How did Yipes, the Zebra, emerge as the fan favorite to represent Fruit Stripe?Ĭhrist Kallas: This is a question for the ages and has unfortunately been lost to time as the Fruit Stripe brand transitioned between a few different corporations before finding a home with Ferrara. While they are in retirement now, it is possible they could come back for a future reunion tour. After Yipes was selected to be the solo mascot for Fruit Stripe, the other animals stayed with the company until they retired. What do we know about this short-lived family of mascots?Ĭhrist Kallas: Fruit Stripe originally had several different animal characters represent it over the years, but Yipes took the leading role due to his authentic connection to the brands namesake striped appearance. There were originally a few characters that advertised Fruit Stripe, known as “The Stripes Family Animals.” These included a Zebra, tiger, elephant, and mouse. It really took off in the 1970s, at which point Yipes was the front-runner to be the solo mascot for the brand. I also got a peek at the first-ever Fruit Stripe Gummy Candy and asked the big question everyone that grew up on Fruit Stripe is dying to know: do washable tattoos still come with the gum? Can you share a bit about the history of Fruit Stripe Gum with us?Ĭhrist Kallas: Fruit Stripe Gum made its debut in 1969 with five fruit-forward flavors: lime, cherry, lemon, orange, and mixed fruit. I was lucky to get the inside scoop from Christ Kallas, Associate Brand Manager at Ferrara Candy Shop, about fan favorite Yipes and the character’s personality in and out of the office. Here at PopIcon, we’ve got a special place for the story of Yipes. Fruit Stripe Gum has a mascot, it is a Zebra, and the Zebra’s name is Yipes. Mentions of Yipes are few and far in between, with most websites only in agreement about the brand mascot basics. Surprisingly, there is not much information available online about this character. Kid me and adult me have never forgotten the friendly face of the Fruit Stripe Zebra mascot, Yipes. Fruit Stripe famously packaged wet ‘em and wear ‘em tattoos and encouraged bubble gum lovers to collect all of ‘em.Ĭool, fake tattoos and candy? Totally a kid’s paradise! And, of course, we can’t forget about the awesome freebie inside each pack. The colorful Fruit Stripe packaging made it easy to spot this gum in the candy aisle. There’s the gum itself, easy to chew and pop bubbles with its five delicious, fruity flavors. Everything about Fruit Stripe Gum is delightful, especially when you’re a kid growing up alongside the brand.

Rainbow striped zebra gum