Bomb pops are a classic treat and their red, white, and blue flavor layers make it a patriotic favorite for the 4th of July. They can be found everywhere during the summer and are loved by many, but their origin and history are not often talked about. When did the Bomb Pop's popularity start? And how has it remained a classic even today?

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The original Bomb Pop was invented for Merritt Foods by James S. Merritt and D.S. “Doc” Abernathy in 1955. It was created during the Cold War, allowing people to enjoy a frozen treat in the midst of nuclear war.
Additionally, it was inspired by the Cold War, which is evident in how the popsicle is shaped like a bomb with six fins. The original flavors of lime, cherry, and blue raspberry are the same ones used today and they create the colors of the American flag, making the Bomb Pop a delicious treat that became a patriotic symbol during the time of its invention. However, the Bomb Pop's popularity could not keep Merritt Foods from shutting down, and in 1991, the company was sold to Wells Dairy/Wells Enterprises. Moreover, Wells currently still produces the popsicles at the company's original location in Iowa.

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Rise to Popularity
Wells eventually grew its singular Bomb Pop into a line of frozen treats with iterations such as a banana and fudge popsicle and a green and red watermelon popsicle. Bomb Pops were an instant favorite and by the 1970s, they had become one of the most popular treats for kids to buy at ice cream trucks. Additionally, the original Bomb Pop had become so popular by 2003 that Disney sold a Buzz Lightyear-inspired version in its theme parks. It seemed as though Merritt and Wells Enterprises had built a nearly unrivaled empire until, in 2014, they got into legal trouble with another company.
‘Firecracker’ Rivalry
The firecracker popsicle, when originally created in 1989, decades after the Bomb Pop, was not concerned with competing with the Bomb Pop. The firecracker was created by a company named Popsicle and in 2014, its parent company, Unilever, launched a legal attack against Wells. Popsicle made a convincing argument that Wells intended to trick consumers into believing that Bomb Pops, which came before Firecrackers, were part of the Popsicle brand.
Millions of dollars in revenue were at stake, according to Unilever, and the company presented a study that found that 60% of consumers associated the new Bomb Pop packaging with the Firecracker company. However, Wells shot back, claiming that Popsicle used the words “The Original” on their packaging when the Bomb Pop came decades before. The court eventually created a compromise in which Popsicle had to edit its claim to being “The Original” to make it clear that it was not the original of the style created by Wells, and only the original maker of ice pops (the creator sold his creation to the Popsicle brand around 1924). Neither side experienced a definitive win or loss.

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Have Bomb Pops Become Smaller?
Many people have claimed that Bomb Pops used to be much bigger than they currently are, saying things such as “I may have gotten bigger, but Bomb Pops sure have gotten smaller” when sharing photos of them as kids holding a Bomb Pop and comparing it to photos of kids doing the same today. When looking at the photos, it certainly seems that Wells has shrunk the Bomb Pop. However, when looking at the different variations of the Bomb Pop, it is clear that Wells has simply created more size variations, including smaller ones.
In addition to its many flavors, Bomb Pops are now featured in the smaller 1.75 oz, in addition to a bigger 3.75 oz, and an even bigger 4.5 oz that might have been the original size. In comparison to the original size, Bomb Pops have gotten smaller, but that's only because the smaller-sized 1.75 oz versions seem to have become more popular than the bigger versions.
The Bomb Pop's 69th Anniversary
This year, Wells Enterprises is celebrating 69 years of the Bomb Pop by adding an Extreme collection of flavors, consisting of Blue Raspberry Freeze, Fire Cherry, and Super Sour Strawberry. Wells has always been pushing for more success and popularity for the Bomb Pop by adding different flavors and even a TikTok contest in 2021 with “Daily Prizes" and a “Grand Prize,” and this year's 69th Anniversary marks another occasion to celebrate the Bomb Pop by sharing it with others or by simply enjoying the frozen treat as always.

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Current Popularity
The rivalry and “smaller size” clearly did not have a big effect on the Bomb Pop, as it is still as popular today as it was when it was first invented. There is even a National Bomb Pop Day every last Thursday in June, in which people come together to share the beloved treat and even introduce others to it. The treat really is a classic; it has been around for decades and its popularity has never declined, even when involved in legal disputes.
The Bomb Pop as we know it today is seen everywhere, and loved by many. It has become so popular that Wells has made 11 different versions of the original, including flavors such as Hawaiian Punch and Unicorn Wonder. The Bomb Pop has always been seen as a great summer treat, and an even better one for celebrating Independence Day; its popularity will clearly continue as everyone finds new ways to enjoy the classic Bomb Pop.

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