Smarties

This article is about the internationally distributed chocolate confectionery. For the confectionery distributed in the United States, see Smarties (tablet candy). For other uses, see Smarties (disambiguation).

Smarties
OwnerNestlé
CountryUnited Kingdom
Introduced1937; 87 years ago (1937)
MarketsEurope (Especially Northern and Central Europe), Canada, South Africa, Australia, Middle East
Previous ownersRowntree's
Websitenestle.com/brands/allbrands/smarties smarties.co.uk

Smarties are dragée chocolate confectionery. They have been manufactured since 1937,[1] originally by H.I. Rowntree & Company in the United Kingdom, and now by Nestlé.

Smarties are oblate spheroids with a minor axis of about 5 mm (0.2 in) and a major axis of about 12 mm (0.5 in). They come in eight colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, mauve,[2] pink and brown, although the blue variety was temporarily replaced by a white variety in some countries, whilst an alternative natural colouring dye of the blue colour was being researched.[3]

Smarties are sold primarily in Europe, Canada, South Africa, Australia and the Middle East. Smarties are not distributed (except via parallel import) in the United States, where the rights to the name belong to the Smarties Candy Company, which manufactures its own hard tablet sweet under the trademark name Smarties.[4] In 2007, production moved from York to Hamburg.[5]

  1. ^ "Smarties". Nestlé. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Smarties. History and the Facts page 2". Smartiescollector.com. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  3. ^ Smithers, Rebecca (11 February 2008). "Smarties manufacturer brings back the blues". The Guardian. theguardian. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  4. ^ Christof, Alexis (2 October 2019). "Smarties — a 'recession-proof' candy — turns 70 years old with a brand-new look" – via Yahoo.com.
  5. ^ "Smarties production moves to Germany". standard.co.uk. 13 April 2012.