Skittles Fruits

Skittles is a world-renowned brand of fruit-flavored, chewy candies encased in a hard sugar shell. The brand's origins date back to 1974 in the United Kingdom, where it was first produced by Mars, Incorporated's British operations and distributed by various partners before expanding globally. While it is strongly associated with the 'Taste the Rainbow' marketing campaign created in the United States in 1994, the candy itself was an import to North America until domestic production began in Texas in 1982.

Today, Skittles is manufactured in several locations worldwide to support its global distribution. Major production facilities are located in the United States (primarily in Illinois) and across Europe, including sites in the Czech Republic and Poland. The product shown—the 'Fruits' variety—is characteristic of the European and UK markets, where it typically features a blackcurrant flavor instead of the grape flavor found in North American versions.

The brand is currently owned by Mars, Incorporated, a massive, privately-held American multinational. In 2008, Mars acquired the Wrigley Company and subsequently merged its chocolate and confectionery segments to form Mars Wrigley, which now manages the Skittles brand globally from its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.