Stride (gum) facts for kids
A package of Stride Winterblue
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| Owner | Mondelez |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 2006 |
| Discontinued | 2023 (North America and Europe) |
| Related brands | Trident Dentyne |
| Previous owners | Cadbury Schweppes • Kraft > Mondelez |
Stride was a well-known brand of sugar-free chewing gum. The candy maker Cadbury-Adams first introduced the brand in June 2006. It later became part of the large snack company Mondelez International. The gum became famous because its sweet taste lasted a long time. People enjoyed chewing it during school, sports, and playtime.
By 2020, the brand produced fewer types of gum. It focused mainly on its Spearmint flavor. Shoppers bought most of their packs online through Amazon and eBay. Stores slowly stopped carrying the product on their shelves. In 2023, the company discontinued Stride across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Mondelez sold many other candy lines to Perfetti Van Melle that same year. Stride remained separate and continued selling treats in China.
Contents
The History and Creation of Stride Gum
Scientists spent three years creating the recipe for Stride before its release. Cadbury showed the new gum to the world at the 2006 All Candy Expo. Food creators used a special sweetener called mannitol to hold flavor inside the gum. This ingredient allowed the taste to release slowly while people chewed. Cadbury proudly called it "The Ridiculously Long Lasting Gum."
The company hired the advertising agency JWT to share funny commercials on television. These ads showed humorous office workers begging people to buy more gum. In 2007, the company won an OMMA Award for creative internet games. Stride worked with Xfire to hold a video game competition for young players. The company even sponsored the world traveler Matt Harding for an online video. Cadbury also teamed up with the gaming website Kongregate to host fun game-making contests.
These exciting commercials helped Stride grow very popular in North America. Along with its sister brand Trident, sales grew quickly throughout 2007. Television shows highlighted the gum, including an episode of the superhero series Smallville.
Popular Flavors and Fun Chewing Gum Varieties
Stride created dozens of exciting flavors that appealed to young snack fans. The original lineup featured tasty fruit treats and cool mint varieties. Kids enjoyed classic tastes like Uber Bubble alongside crisp Sweet Peppermint. Fruit fans loved chewable choices like Sweet Berry and spicy Sweet Cinnamon. The company also released tropical choices like Eternal Melon and citrusy Always Mandarin. Another big hit was Mega Mystery, which kept people guessing the secret flavor.
Flavor Shifts and Extra Vitamins
Stride introduced new ideas to keep chewing fun for everyone. In April 2010, the company released Stride Shift to surprise chewers. This gum changed its flavor while you chewed it in your mouth. One version transformed from berry to mint, while another shifted citrus to mint. Digital computer games let players put themselves into funny adventures online.
In early 2011, the company launched Stride Spark with helpful vitamins. Each piece gave chewers a boost of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. The package provided one-quarter of the daily Recommended Daily Allowance for these nutrients. Stride also partnered with the famous Olympic snowboarder Shaun White. Together, they created cool tastes called Whitemint, Mintacular, and Golden Fruit.
Sour Candy Mixes and Artistic Packs
Around 2012, the company brought out a stylish collection called Stride ID. These packs included bright artwork designed to celebrate creativity and personal discovery. The team released tasty blends like BerryMelon alongside traditional mints. In 2013, the Stride Doodle line added funny cartoon drawings to packaging. One popular commercial showed an ostrich talking about the tangy raspberry watermelon flavor.
In 2014, Stride partnered with the famous Sour Patch Kids soft candy. This line copied the sour-then-sweet flavor that candy lovers enjoyed. Fans enjoyed tastes inspired by Redberry, tangy Lime, and juicy Orange. Other favorites included sweet Watermelon and tart Extreme Blue Raspberry.
Package Design and Worldwide Sales
A Canadian art company called Davis Design created the famous "S" logo. Almost every box featured the giant letter on the front flap. Only the Mega Mystery packs used a big question mark instead. In 2016, Stride updated its style with the bright "Mad Intense" campaign. Designers at Wieden+Kennedy created neon packages with crunchy bits inside the gum.
Stride first traveled outside the United States in early 2008 by entering Canada. European stores sold several matching flavors under the name Trident Senses. For example, Forever Fruit appeared on shelves across Europe as Tropical Mix. Stride also spent a short time on store shelves in Australia. Millions of chewers around the globe loved Stride for its bright, long-lasting taste.
See also
