The brand Zoom was launched first, in April/May 1963, to capitalise on Fireball XL5, with Fab appearing in May 1967. Initially the Zoom's commercial target was for boys only, being rocket shaped, which left a vast market niche that was filled by the development of the "Fab"; a more feminine looking lolly designed in mind for girls. The lolly was originally pitched at the female market with the association to purchase being the attraction of Lady Penelope.[1] Regularly used in the show was the phrase "F-A-B" as an equivalent to "Roger" (communications jargon indicating that a message has been received). The original lolly packaging had a prominent image of Lady Penelope and her butler/driver Parker on the wrapper.[2][3]
The lolly consists of strawberry fruit ice and cream with the top portion dipped in chocolate and coated with hundreds and thousands.
The description on the packaging reads "Real Strawberry and vanilla flavour ice lolly with chocolate flavour coating (5%) and sugar strands (5%)".
The fab lolly, Fruit And Berries, has changed from a jelly type centre many years ago, to strawberry ice used now. An orange variety has also been manufactured as has a limited edition lemon flavour,[4] a limited edition apple and blackcurrant flavour (in 2000), and a limited edition tropical flavour in 2003. A new limited edition lolly was created in 2018, to celebrate fifty years of Fab lollies. The "Birthday Cake" lolly has raspberry water and sponge cake flavour ice with a vanilla flavour coating and sugar strands.[5]
In 2019, Nestlé introduced a Raspberry Doughnut flavour of the brand with a Raspberry doughnut flavour water ice lolly with a raspberry sauce centre, with the usual chocolate flavour coating and sugar strands.
The brand's connection to the Thunderbirds television series has not been maintained, and was quietly dropped in the early-1970s.
1 Currently manufactured by General Mills in the U.S. and Canada. Produced by Cereal Partners under the Nestlé brand elsewhere. 2 Brand owned by General Mills; U.S. and Canadian production rights controlled by Nestlé under license. 3 U.S. production rights owned by The Hershey Company. 4 U.S. rights and production owned by the Smarties Candy Company with a different product. 5 U.S. rights and specific trade dress owned by Nestlé; rights elsewhere owned by Associated British Foods. 6 Produced by Cereal Partners, branded as Nestlé. 7 Produced by Cereal Partners and branded as Nestlé in the U.K. and Ireland. Produced by Post Foods elsewhere. 8 Philippine production rights owned by Alaska Milk Corporation. 9 Singaporean, Malaysian and Thai production rights owned by Fraser and Neave. 10 Used only in Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. 11 Used only in the Philippines. 12 U.S. production rights owned by the Ferrara Candy Company. 13NA rights and specific trade dress to all packaged coffee and other products under the Starbucks brand owned by Nestlé since 2019. 14 Brand owned by Mars, sold by Nestlé in Canada. 15 Produced by Froneri in the U.S. since 2020.
