restaurants and placed on tables as breath mints. They also became popular with smokers who would carry the portable mints to mask cigarette breath.

By the 1950s and 60s, Nips had become an iconic American candy brand. Catchy jingles and advertisments increased their popularity with phrases like “Fresh goes better, Mmm Nips!” The small candy lozenges were a nostalgic treat for many generations.

The Discontinuation of Nips Candy

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the production of Nips candy began to dwindle. The Ferrara Candy Company had taken over production of Nips from the original Pez Company in the 1980s. However, Ferrara began to focus more on other leading brands like Lemonhead, Red Hots, and Trolli.

There were also business factors impacting the discontinued production of Nips. For one, the wax paper wrapping became difficult to source and more expensive compared to other candy wrappers like cellophane and plastic. Additionally, the small portable candies were easy to shoplift, causing stores to buy less inventory.

By the mid-2000s, Nips candy were becoming increasingly hard to find on store shelves in the US. Around this time, Ferrara Candy made the official decision to stop production of Nips altogether in America. The company cited declining sales and high production costs as reasons for halting distribution.

The discontinuation of the iconic American candy caused disappointment among nostalgic Nips lovers. Many reminisced about the unique minty taste and convenient size that made Nips a popular choice for decades. Online petitions and campaigns emerged pleading for the return of Nips, but Ferrara Candy declined to restart production.

The Status of Nips Today

While Nips candy are no longer made in the United States, they have continued production in some international markets over the years. Specifically, Nips are still produced by the German branch of Ferrara Candy and remain available in parts of Europe.

However, European Nips have changed slightly compared to the original American version. The wax paper wrapping has been replaced by plastic wrapping. There are also fewer flavor options – primarily spearmint, cinnamon, and fruit flavors are made.

Beyond Europe, Nips can also still be found in Canada and a few other countries where foreign distributors have continued making generic versions. So while the iconic American Nips are gone, the candy remains internationally in limited quantities and under alternative names.

In the US, Nips have dwindled and all but vanished from store shelves over the past 15 years. Occasionally, they may be found in specialty candy shops or online auction sites selling nostalgic novelty items. But the widespread availability and distribution of the wax-wrapped mints has certainly passed.

For die-hard American Nips fans, the discontinued candies can sometimes be special ordered through retailers that import international foods. There are also recipes online for making homemade versions using mint oils and cornstarch to replicate the flavor and powdery texture.

But overall, the original Nips as invented by Pez Candy in the 1920s are a relic of yesteryear. Most candy lovers today have to reminisce about the nostalgic minty treats rather than enjoy them. And aside from limited overseas production, new generations are growing up in a world without Nips candy.

Why Were Nips Discontinued?

There were a few key factors that contributed to Nips candy being discontinued in the United States:

  • Declining Sales – By the 2000s, retail sales of Nips had dwindled significantly compared to their peak popularity in the 50s and 60s. As an older established brand, Nips failed to attract younger consumers in an evolving candy market.
  • Higher Production Costs – The unique wax paper wrapping became more expensive to source as suppliers declined. The small size also meant high costs for packing and shipping per piece of candy.
  • Difficulty Stocking – Small products like Nips are easy targets for shoplifters. Many stores stopped carrying Nips because the theft cut into profits compared to larger pack candy.
  • Company Strategies – When Ferrara Candy took over Nips, they favored promoting other brands like Lemonhead which were more profitable. Nips no longer fit their strategic priorities.

The brand’s dwindling relevance plus the manufacturing and stocking challenges led Ferrara Candy to make the economic decision to cease Nips production. Although disappointed nostalgic fans petitioned for their return, the discontinuation ultimately came down to dollars and cents.

Could Nips Make a Comeback?

There is always a possibility that Nips candy could be revived and brought back in the future. candy brands get relaunched from time to time when companies see potential in capitalizing on nostalgia.

However, Ferrara Candy has shown no interest in resurrecting Nips despite petitions from fans over the years. The company has focused their efforts on new candies and other established brands that are more relevant in today’s market.

For a true Nips comeback, a different candy company would likely have to acquire the rights to the brand and invest in recreating the original product. The challenge would be reproducing the wax paper wrapping that made Nips unique while still keeping costs manageable. Finding the right manufacturing partnership would be key.

A smart nostalgia marketing campaign could potentially drum up Gen X interest in bringing back their beloved childhood Nips. However, it’s unclear whether millennials and younger generations would buy-in to an old retro candy. Securing broad distribution could also prove difficult today compared to the brand’s heyday.

In short, while there may be some latent consumer demand for the return of vintage Nips, the business case for reviving the brand is questionable. Significant resources and risk would be required to make Nips commercially viable again in today’s market. But for candy lovers, hope always springs eternal that this blast from the past may one day return.

Nips Candy Alternatives

While original wax-wrapped Nips are gone, candy lovers still have plenty of options when it comes to small hard mints:

Candy Description
Tic Tacs Iconic tiny mints in plastic containers with flip-top lids
Junior Mints Bite-sized chocolates with a minty filling
York Peppermint Patties Circular dark chocolate mints enveloping a soft peppermint filling
Breath Savers Hard mints with a hole in the middle made by Wrigley
Ice Cubes White wintergreen breath mints by Tootsie Roll Industries

These alternatives can provide the strong minty flavor in a conveniently portable package that made Nips so popular. While Nips were a unique candy novelty of their time, the craving for a simple sharp mint continues to be filled by current candy products.

Other Discontinued Retro Candies

Nips aren’t the only vintage candy to be put out to pasture over the years. Many iconic sweets from the 1900s onward have met their demise as consumer tastes changed and production costs rose. A few examples of bygone candies people still wax nostalgic for include:

  • PEZ – Many discontinued PEZ dispenser lines and flavors like cola, flowers, cars, etc.
  • Life Savers – Clove, 5-flavor rolls, spark plug, and Sputnik themed packs
  • Mars – Magic Middles chocolate bars with a soft filling
  • Nestle – Summit cookie bars covered in chocolate
  • Wonka – Scrumdiddlyumptious and Shock Tarts sour candies

Discontinued candies hold a surprisingly strong place in people’s memories and represent happier simpler times. Even as new sweets emerge, the nostalgia for classics like Nips endures as epitomizing the flavors of childhood.

Conclusion

Nips candy were an iconic American treat for over 80 years, delighting fans with their bite-sized peppermint flavor and fun wax paper packaging. However, changing consumer preferences and production challenges led to their discontinuation in the US by early 2000s. Today, Nips remain only as a fond retro memory for longtime devotees and a novelty item for new generations.

While the original American Nips are gone, international versions linger on overseas. And the hunger for a strong portable mint is filled by current brands like Tic Tacs and Ice Cubes. Though nothing may ever quite replace the unique charm of unwrapping a wax-enclosed Nip, the demise of the vintage candy represents one more lost piece of 20th century Americana.

1 thought on “Are Nips candy still being made?”

  1. I understand that Nestle still makes coffee Nips. But they are only available online, as no stores carry Nips any more. Is this correct? Where online can I safely get this product?

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