Top 10 Food Mascots

Making his first television appearance in 1958, the Jolly Green Giant has been encouraging kids (and grown-ups) to eat their veggies for over half a century! And, since 1973, he’s had help from Sprout, his young buddy. And together, there aren’t too many food cupboards that he hasn’t commandeered, nor too many diets they haven’t improved! He was also the subject of a love song by ‘The Kingsmen’ in 1964, and there’s a 55-foot-high fiberglass statue of him in Minnesota. It’s no wonder he’s always smiling!

After debuting in print in 1922, these cold cuddlies really came to life in 1993 on television. The original TV ad had the polar bears relaxing with a Coke and the Northern Lights. Now, over 20-years later, they’re a holiday tradition, and global stars! In 2013, award-winning director Ridley Scott even created a 7-minute short film about them! As a result of the bears’ success, Coca-Cola now works closely with the World Wildlife Fund, to ensure that polar bears lead good lives in the real world, as well as in the commercial breaks!

Designed in 1916 by a contest-winning schoolboy, Mr. Peanut brings a touch of class to your favorite barroom snack food! His top hat and monocle have marched through advertising history for nearly a century, and there’s no sign that he’ll be hanging up his cane anytime soon! In 2006, Planter’s Peanuts held an online vote to determine what other accessories the noble nut should have – but the public voted for no change! Sometimes, you just can’t beat the original!

It may not be ‘easy being cheesy,’ but this guy makes advertising look effortless! Created in 1986, Chester succeeded the ‘Cheetos Mouse’ – who was cheesy, but not in a good way! With his dark glasses and ‘dangerous’ edge, the big cat was a big hit with snack food fans! His endless, often hilarious, quest for Cheetos even earned him roles in video games, as well as official doll merchandise! He’s a mass-market mascot!

One of the more simplistic mascots, the Helping Hand is a symbol of the ‘70s, and of stress-free cooking. With his smiling eyes and big red nose, it’s impossible not to like this little guy! A light in the gloom of your kitchen cupboard, he’s there to make cooking easy and inexpensive, and to make dinner taste good! And he comes in a variety of flavors too! We’ll choose to overlook the fact that he only has four fingers… Who needs five, anyway, when you’ve got a Helping Hand?!

This is one hare that would not lose to a tortoise! He wouldn’t lose to a cheetah either… or anything that’s fast! Symbolizing the speed that it takes to make a Nesquik drink, this bunny’s an advertising superstar! A balance between athletic and adorable – he’s recognizable the world over. He debuted as strawberry flavored, and changed to chocolate in 1973. Since then he’s sprinted down supermarket aisles, and into thousands of shopping baskets!

At number 4, we head into the upper echelons of food mascot-dom! The California Raisins aren’t just cardboard box characters, they’re showbiz royalty! As part of a 1986 raisin commercial campaign, they covered Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Heard it Through the Grapevine’ – a media frenzy ensued, and the claymation crooners found their wrinkled faces plastered all over everything! T-shirts, lunchboxes, coffee mugs and underwear! Dried up they may be, but lifeless they sure ain’t – they even won an Emmy!