The History of Sour Patch Kids

Sour Patch Kids debuted in Canada in the 1970s. They were created by Frank Galatolie for the candy company Jaret International. But they weren’t originally called Sour Patch Kids — they were first introduced as Mars Men and were shaped like little aliens to capitalize on the worldwide obsession with space going on at the time. Then when Cabbage Patch Kids became must-have toys in the early 1980s, the candy was renamed to Sour Patch Kids and reshaped to look like friendly little humans in hopes of capitalizing on the craze. The brand also used a cartoonish rendition of Galatolie’s son, Scott, as their mascot. (Notably, the Sour Patch Kids mascot has changed several times over the years, and the current one — a cartoonized version of the candy — didn’t debut until 2010.) In 1985, Sour Patch Kids were introduced to the U.S. market. Today, they are massively popular and are sold at variety of retailers, including big box stores, corner markets, and movie theaters. The brand has also released many special edition products, introduced new flavors (Watermelon Sour Patch Kids remain a huge hit), and engaged in many collaborations with other brands and big-name celebrities, including 2021 sensation Olivia Rodrigo, whose debut album was named Sour, making the partnership a very natural fit. Sour Patch Kids are also very popular around Halloween and in 2021, they were named the top-selling jelly candy in the United States.