1967 Primrose Confectionery : Superman Sweet Cigarettes

Superman Sweet Cigarettes were distributed in the UK and Canada by Primrose Confectionery Co., Ltd. of Slough, England. Each box included a mini Superman card that measures approximately 2.5 x 1.35 inches.

The 50-card series is copyrighted 1967 by "National Periodical Publicity Inc.," a typo for National Periodical Publications. The candy boxes are copyrighted 1966. The Primrose Superman series is sometimes categorized as 1968 or 1972 due to multiple print runs. The first printing is on card stock; later printings are on thin paper.

The storyline on the back of each card features Lex Luthor and Brainiac as the protagonists. The artist and writer for this set are not credited.

Cigarette cards were introduced by New York manufacturer Thomas H. Hall in 1877. The cards functioned to keep packs rigid and prevent cigarettes from breaking. Trading cards were commonly packaged with bubble gum following the introduction of Dubble Bubble from Fleer. Cigarette cards were abandoned by most manufacturers due to World War II paper shortages and a perceived link to underage smoking.

Primrose Confectionery Co., Ltd. was operational from 1960 until 1988. During the late 1970s, Superman Sweet Cigarettes were being distributed throughout Europe and Canada by Bassett's and the Barratt Division. In 1979, Barratt began to phase out candy cigarettes. Superman Sweet Cigarettes were re-branded as Candy Sticks.

From 1980–1982, The Health Education Council ran an anti-smoking campaign featuring Superman vs. Nick O'Teen, a dastardly villain that encourages children to smoke. Three animated public service announcements were produced by the Richard Williams studio. The cartoons premiered in the UK on Boxing Day in 1980.

An 8-page illustrated story and full-page advertisements appeared in various comic books and magazines. Throughout the campaign, Superman repeated the slogan, "Never say yes to a cigarette." The cost of the operation was more than £3.5 million. Boxes of Superman Sweet Cigarettes remained in stores while the cartoons aired.

Candy cigarettes have been prohibited in many countries including Canada and the United Kingdom. In 1970 and 1991, unsuccessful attempts were made to ban candy cigarettes in the United States. The products remain available in similar packaging, but can not be labeled as cigarettes.