Astro Pop Lollipops Make Comeback at L.N. Shop

Candy lovers are in luck. What's old is new again.

 27000 Alicia Parkway, has brought back an old favorite that disappeared eight years ago -- the Rocket Astro Pop.

Astro Pops were dubbed the longest lasting lollipop on Earth when the previous manufacturer, Spangler Candy, discontinued the product in 2004.

A Southern California man bought the rights in 2010 and began working to revive the brand, a task that was complicated because Spangler had dismantled its manufacturing equipment and sold it for scrap.

“It has taken almost two years to perfect the recipe and we already have over 12,000 Facebook fans that have been waiting to get a hold of the first production pieces of Astro Pops,” said Leaf Brands CEO Ellia Kassoff, based in Newport Beach.

"Astro Pop was my favorite candy growing up and I would usually go into Smart and Final to buy them by the case.  In 2004-2005, I would go in and look for them, but they kept telling me they were, 'out of stock,' Kassoff said.  

After about a year of hearing the same thing, he called Spangler Candy Co., the mfg. of Astro Pops at the time and they told him Astro Pops had been discontinued since it the product was “no longer part of their, product strategy.”

"After hearing that, I was floored.  My favorite candy, no longer being made?  I couldn’t let that happen so I called the president of Spangler and asked if they would sell the rights to me," he recalled.  "He said, 'yes' and after a few years of negotiating, I bought the rights in 2010."

It took two years (they started shipping Astro Pops only two weeks ago) to get them made again since Spangler sold off the special manufacturing equipment as scrap and Kassoff had to devise a whole new way of making the pops.

A few months later, after aquiring the rights, he was at the big, Sweets and Snacks Expo in Chicago, announcing the return of Astro Pops.

"I brought my cousin with me, who’s name was Nate Leaf," he said. "Nate’s dad was Ed Leaf, of the Leaf Candy Co., which was the fourth largest candy company in the US until the family sold off to Hearshey back in the early 1990s. Everyone was stopping us at the trade show, saying how much they remembered my uncle and my cousin, even though my uncle passed away back in 1978."

He was surprised how everyone still knew Leaf Candy, even though it had been gone since the 1990s.  After coming back from the trade show, he decided to obtain the rights to Leaf Brands and re-start the company, which he finally did last year. 

As for its recent launch at Powell's, more than 1,500 people stopped by to celebrate its 4-year anniversary, and be one of the first West Coasters to try an Astro Pop last month. 

"We sold about 600 the first day," said Manager Melissa Jordan. "People are stoked to have it back."

Powell’s is now selling the larger 1.5-ounce specialty/candy store edition Astro Pops. The larger pop will be available only in specialty and candy stores. Later in the year, the original 1-ounce pop will be available through larger drug and supermarket chains.

According to industry analysts, Astro Pops are forecast to be the No. 1 nostalgic candy for 2012 and 2013. Initial sales are on track to achieve that forecast.

Kassoff's company currently has more than 350 new items we sell, including Astro Pops, Farts Candy, Sour Spanks!, Yummers!, and a whole new line of jelly beans created by the inventor of the Jelly Belly, Jelly Bean, David Klein called, David’s Signature Beyond Gourmet.

The candy was also launched in the East Coast at Dylan's Candy Bar, a chain of boutique candy shops with locations in New York City, East Hampton and Houston, and owned by Dylan Lauren, daughter of fashion designer Ralph Lauren. It has become a famous destination for tourists and locals alike in the city, and has also been featured in television and movies based in New York.