What Happened to Fruit Stripe?
Launched in 1969 by Beech-Nut, Fruit Stripe became a cult-favorite chewing gum known for its rainbow sticks, quick-fading fruit flavors, and temporary tattoos featuring mascot Yipes the Zebra. After multiple ownership changes, Ferrara Candy Company confirmed the gum’s discontinuation in 2024.
ℹ️ Fate: Ferrara Candy Company discontinued Fruit Stripe in January 2024 following a portfolio review.
Fruit Stripe was an American chewing gum line famous for its rainbow stripes and mascot Yipes the Zebra. First introduced by Beech-Nut in 1969, it later passed through several owners before landing at Ferrara Candy Company. Packs often included temporary tattoos, and the brand’s five fruit flavors became a nostalgic touchstone—remembered lovingly for flavor that faded fast. Yipes became a household name in the early 1990s with catchy commercials and marketing. The mascot became so popular that the World Wildlife Federation partnered with Fruit Stripe to raise $100,000 through donations from every pack of gum purchased. Yipes was even elevated to game show fame by appearing as the answer to a Jeopardy! question in 2016.
Ferrara continued to ride the success of Fruit Stripe Gum in 2022, introducing Fruit Stripe Gummy Candy in three flavors - tangerine, lemon, and cherry. But consumer preferences changed in just a few short years. Ferrara chose to discontinue the Fruit Stripe brand in 2024, ending more than five decades of a pop-culture favorite.
Timeline
- 1969
Fruit Stripe debuts under Beech-Nut with striped sticks and fruit flavors.
- 1990s
Yipes the Zebra gains cult status, while temporary tattoos become a signature addition to every pack of gum
- 1996s
Fruit Stripe's association with animals leads to a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, raising about $100,000 for endangered animals through five-cent donations from gum purchases
- 2016s
Jeopardy! highlights Yipes the Zebra on the game show, asking contestants what kind of animal he was
- 2022s
Ferrera expands on Fruit Stripe popularity, introducing Fruit Stripe Gummy Candy in tangerine, lemon and cherry flavors
- 2024
Ferrara confirms it will discontinue Fruit Stripe after a portfolio review.