Astro Pops

History

Astro Pops were first made in 1963 after two rocket scientists working on the space program in El Segundo, California decided to quit their jobs and create the Astro Pop, modeling the pop after a three-stage rocket. They hand-built equipment, including machines to speed up the production of the cone wrappers. Astro Pops are unusual because the cone wrapper becomes the mold for the candy. Hot candy is poured directly into the wrapper, then a paper stick is added and the pop is capped off with a layer of wax. Because Astro Pops were created in the 1960s, at the same time in history when the Space Race was in full force, millions of Astro Pops were sold when the manufacturers capitalized on this craze.

In 1987, Spangler Candy Company (the makers of Dum Dums, Circus Peanuts and Safe-T-Pops) acquired the Astro Pops brand from the Nellson Candy Company of Los Angeles, California.

The original three flavors of the candy are cherry, passionfruit, and pineapple. Spangler expanded the Astro Pop line of lollipops with flavors such as banana split and caramel apple.

In 1997, Spangler and the 7-Eleven convenience store chain were sued by a couple in Skagit County, Washington, who alleged that their son was injured by an Astro Pop.

At the beginning of 2000, Spangler decided to reverse the shape of the Astro Pop, placing the stick at the tip of the pop, rather than the base. They felt it would give the consumer more surface area to lick.

In 2010, Ellia Kassoff purchased the brand. The original manufacturing equipment had been sold for scrap so Leaf had to reinvent the manufacturing process. Kassoff, with his company Strategic Marks, has become known as a "brand revivalist", who revived the Leaf brand that was once owned by his uncle before being acquired by Hershey in 1996. At that time Leaf made candy such as Jolly Ranchers, Milk Duds, and Whoppers.

References

References

1. "Astro Pop History". Astro Pop Candy.
2. (25 May 2010). "New Owner for Astro Pops". Spangler Candy Company.
3. (January 31, 2012). "Astro Pop's Social Media Efforts Bring Back Fan Memories From 1987 to 2004". [[PRWeb]].
4. Associated Press. (November 24, 1997). "Spangler Candy Sued over Astro Pop Sucker". [[The Bryan Times]].
5. Bensinger, Ken. (January 5, 2013). "Reviving brands that aren't quite forgotten". [[Los Angeles Times]].
6. (April 18, 2012). "Old Brands Get a Second Shot". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
7. Philpot, Robert. (October 25, 2013). "Six retro candies making a sweet comeback". [[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]].
8. Norman, Jan. (November 17, 2012). "O.C. entrepreneur revives retro brands". [[Orange County Register]].