The Zero candy bar, introduced in 1920, is a candy bar composed of a combination of caramel, peanut and almond nougat covered with a layer of white chocolate fudge. Its outwardly white color — an unusual color for a candy bar — has become its trademark. The coating melted at a higher temperature than brown chocolates, making the bar a popular choice for summer vending in the pre-air conditioning South. Zero resembles Snickers, a candy manufactured by Mars, except Zero is white instead of dark brown.
 | |
 A candy bar that combines caramel, peanuts, and almond nougat coated with white chocolate fudge. | |
| Product type | Candy bar |
|---|---|
| Owner | Iconic IP Interests, LLC |
| Produced by | The Hershey Company |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 1920 |
| Related brands | Hershey's White Crème with Almonds |
| Website | hersheyland.com/zero |
History
editZero was first launched by the Hollywood Brands candy company of Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1920 as the Double Zero Bar and was renamed "Zero" in 1934. It is said[1] the name "double" zero was implied to suggest the Zero bar was "cool", as in low in temperature.[2] Initial manufacturing of the candy bar began at its factory in Centralia, Illinois, and continued through many acquisitions of the company.[3]
Hollywood Brands was first sold to Consolidated Foods Corporation in 1967 (which later became Sara Lee) and production continued after a fire destroyed the Centralia plant in 1980. A new production facility opened in 1983, and in 1988 Hollywood Brands was purchased by Huhtamaki Oyj of Helsinki, Finland, and became part of Leaf, Inc.[3]
Hershey Foods Corporation took over Leaf North America confectionery operations in 1996, and with it came the production of the Zero candy bar.[4]
Variation and sale
edit| Type | Candy Bar | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 230 kcal (963 kJ) | |||||||
|
The candy bar is sold in three different sizes. According to the official website,[5] its traditional size is a singular bar at 1.85 ounces (52 g), comparable to the traditional full-size Hershey Bar which is 1.55 ounces (44 g).[6] As of 2020, the candy bar can also be purchased in a king size at 3.4 ounces (96 g). Finally, the candy is sold in a pack of 6 containing individually wrapped bars coming in at 1.85 ounces (52 g).[7]
Reviews
editIn October 2020, Link Neal and Rhett McLaughlin of Good Mythical Morning deemed the Zero bar the "worst candy bar in the world" in a multi-day bracketed review of several different candy bars.[8]
Some critics have deemed the bar as a "white chocolate Snickers",[9] even though the Zero bar predates Snickers by a decade.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Not less than Zero - The History of Zero Candy Bars". The ORIGINAL Candy Blog from America's Oldest Wholesale Candy Company. 2013-10-24. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ "Zero Candy Bar — Snack Memory". Archived from the original on 2014-12-14. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
- ^ a b Faries, Dave (January 26, 2010). "If Memory Serves: Zero Candy Bars". City of Ate. Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on December 25, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ "ZERO Candy Bar". Hershey's. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
- ^ "ZERO Candy Bar | Hershey's Products". www.hersheys.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ "HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Bars Standard Size". www.hersheys.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ "ZERO Candy Bar, 6 Pack | HERSHEY Products". www.hersheys.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ "Worst Halloween Candy Bar Taste Test (Finals)". YouTube.
- ^ Faries, Dave (2010-01-26). "If Memory Serves: Zero Candy Bars". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ ""Global Brands>Snickers"". Mars. July 28, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
