Chiquita Banana
Originally, Miss Chiquita was a banana in a sexy dress with legs and a hatfull of fruit. She was voiced by various people from her inception in 1944 until 1987, when Carmen Miranda was featured in a film wearing the signature hat. Thankfully, they changed the somewhat creepy banana character to a woman, and Miss Chiquita was reborn. Fun fact: the Chiquita stickers are still hand-placed on every banana you buy to avoid bruising the fruit – now that is customer service!
Kool-Aid Man
Any time you hear the phrase “Oh yeah!”, prepare for some part of your home to be broken down. Because, while awesome, the Kool-Aid Man is not known for his respect of buildings. Created in 1954 when General Foods acquired Kool-Aid (although he didn’t get arms and legs until 1975), this guy can do it all: play the leading man in a comic book series, be the life of the party, and even jet-ski – all while quenching your thirst.
Ronald McDonald
McDonald’s has one of the most universally ubiquitous mascots in Ronald McDonald, and he’s been around since 1966. This clown stands out in a crowd with his brighter-than-the-sun hair and outfit, and has had to face up to the nefarious Hamburgler and Evil Grimace while protecting his brand. He even has his own charity, and it’s a legit one!
Trix Rabbit
You’ve got to admire the guy’s persistence. Every commercial the Trix Rabbit has appeared in since his debut in 1957 has left the cereal just out of his reach. And he has such a way with words, detailing his love affair with the “lemony lemon, orangey orange, wildberry blue, grapity purple, and watermelon” flavors of his long sought-after quest. Though he was given a bowl in 1980 after a “Let the Rabbit Eat Trix!” voting campaign, for the most part he’s still taunted by kids chanting on a daily basis, “Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids!”
Tony the Tiger
Tony the Tiger wasn’t the product of a bunch of suits in a board room, but was actually crowd-sourced in a design contest in 1951. Not your average tiger, Tony is the gregarious, stand-up guy you want your kids to be friends with, complete with a can-do, positive attitude. After all, he’s most famous for never tiring of a bowl of Frosted Flakes, and responding to each one with, “They’re GR-R-R-REAT!”
Pillsbury Dough Boy
The Pillsbury Dough Boy, officially named Poppin’ Fresh (who knew?!), has a giggle that can touch your heart and he oversees some of the most delicious pastries to ever come from a can. He’s even managed the impressive feat of transcending brands, and was recently featured in a Geico commercial! The most interesting tidbit about this guy comes from his creator: he was actually thought up by a hallucinating marketing executive in 1965 who was under deadline pressures!
Charlie the Tuna
Created in 1961 by Tom Rogers and based on Rogers’s friend, Henry Nemo, Charlie the Tuna was born to rep Starkist Tuna as the only fish dumb enough to want to be caught by a fisherman. He keeps getting turned down with a note that reads, “Sorry, Charlie,” and continues to be endearing as he doesn’t realize fate has spared his life. In 2011, Starkist changed tactics and began thanking Charlie in its commercials, although it’s unclear whether this meant they finally ate him.
Mrs. Butterworth
Sorry, Aunt Jemima, but Mrs. Butterworth has you beat for the warm, welcoming maternal breakfast figure you’ve always wanted. She’ll literally break open her skull to douse your most important meal of the day with sugary, syrupy goodness, and will keep chatting with you until you’ve finished. She’s been around since 1970s, and we can only hope she doesn’t go away!
Jolly Green Giant
The Jolly Green Giant can be considered one of the first forays into food mascot marketing, as he was originally introduced way back in the day in 1928. It’s unclear whether he works because he makes eating vegetables fun, or terrifies kids with his massive size and toga. He single-handedly oversees all of the vegetables produced in his valley by Green Giant, so you know it’s top quality assurance.
Mr. Peanut
Perhaps the most dapper of food mascots, Mr. Peanut was created in 1916 (OK, so he beat out Jolly Green Giant for age) by a 14-year-old in a logo contest. Though the famous top hat, monocle and cane came later on, his representation of Planter’s Nuts has earned him quite a few accolades: a spot in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, his own Facebook page, and a star on Madison Avenue! Not bad for a guy who’s less than three inches tall!
