The History of Twix

Twix bars were created in 1967 by Mars. Reportedly, the candy bars were first made at one of the company’s factories located in Slough, England. Interestingly, the candy bars were originally known by the name “Raider” in many European countries, and Mars didn’t change the candy’s European name to Twix until 1991. The name “Twix” is thought to be a portmanteau, possibly of the terms “twin” and “stix” or “twin” and “mix.” Twix first came to America in 1979. In the early 1980s, Mars introduced peanut butter Twix in a bid to help popularize their products in America. Twix eventually became one of America’s more popular candy options — in 2017, over $63 million worth of Twix bars were purchased in the USA. Notably, today’s version of the candy is slightly smaller than it used to be, although it is not clear exactly why. Despite its popularity, the brand is not without controversy. The company produces two versions of the same product — called “Left Twix” and “Right Twix” — and has been criticized for designing a campaign encouraging people to choose which "side" they prefer. Unfortunately, like many chocolate companies, the brand also has ties to child labor in its supply chain, a situation that has been detailed in The Washington Post. Mars, the maker of Twix, also has low traceability and sustainability scores. Despite this, Twix bars remain popular today and are often enjoyed on their own or used as components in more complex dessert recipes.