A Candy By Another Name
The history of the Zero bar is a cool one, indeed. In 1920, the Hollywood Brands Company introduced what was then called the Double Zero Bar. At that time, the Minnesota based company manufactured the candies at a factory in Centralia, Illinois. Made of caramel, peanut, almond, and nougat, and covered with a layer of white fudge, it wasn’t long before these Double Zero Bars were known for their distinctive white exterior.
Back in the day, these sweet treats sold for only a penny each, boasting a label that promised kids a steam engine toy if they sent in ten wrappers and fifteen cents. Now that’s the kind of deal you won’t hear about, anymore. It wasn’t until 1934 when the Double Zero Bar was renamed, simply, Zero.
Winds of Change
For the past 93 years, the Zero bar has undergone transformations both big and small. This resilient little candy survived multiple buyouts, first by Consolidated Foods Corporation in 1967, and then Huhtamaki Oy in 1988. It even managed to rebound from a fire that destroyed the Centralia, Illinois plant in 1980.
Over the years, the packaging may have changed- losing the polar bears and frigid arctic scene for a more space-aged, stream-lined design- but the message has always been clear: Zero bars are as cool as zero degrees. They happen to taste great out of the freezer, too.
Today, Zero Bars are produced by Hershey. At almost 100 years old, it’s safe to say that Zero Bars are truly an American classic. So no matter the name change, or the company transfers, one bite of these time-tested treats and you’ll go right back to your youth, regardless of the decade.
38 Comments
Do they have caffeine in them?
It’s a real shame” iv ben eating zeros since i can remember’ verry early 60’s iv noticed some changes” losing the bear’s? To me thats wrong an who ever thought of i should be fired” they stood as a symbol for that bar an that bar alone” now just tonight i seen an grabbed one” i thought yea a big red and a zero just like my teen years’ WELL WHAT HAPPENED TO IT?? It about broke my dentures” had to actually naw a piece off of this “what is now a zero cube” and hard as one’ what happened to the thicker” fluffier type softer? This bar is what made me look up the history of zero” an whoever is responsible for poaching the polar bears an changing the bar should be ashamed of themselves’ I’ll never eat another one” after 50 years” real shame😞
maybe you had an old one. I still get them, and although i LOVE Big Red, I have to have an RC Cola with my always soft, sumptuous ZERO Bar.
[…] million Zero bars, which I assure you is a worthwhile purchase because it’s a criminally underrated candy […]
[…] million Zero bars, which I assure you is a worthwhile purchase because it’s a criminally underrated candy […]
The original Zero bar was definitely better!
My two sisters and I shared a king size one and all of us agreed it would be our last. Where did the almonds and delicious nougat go?
No one would ever convince us the recipe wasn’t changed for the worse.
I can’t believe I’ve gone 39 years without ever trying a zero candy bar! It’s amazing and my new favorite!!👏👌💓
Can I buy them in store or online only?
They changed the recipe now they suck the nougat used to be white now it’s like dark 3muskateer nougat with less nuts
Soo… for everyone complaining… get over it. You may of had the original but things changed. I’m creeping on 30 and grew up with a zero bar. The only reason I looked up the meaning was to well look up the meaning behind the name. Not to read negative comments. You should be happy they are still around. I grew up with older parents so my taste in candies have always reflected those from the baby boomer era.. as that is the age of my parents. Anyway, it’s just sad to see people complaining and almost whailing like a two year old because “it’s not what I want… whaa.. wha.. whaa..” the article stated “one bite of these time tested treats and you’ll go right back to your youth” I agree. For me it’s a classic and I’m only 30.. this delicious zero bar was created 70 years before my existence and it brings back memories…. so for all those who bash something as simple as a candy bar.. let that sink in for a minute.. maybe it brings back memories for me as a kid with my father who is no longer living.. Why pick apart something for no reason.. I’m never one to comment but I had to after reading the negative above… Why can’t people just stop. Just stop being so negative and quite trying to find something to be mad at. Geezz… just like the news people make up stuff from 35 years ago just to find something to be mad at…
What happened to the light-colored fluffy nougat full of crunchy almond pieces?! This is NOT the same candy I loved as a child. Won’t indulge again.
I agree with ya Joyce!. Not the same at all!!
Also, they also did not contain “peanuts” back then. Only almonds…Look up an original wrapper.
Anyone with a peanut allergy
beware.
I’m 57 & ate my 1st Zero some 50 or so years ago, & I don’t remember the inner nougat ever being white, as someone here tried to claim. It’s always been brown since I can remember. That was part of it’s uniqueness.
It also tastes much the same as it did in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, well hopefully you get the idea…. I fail to see how if someone hadn’t had a Zero bar in 3-4-5 or so decades & had one now, could possibly try to complain or whine that it’s different or not as good as they think they remember it was 40-50-60 years ago.
There’s simply no way you would know. Too many people like to grip & complain that things aren’t as good as they thought they remembered. It’s still a good candy bar.
We wholeheartedly agree! So many classic candy bars have disappeared that it is a pleasure to enjoy a candy bar such as Zero that has withstood the test of time/ Manufacturing techniques and ingredients may have changed but this is one of the few remaining bars that remain true tastewise to its roots! It is indeed still a good candy bar much like it has been for decades! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Some things have changed over the years that did change the flavor. The original recipe was a chocolate nougat made only with almonds (not peanuts).
