Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles facts for kids
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| Owner | Nestlé |
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| Introduced | 1881 |
| Previous owners | Rowntree's |
Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles are small, round, chewy sweets. They are about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) wide. These sweets have a jelly-like texture and are covered in sugar.
Fruit Pastilles are made with real fruit juice. They do not contain any artificial colors or flavors. You can find them in five yummy flavors: yellow (lemon), green (lime), red (strawberry), purple (blackcurrant), and orange (orange). While known as Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles in the UK, they have different names in other countries. For example, they are called Wonka Fruit Pastilles in Australia and Frutips in Canada and parts of Asia.
These popular sweets first came from Tyneside, England, in 1881. As of 2023, the production of Fruit Pastilles moved to the Czech Republic.
Contents
The Story of Fruit Pastilles
How Fruit Pastilles Began
Fruit Pastilles were first created in 1881. This happened at the Rowntree's factory in Fawdon, Tyneside, England. The new sweet quickly became very popular. By 1887, Fruit Pastilles made up about a quarter of all the sweets the company produced.
Becoming Vegan-Friendly
For many years, people asked Nestlé, the company that owns Rowntree's, to make Fruit Pastilles suitable for vegans. In September 2020, Nestlé announced they would do this. This change meant more people could enjoy the sweets.
How They Are Packaged
Fruit Pastilles usually come in tubes. These tubes are wrapped in a special paper that has foil on the inside. A green paper wrapper goes over the top. This wrapper has "Fruit Pastilles" written on it in big letters. Below the writing, you can see pictures of different fruits. These pictures show the flavors inside the packet. The "Rowntree's" brand name is at the top. You can buy Fruit Pastilles in small packs that weigh about 52.5 grams (1.85 ounces). These small packs usually have 14 pastilles. You can also find them in larger bags, boxes, and big round cardboard tubes.
Advertising and Promotions
Classic TV Ads
In 1972, Rowntree's used a fun song for their television advertisements. They used the tune of "Pistol Packin' Mama." The catchy slogan for the ad was "Pastille Pickin' Mama, pass those pastilles round." This helped people remember the sweets.
The "What Can You Do But Chew?" Campaign
Rowntree's wanted people to know that Fruit Pastilles contain 25% fruit juice. To do this, they ran a special marketing campaign for 105 days. They set up "What Can You Do But Chew?" talent shows at family events, grocery stores, and service stations. This campaign was also linked to the brand's sponsorship of the TV show Britain's Got Talent.
During these events, brand ambassadors gave out over 427,000 free samples. They talked to parents about the "25% fruit juice" message. The campaign was a big success! About 93% of the people who took part said they felt more positive about the brand. More than half of them also said they were very likely to buy Fruit Pastilles after the campaign.
See also
- Joseph Rowntree (philanthropist)
- List of confectionery brands
- Rowntree's
