Kinder Surprise, also known as Kinder Surprise Egg,[1][2][3] is a candy manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero SpA since 1974. It was co-created by Michele Ferrero and William Salice, and is one of several candies sold under the Kinder brand. Each chocolate egg surrounds a plastic capsule that contains a small toy. Kinder Surprise replicates the Italian Easter tradition in which adults give children chocolate eggs with a toy inside. The toys inside the eggs have become collectible for adults as well. Since 1974, 30 billion Kinder Surprise eggs have been sold worldwide.
Description
editKinder Surprise is a hollow milk chocolate egg, lined with a layer of sweet milk-flavored cream.[4][5][6] Inside each egg is a plastic capsule that contains a small surprise toy, which sometimes requires assembly.[1][7][8] The capsule case is yellow, reportedly to resemble an egg's yolks.[9][10] The chocolates have foil packaging with warning labels advising parents to avoid giving the eggs to children under three years old, and encouraging supervision during consumption.[7][11]
Kinder Surprise was originally created with children in mind,[12] replicating an Italian Easter family tradition in which adults give children a large chocolate egg with a toy inside.[13] However, Kinder Surprise toys have become collectible for adults as well.[1] Collectors often try to acquire all toys within a themed set. Some even share their egg openings on social media,[14] or create their own toys and re-wrap them in Kinder Surprise packaging.[15] More than 100 new toys are distributed each year.[16] Around 12,000 different toys had been included within Kinder Surprise as of 2016.[17]
According to CNNMoney, Kinder Surprise is most popular in Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom.[8] Michele Ferrero and William Salice have been credited as co-creators of the candy.[18][19]
History
editIn 1968, Michele Ferrero raised the idea with his employees of a product that could be given to children so they could have a little "surprise" every day, based on the Italian tradition of large chocolate eggs given to children by their parents at Easter.[17] Ferrero said that at first his attempt to follow through this idea was unsuccessful after employees questioned the order he placed for a machine to make the chocolate eggs. They thought it would not be profitable, since eggs are only for Easter.[20] Ferrero also said that he wanted the product to have a higher milk content and make that a key part of its promotion; he felt that mothers would respond well to the idea of giving their children more milk.[20] Ferrero commissioned William Salice to realize the concept.[17]
The Italian company Ferrero began manufacturing Kinder Surprises in 1974.[7][13][21] Since then around 30 billion eggs have been sold worldwide.[16][22][23]
Salice, who has been credited as the inventor of Kinder Surprise but insisted he was just "material executor",[18][19] died in Italy in December 2016, at the age of 83.[24][25] The product celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 2017.
Collections and promotion
editThe toys within Kinder Surprise have been themed for various popular children's characters. Collections of Kinder Surprise toys have included Asterix, Fantasmini, Smurfs,[26][27] and Minions.[17][28] Ferrero and Kinder have also partnered with various companies, institutions, and people to promote Kinder Surprise, including The Walt Disney Company,[29] Universal,[30] and Smart.[31]
Safety concerns
editPlease note: I do not intend to seek replacement of the existing Safety concerns section, but will have some specific requests for corrections which I intend to post individually
References
edit- ^ a b c Avella, Joe (18 December 2016). "We got our hands on 'Kinder Surprise Eggs' -- the global candy favourite that's still illegal in the US". Business Insider. Axel Springer SE. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Shockey, Lauren (19 April 2011). "Surprise! You Can Still Find Kinder Surprise Eggs!". The Village Voice. ISSN 0042-6180. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ Madej, Patricia (29 May 2017). "Kinder Eggs will soon hit store shelves in the U.S." PhillyVoice. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ "Kinder Surprise". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. 11 January 1996. ISSN 0743-1791. OCLC 66652431. Retrieved 7 December 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Spyrou, Constantine (25 May 2017). "Kinder Eggs are coming to America and everyone is rejoicing". Business Insider. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ Walansky, Aly (24 November 2017). "After being banned, Kinder eggs are finally coming to the US". Today. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ a b c Khoo, Isabelle (26 January 2016). "Kinder Surprise USA: Why These Eggs Are Banned South of the Border". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ a b Horowitz, Julia (22 May 2017). "Kinder eggs are coming to U.S. stores next year". CNN. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Yellow shell:
