2011 Hawaiian Punch Makeover

Yesterday, I stopped by the store to pick up a few things. As usual, I strayed from the shopping list and made a run through the snack aisles to see if there was anything new. Much to my surprise I discovered a new box design for Hawaiian Punch Fruit Snacks along with a totally modern new look for Punchy himself!

Packages change, sure -- but I did not expect such a radical change to the iconic, fist-packing little guy we've all come to know and love for over 40 years.

Overall, the new fruit snacks box is pretty sweet looking. I love the colors, the wave and especially the flying gummy bits right there on the box front. You know what you're getting right up front. But the newly designed Punchy just isn't working for me. Gone is the pasty-faced mascot who always packed a wallop, and in comes the computer generated, suntanned version.

The fun, but menacing fist was replaced with the (apparently) more kid-friendly "hang loose" sign. Hmmm...

Well let's dive into the details and read more below. Here's the new style box, again pretty dynamic looking.



Here's the outgoing box style with the more familiar version of Punchy with his surfboard. Notice the old box includes a Brach's logo. Farley & Sathers was licensed to distribute the fruit snacks and previously co-branded Hawaiian Punch and Brach's. They're still made by the same company, but they've moved away from the Brach's tie-in.



Taking a quick peek over at hawaiianpunch.com, we see that the site is currently closed as of this post, but with a teaser for "New Punchy! Same great taste!"

Apparently we're in for a full-scale makeover of all Hawaiian Punch products, including cans, bottles, drink mixes and fruit snacks.

Getting back to the fruit snacks, comparing the old (left) vs. new (right) boxes, we see that they have also changed the actual shapes of the two Punchy snacks themselves.



Next, here are the inner snack pouches (old on left, new on right). I prefer the new pouch for the full scene depicted compared to the simple, small, repeated logo on the old one.



So far I've not seen the H-P makeover on any other products, but I'll be watching out for them. Change is good, they say, and I must admit the new box design is beautiful... but the radical Punchy change is a disappointment.

I'll end with a plug. These are some of the best tasting fruit snacks ever! I've tried many different brands, and these are so flavorful!

"How about a nice Hawaiian Punch?" ... Sure, but give me back my old Punchy!