Compare this listing from an old wrapper in circa 1960 –
Sugar, CornSyrup, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Vegetable Fat, Nonfat Milk Solis’s, Almonds, Egg Whites, Malted Milk, Cocoa, Salt, Emulsifier, Artificial Flavor.
Today’s list has more Soy Nuts & Peanuts in the nougat than Almonds.
Texture is about the same inside but I just ate one with a BB date of July 2020 and it had a blander flavor than I remember as a kid in the ‘50’s-‘60’s.
Used to be my favourite. There were about 4 different varieties; they were called Zero because they tasted, literally, cool. The Hershey bars taste nothing like the originals.
I cannot attest to the taste of the early Zero bars. I can however say that this is by far my favorite candy bar ever. Since my 1st taste in the mid 70s I have been hooked. They are hard to find here in Oregon. I seek them out at every convience store I stop at. Currently I live in Milton Wa and travel back to Oregon weekly. I stop at a Chevron station in Nisqually Wa nearly every time I travel past it to get one. If you haven’t tried one I would highly recommend you do.
I spotted a full box of Zero bars at my local Country store this afternoon. Just had to get One, I haven’t seen These for years, used to be my favorite back in the 60’s. I’m enjoying it Right now, probably will get Another next time I go to the store. Good Memories, still a Delightful candy bar.
Introduced to Zero in 1966. The “recent” inclusion of peanuts is personally as well received as when a famous ice cream venue substituted peanuts for walnuts in their sundaes. Anyone can manufacture something cheaper. It just also happens to taste like it was made cheaper as well. The modern Zero is a mere shadow of the original.
I’m 73 years old I’ve been eating zero candy bars since I was five…and yes they were white on the inside and yes it does make a big difference. But they’re gone now (just like when they took the almonds from the top of fifth Avenue) so we must press on. At least they are not skittles! Thank God for Zagnut😎
Not worth the money spent.
I loved frozen Zero Bars back in early 60’s!! Saw a giant Zero in store today & was so excited BUT Yuk!!! …. not the same!! Sooo overly sweet it turned my stomach ( a very HARSH sugar taste) plus the center was brown nugget! It used to be WHITE nugget!!!! I will never buy one again ! Hershey, you destroyed my love of a great candy bar with your cheap overly sugared piece of destruction you are trying to pull off as a true “Zero bar” as us boomers remember them! What a shame! Yuk!
Lynne I remember the dearly loved white nougat center as well. I completely stopped buying that new trash that they are trying to pass off as a Zero Bar.
I discovered ZERO candy bars in 1952 and have enjoyed them forever (70 years). It has been my favorite ever since I discovered it. Sure, it has changed (Packaging & Recipe), but it is still a ZERO. And it is still my favorite.
If you don’t like the new ZERO, DON’t BUY IT ! Stop Whining!
reminds me of the new Coke days… In short lose the new Zero and go back to the better older formula, cause zero bars suck now! Not whining, just stating a fact!
Zero bars are as cool as zero degrees. ,,,
That’s all very cool to know!
Can I still get them ?
Zero bars were my favorite candy bars growing up I was wondering if I could still get them if they still make them?
I remember loving and eating many Zeros in the fifties and sixties. The center was light colored and filled with almonds. Frozen or at room temperature, they were delicious!
I remember when I was a kid (early 1960s) and it was a very hot summer day in Indiana. I was so hot and thirsty as I had been walking all morning. I stopped at a gas station and saw what looked like an amazing candy bar with a polar bear on it. I figured it would cool me down. I scraped through my pockets for change and had just enough to buy this amazing looking candy bar. Nope, it did not cool me down and it was awful. I’ve never had one since.
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I’m 53 years old and zero bars are the only candy bars I like to eat. Tonight I popped me some popcorn and ate my zero bar with it,I always ate m&ms with my popcorn but not Tonight. I think the makers need to come up with a way to make the zero bar and other candy bars in a jar so we can just pour it over our popcorn. I would love that.
I am 61 years old. I remember getting the zero bars frozen from our local swim club. They were the only bars that I would eat that contained nuts. I loved those things. They were very addictive. They are so hard to find now. If I find them, I buy them.
Back in the late 60’s I used to grab a Zero bar for a nickle at Jack’s Pharmacy in Golden Colorado. It was like heaven with a fountain Coke with vanilla syrup. The taste and price has changed unfortunately but the memories remain the same.
Candies that can bring back old school memories are few and far between but Zero Bars certainly deserves a spot on the list!
The folks saying the recipe changed, the main ingredient changed was from sweetened condensed milk to skim.
Replying to Kst,
I posted in 2018 that the “original bar” contained Almonds not peanuts.
A family member of mine has a peanut allergy.
The Zero Bar is totally different now. It has PEANUTS. Is it good? Yes!!
But not for people with a peanut allergy.😪
I just ate a king size zero bar today. I found this page wanting to know the history of it. This has been my favorite candy bar since 1980. The one I got today had two bars in the package, and was soft and gooey. It also seemed to have less nugget and more caramel in it. Still a big fan!