- Oakley, Nicola; Rodger, James (28 February 2017). "This is why Kinder Surprise toy cases are yellow". Birmingham Mail. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- Driscoll, Brogan (28 February 2017). "This Is Why the Kinder Surprise Toy Case Is Yellow". HuffPost. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ Yellow shell:
- Jones, Becky (4 March 2017). "Do you know why Kinder Surprise toy cases are yellow? Lots of chocolate lovers don't!". Leicester Mercury. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- Gross, Samantha J. (28 February 2017). "The reason why Kinder Surprise toy cases are yellow is blowing the minds of chocolate lovers". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- Shaw, Neil (28 February 2017). "This is why Kinder Surprise capsules are yellow". Tiverton Gazette. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ My, Sergio (21 February 2015). "Why Are Kinder Surprise Eggs Illegal in the US?". The Independent. London: Independent Print Limited. ISSN 0951-9467. OCLC 185201487. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Ferrero launches white chocolate Kinder Bueno bar aimed at women". Marketing Week. Centaur Media. 13 March 2008. ISSN 0141-9285. Retrieved 9 December 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b Kell, John (22 May 2017). "Kinder Egg Is Coming to America". Fortune. New York City: Time Inc. ISSN 0015-8259. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Border Is Watched for Easter Candy". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York: Berkshire Hathaway. 30 March 2015. ISSN 0745-2691. Retrieved 9 December 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Mosendz, Polly (16 February 2015). "Ukrainian Patriots Create a Kinder Egg Surprise". Newsweek. Newsweek Media Group. ISSN 0028-9604. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
- ^ a b Silver, Erin (8 November 2015). "Kinder Surprise 'unwrap videos' on YouTube mesmerize children". Toronto Star. Star Media Group. ISSN 0319-0781. OCLC 137342540. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d Sanna, Cristiano (30 December 2016). "Addio al papà dell'Ovetto Kinder, in tutto il mondo ne sono stati venduti 30 miliardi" (in Italian). Tiscali. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
- ^ a b "William Salice, creator of Kinder Surprise, dies at 83". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 30 December 2016. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ a b Offord, Jen (31 December 2016). "Kinder Egg creator William Salice dies, aged 83". International Business Times. IBT Media. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ a b Calabresi, Mario (15 February 2015). "Michele Ferrero: "Il segreto del successo? Pensare diverso dagli altri e non tradire il cliente"". La Stampa (in Italian). GEDI Gruppo Editoriale. ISSN 1122-1763. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
- ^ Mitchell, Simone (25 May 2017). "Americans have been denied the joy of a Kinder Surprise ... until now". news.com.au. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ "Wal-Mart to sell Australian rival to Kinder Surprise chocolates in U.S." Reuters. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ Abel, Allen (29 January 2011). "America's choke hold on Kinder Surprise". Winnipeg Free Press. FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership. ISSN 0828-1785. OCLC 1607085. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ "Kinder Surprise inventor dies". BBC News. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ "Kinder Surprise inventor dies". eNCA. 30 December 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ "Kinder Surprise Maxi eggs created just in time for Easter". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. 14 March 2017. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
- ^ "Obituary: William Salice". The Times. News UK. 19 January 2017. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
A high proportion of those available in Italy contain Smurfs.
- ^ Gwynn, Simon (7 July 2015). "Kinder Surprise is latest brand to get Minions tie-up". The Grocer. William Reed Business Media. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ Hof, Robert D. (6 December 2015). "'Unboxing' Videos a Gift to Marketers". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ Gwynn, Simon (29 March 2016). "Minions, Frozen and Star Wars licensed to sell too much junk food, say health campaigners". PRWeek. Haymarket Media Group. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ "Smart Cars - Kinder Surprises Get Smart". Super Street. Source Interlink. 1 December 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
External links
edit- Media related to Kinder Surprise at Wikimedia Commons
- Kinder official website