Spaceman Candy Sticks
| Product type | Confectionary |
|---|---|
| Owner | Carousel Confectionary |
| Country | New Zealand |
Spaceman Candy Sticks, formerly Space Man cigarettes[1] are a white candy stick lolly from New Zealand. It is common for New Zealand children to pretend that they are cigarettes.[2] They are made in Palmerston North by Carousel Confectionery,[3] and have been around since the early 1970s.[4]
Writing in the Journal of Consumer Research, Beverland et al. say that Spaceman Candy Sticks may form national identity by a process of 'splitting', where outsiders and New Zealanders perceive Spaceman Candy Sticks differently. New Zealanders would see them as a cigarette.[5]
History
[edit]Spaceman candy sticks have been around since the early 1970s, known originally as 'Space Man cigarettes'.[4][1] Due to concerns by a health watchdog that consumers of the sweet would become cigarette addicts, the name was changed to 'Space Man candy sticks'.[1] In 2006 Bonza Confectionery, the maker of Spaceman Candy Sticks, was purchased by Carousel Confectionary and removed the red tip from the sweet to help remove the association with cigarettes.[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Low-alcohol wine gums maybe cure for candy cigarettes By: McONIE, James, Taranaki Daily News, May 22, 2000
- ^ Fallon, Virginia (6 May 2021). "Addicts need bold measures". The Dominion Post.
- ^ "Packaging. Spaceman Candy Sticks". Auckland Museum. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ a b Smoke screening. Idealog. 2012. pp. 24–25.
Candy cigarettes have been around since the early 20th century, with the New Zealand version dating to the early 1970s. Space Man Cigarettes were subsequently named Space Man Candy Sticks and had their distinctive red tip removed in 2007
- ^ Beverland, Michael (December 2020). "How Brands Craft National Identity". Journal of Consumer Research. 48 (4): 586–609. doi:10.1093/jcr/ucaa062.
- ^ Systems, Firecrest. "Carousel Confectionery | Spaceman Candy Sticks". www.carousel.co.nz. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ Carroll, Melanie (28 January 2022). "From beloved household name to racist slur - how brands move with the times". Stuff. Retrieved 29 August 2023.