The Origins of Lifesavers Candies
Lifesavers candies have been around since 1912 when Clarence Crane invented the hard, colorful circular candies in Cleveland, Ohio. Crane owned the Crane Candy Company and was looking to create a candy that would not melt in warm conditions like other candies tended to do. He came up with the idea of creating a hard candy shell that could withstand heat better than soft candies. The name "Lifesavers" was chosen to represent how the firm outer shell "saved" the candy from melting away. Originally, Lifesavers came in only one flavor - peppermint.
The Development of Sugar Free Varieties
In the 1960s as health concerns over sugar consumption grew, Crane began exploring sugar-free versions of Lifesavers to meet growing consumer demand. This led to the inception of Sugar Free Lifesavers in 1968. Early sugar-free varieties included peppermint, cinnamon, wintergreen, and cherry flavors - the same flavors as the original hard candies but without any sugar. Sugar alcohols like sorbitol and mannitol were used instead to provide sweetness and bulk.
While Sugar Free Lifesavers candies caught on with some health-conscious consumers, they also brought new production challenges. The sugar alcohols used did not allow for the hard, crunchy texture of regular Lifesavers. Early sugar-free versions were soft and tended to stick together. It took considerable research and development to perfect a formulation and candy-making process that could replicate the characteristic Lifesavers hardness without any sugar.
Expanding the Sugar Free Lineup
By the 1970s, Crane had successfully developed sugar-free Lifesavers that maintained the classic Lifesaver snap and shape. This allowed them to significantly expand their sugar-free product range beyond the initial limited flavors. New varieties introduced in the 1970s included fruit flavors like orange, lime, lemon, and grape. Tropical flavors like pineapple and coconut were also added. Some seasonal and specialty sugar-free flavors made brief appearances as well, testing different flavor trends.
The popularity of sugar-free Lifesavers steadily grew as more health-conscious consumers sought alternatives to high-sugar candy products. Distribution expanded beyond drug stores and pharmacies into larger supermarkets as demand increased. Competitors entered the sugar-free hard candy space but Lifesavers remained the top-selling brand throughout the 1970s and 1980s with its wide assortment of fruit and mint flavors.
Changing Industry and New Challenges
By the 1990s, the sugar-free candy segment began facing new challenges as low-carb dieting grew in popularity. Concerns emerged over the high content of sugar alcohols like sorbitol found in most sugar-free candies. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration determined sugar alcohols to be safe, some studies linked very high intakes to gastrointestinal side effects for certain people. This led some health-conscious consumers to avoid sugar-free options altogether.
At the same time, the sugar-free candy category saw a proliferation of new entrants offering different formulations. Competition intensified from niche brands touting sugar-free candies made with alternate sweeteners like stevia that could be better tolerated. Maintaining Lifesaver's leadership required adapting recipes to address emerging preferences as well as investing heavily in new production technologies to efficiently manufacture redesigned formulations.
A Legacy of Innovation Continues
While the sugar-free segment has considerably declined from its 1970s-1980s heyday, Lifesavers continues producing sugar-free varieties today using updated recipes. Their focus remains sustainability meeting changing consumer needs through nutrition innovation. In 2016, they introduced a new line of sugar-free Life Savers gummies containing erythritol instead of sorbitol for those seeking lower-calorie, lower-sugar snacking options. And most recently in 2020, sugar-free Lifesavers Minis were launched in a portable single-serve format. As the original pioneer of sugar-free hard candy, Sugar Free Lifesavers strives to build upon over a century of legacy with products embracing current wellness trends. Their long history of adapting recipes and production proves how ingenuity can keep candy classics relevant for modern times.
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About Author:
Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)
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