A Candy By Another Name
The history of the
Zero bar is a cool one, indeed. In 1920, the Hollywood Brands Company introduced what was then called the Double Zero Bar. At that time, the Minnesota based company manufactured the candies at a factory in Centralia, Illinois. Made of caramel, peanut, almond, and nougat, and covered with a layer of white fudge, it wasn’t long before these Double Zero Bars were known for their distinctive white exterior.
Back in the day, these sweet treats sold for only a penny each, boasting a label that promised kids a steam engine toy if they sent in ten wrappers and fifteen cents. Now that’s the kind of deal you won’t hear about, anymore. It wasn’t until 1934 when the Double Zero Bar was renamed, simply, Zero.
Winds of Change
For the past 93 years, the Zero bar has undergone transformations both big and small. This resilient little candy survived multiple buyouts, first by Consolidated Foods Corporation in 1967, and then Huhtamaki Oy in 1988. It even managed to rebound from a fire that destroyed the Centralia, Illinois plant in 1980.
Over the years, the packaging may have changed- losing the polar bears and frigid arctic scene for a more space-aged, stream-lined design- but the message has always been clear: Zero bars are as cool as zero degrees. They happen to taste great out of the freezer, too.
Today, Zero Bars are produced by
Hershey. At almost 100 years old, it’s safe to say that Zero Bars are truly an American classic. So no matter the name change, or the company transfers, one bite of these time-tested treats and you’ll go right back to your youth, regardless of the decade.
Some things have changed over the years that did change the flavor. The original recipe was a chocolate nougat made only with almonds (not peanuts).
Compare this listing from an old wrapper in circa 1960 -
Sugar, CornSyrup, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Vegetable Fat, Nonfat Milk Solis’s, Almonds, Egg Whites, Malted Milk, Cocoa, Salt, Emulsifier, Artificial Flavor.
Today’s list has more Soy Nuts & Peanuts in the nougat than Almonds.
Texture is about the same inside but I just ate one with a BB date of July 2020 and it had a blander flavor than I remember as a kid in the “˜50’s-”˜60’s.
We wholeheartedly agree! So many classic candy bars have disappeared that it is a pleasure to enjoy a candy bar such as Zero that has withstood the test of time/ Manufacturing techniques and ingredients may have changed but this is one of the few remaining bars that remain true tastewise to its roots! It is indeed still a good candy bar much like it has been for decades! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I’m 57 & ate my 1st Zero some 50 or so years ago, & I don’t remember the inner nougat ever being white, as someone here tried to claim. It’s always been brown since I can remember. That was part of it’s uniqueness.
It also tastes much the same as it did in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, well hopefully you get the idea…. I fail to see how if someone hadn’t had a Zero bar in 3-4-5 or so decades & had one now, could possibly try to complain or whine that it’s different or not as good as they think they remember it was 40-50-60 years ago.
There’s simply no way you would know. Too many people like to grip & complain that things aren’t as good as they thought they remembered. It’s still a good candy bar.
I agree with ya Joyce!. Not the same at all!!
Also, they also did not contain "peanuts" back then. Only almonds…Look up an original wrapper.
Anyone with a peanut allergy
beware.
What happened to the light-colored fluffy nougat full of crunchy almond pieces?! This is NOT the same candy I loved as a child. Won’t indulge again.