# Why dont they sell bags of just red Starburst? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211 "2001-08-07T01:17:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![They\_Call\_Me\_Sneeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@They\_Call\_Me\_Sneeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/They_Call_Me_Sneeze)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/1 "2001-08-07T01:17:31Z")
Or any flavored candy for that matter. Everyone has their favorite flavor -Starburst, Skittles, Chuckles, Jelly Beans- so how come candy companies havent cashed in and started selling bags of just one flavor of candy? I, personally, would buy Starburst MUCH more often if I could buy a pound of just red flavor (they could even sell a bag of red and pink). Same goes for red Skittles, black Chuckles, and black Jelly Beans. So is there a reason for this, or do they just not want to deal with charges of segregating the candy colors? From Sneeze, who now has a serious craving for red Starburst ---
**Author:** ![Jargent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@Jargent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jargent)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/2 "2001-08-07T01:24:07Z")
To be fair, some companies do this. Pez sells individual flavors. Hell, so do most (all?) gums, Altoids, etc. In fact, I seem to remember single flavor Starburst packs back in the early-mid 80s. I think the bottom line reason they don’t do it is that somewhere along the line they tried it, and it didn’t sell as well as the variety pack. If there was a way to make money, they would have figured it out. My suspicion is that the Starburst folks view you as a freakish anomaly to be stopped at any cost, or at the very least not to be marketed to. Or something. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/3 "2001-08-07T01:33:05Z")
the [Starburst](http://www.starburst.com/cai.html) folks that, is. Anyway, this link lets you send your complaints or suggestions straight to the good folks at M&M/Mars. They are British, so there may be a bit of bureaucracy to overcome. [sub]I am sure that they will introduce a new line and name it after you.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnson)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/4 "2001-08-07T01:36:24Z")
Isn’t M&M/Mars headquartered in Virginia, or New Jersey, or somewhere? Or is it some other reclusive private chocolate/candy company I’m thinking about? While we’re (sort of) on the topic, is it just me or are Mars bars different and much better in Britain? Back on topic (again, sort of), I’d think Starburst would be ahead of the game just to drop the damn green apple… ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/5 "2001-08-07T02:02:17Z")
my wag is you would tire of them sooner (=buy less). ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/6 "2001-08-07T02:13:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by johnson \* > \*\*Isn’t M&M/Mars headquartered in Virginia, or New Jersey, or somewhere? Or is it some other reclusive private chocolate/candy company I’m thinking about? > \*\* > [@](#): > > - from the site \* > “STARBURST® Fruit Chews were first introduced in a Mars affiliated company, Mars, Ltd., of Slough England in 1960; however, the product was introduced in the United States in 1976 in the original blend which included orange, lemon, lime and strawberry flavors.” So I guess that the inference is that they are an American company, with a British affiliate, which started Starbursts® in 1960. I have been tracking the Mars illuminati ring for quite some time. They are just so damned elusive. We regret the error. BTW, in Germany Mars bars are sort of like Milkways in the US, IIRC. Don’t know from England. ---
**Author:** ![tygre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@tygre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygre)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/7 "2001-08-07T02:23:36Z")
Well, I know you can get individual colors of M&M’s separately. AFA starburst, though, I think you’re outta luck. But I’ll take the lemon ones and you can have all my red ones! –tygre ---
**Author:** ![RAWisSYDNEY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4491bb/32.png) [@RAWisSYDNEY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RAWisSYDNEY)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/8 "2001-08-07T03:41:06Z")
lets put it this way. Lets say there are 20 red starburts in every large pack. 20 is not enough for you, so you buy 2 large packs. lets say they cost $1 each. You spend $2 to get your red starburst. Now if they were all red, you would only spend $1 and get more than you would for $2. Your Welcome… ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/9 "2001-08-07T04:06:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by They Call Me Sneeze \* > **…do they just not want to deal with charges of segregating the candy colors?..** Ummm, you want to think about this one for a second? Or do you seriously think that they produce a variety of colors mixed together, which they would have to separate, rather than that they _start_ with batches of colors, that they then mix together? ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/10 "2001-08-07T04:55:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tygre \* > \*\*Well, I know you can get individual colors of M&M’s separately. \*\* How? ---
