Starburst Original fruit chews

Starburst, the iconic chewy candy, has a fascinating history that began in the United Kingdom. Originally launched in 1960 under the name 'Opal Fruits,' the product was the result of a naming competition won by Peter Pfeffer. The original quartet of flavors—strawberry, lemon, orange, and lime—quickly became a British staple. When the brand expanded to the United States in 1967, it was rebranded as Starburst to appeal to the American market, a name that was eventually adopted globally, including in the UK in 1998.

Today, Starburst is owned by Mars, Incorporated, specifically managed under its Mars Wrigley subsidiary. While production originally occurred at the famous Mars factory in Slough, England, European manufacturing for the fruit chews has largely shifted to the Czech Republic following factory closures and consolidations in the late 2000s. The brand remains a dominant force in the global confectionery market, celebrated for its 'unexplainably juicy' fruit flavors and its evolution from a single product into a wide range of gummies, jelly beans, and seasonal treats.