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In 1923, Otto Schnering, the founder of the Curtiss Candy Company, invented a new candy bar and decided to name it through a public contest.
The approach not only gave birth to the name "Butterfinger" but also helped generate early publicity for the candy bar.
In the 1920s, the Curtiss Candy Company launched an audacious marketing campaign for Butterfinger. They decided to drop candy bars from airplanes over various cities across the United States.
This eye-catching publicity stunt not only created a spectacle that captured public attention but also significantly boosted Butterfinger's popularity.
In 1934, Butterfinger was featured in the Shirley Temple film "Baby Take a Bow."
The candy bar’s placement in a movie starring one of the era's most beloved child actors not only increased Butterfinger's visibility but also associated the brand with Hollywood glamor.
In 1988, Butterfinger launched a groundbreaking advertising partnership with The Simpsons—then still a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show.
The iconic slogan "Nobody better lay a finger on my Butterfinger" was introduced in 1992, featuring Bart Simpson as the candy's possessive spokesperson.
After a brief hiatus, Butterfinger paid homage to its Simpsons-era commercials with a new campaign in 2009, followed by a revival of the classic slogan in 2010, slightly modified to "Nobody's gonna lay a finger on my Butterfinger."
The original slogan and Bart Simpson returned in 2013. A strong brand to character association was reinforced.
In 2024 The Simpsons family was featured on Butterfinger's packaging to celebrate the candy's 100th anniversary.
On April 1, 2008, Nestlé orchestrated an elaborate April Fool's Day prank, claiming they had changed Butterfinger's name to simply "The Finger," complete with a fake website and video press release.
The playful marketing stunt cited fictitious consumer research suggesting the original name was "clumsy" and "awkward”. It showed a humorous, self-deprecating side to Buterfinger’s advertising.
In October 2011, Butterfinger ventured into branded entertainment with the release of "Butterfinger The 13th," a comedy horror film.
The approach blended product placement with original content creation, in order to engage with audiences through unconventional mediums.
In January 2019, following Ferrero's acquisition of the brand from Nestlé, Butterfinger launched its "Better Butterfinger" campaign to promote a significant reformulation of its iconic candy bar.
This revamp, which included changes to both ingredients and packaging, aimed to modernize the product while maintaining its classic appeal.
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