**Author:** ![They\_Call\_Me\_Sneeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@They\_Call\_Me\_Sneeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/They_Call_Me_Sneeze)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/11 "2001-08-07T04:57:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Princhester \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by They Call Me Sneeze \* > > **…do they just not want to deal with charges of segregating the candy colors?..** > > Ummm, you want to think about this one for a second? Or do you seriously think that they produce a variety of colors mixed together, which they would have to separate, rather than that they _start_ with batches of colors, that they then mix together? \*\* Hey, Princhester - it was a joke. Like, the charges that OTHER PEOPLE would level at them for forcing the colors to be segregated. All the red Starburst in one bag, all the Pink ones in another, separate but equal bags of candy… Ha. Ha. Ha. And tygre, I think that is an excellent suggestion. Do you want to trade on oranges and pinks as well? : ) From Sneeze, who now SERIOUSLY needs a red Starburst more than ever ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/12 "2001-08-07T05:12:39Z")
Heck, Jelly Belly brand jelly beans sell THEIR beans by flavor…I find this useful when making up packages of “dried frog pills” for Pterry fans. And Jolly Ranchers have packages that are all one flavor. ---
**Author:** ![VitrolicBump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a587f6/32.png) [@VitrolicBump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VitrolicBump)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/13 "2001-08-07T06:24:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gunslinger \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by tygre \* > > \*\*Well, I know you can get individual colors of M&M’s separately. \*\* > > How? \*\* I know that you can get them at certain theme parks, such as Disney World and Six Flags Magic Mountain. I got some M&Ms for my friends at DW. They even had color schemes to match the characters. Like yellow, red and black for Mickey or red and yellow for Pooh. It was really fun. You can also go to the [M&M](http://www.colorworks.com/cgi-bin/sgdynamo.exe?HTNAME=_home.htm) website and order them. ---
**Author:** ![warmgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/14 "2001-08-07T06:36:49Z")
I love green apple! ---
**Author:** ![Kalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalt)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/15 "2001-08-07T06:46:31Z")
i like the new green apple too. Seems they are going to replace the lemon (yuck) with it. I recall back in the old days they used to sell packages of only the strawberry (pink) starburst. I agree, the reds are indeed the best… of the regular line. The tropical fruits in the green bag are even better. The fruit punch and passionfruit/plum flavors are incredible… much better than plain ol’ cherry. They even have WILD cherry wich is a little more intense. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Frink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Mr.Frink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Frink)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/16 "2001-08-07T07:18:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by johnson \* > \*\* > While we’re (sort of) on the topic, is it just me or are Mars bars different and much better in Britain? > > \*\* I noticed the same thing about Snickers Bars in the Netherlands. Much better than the ones here. I guess they just take their chocolate more seriously in Europe. Also…even Coke tasted better in Holland. I usually have to put tons of ice in my Coke here in the US. Over there, I was able to drink it straight. I later found out that in Europe (or this particular bottler) uses _sugar_ instead of _corn syrup_ was this a bit off topic…sorry. Yeah…I love red starbusts! ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/17 "2001-08-07T07:22:32Z")
Oh pooh. I misread. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/18 "2001-08-07T07:51:34Z")
Sneeze, interesting to see you like the red and black colours too. (I started a thread about this a while back here: [Your favourite flavour/colour of sweets/gums](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1491641#post1491641)) ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/19 "2001-08-07T14:52:54Z")
Sorry for the shameless plug, but you [green apple](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=80328) people are crazy. ---
**Author:** ![They\_Call\_Me\_Sneeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@They\_Call\_Me\_Sneeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/They_Call_Me_Sneeze)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/20 "2001-08-07T16:31:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*Sneeze, interesting to see you like the red and black colours too. (I started a thread about this a while back here: [Your favourite flavour/colour of sweets/gums](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1491641#post1491641)) \*\* I think I read somewhere that really super-intelligient people prefer red and black flavors. : ) Personally, though, I REALLY like the black/purple flavors when they are licorice, although grape (which is close to black currant?) is good too. Also, I save the reds and blacks for last, and prefer to shovel all less desirable colors (green, yellow, orange) into my mouth in large, indiscriminate handfuls, thus getting them out of the way as quickly as possible. Anyway - yes. Reds and blacks are definitly superior flavors. ((Hopefully a Starburst (or Chuckles) representative reads this thread and starts marketing packages of just red (or black). Or, they could just send vast packages of reds (or blacks) to me personally. Either way.)) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211.md?page=2)