The announcement came less than a month after the company posted record sales during the 2015-to-2016 financial period, when it experienced a 13% increase in turnover to $55m, and the sales of its power sour candy brand Brain Blasterz range increased by 33%.
Managing director at Bon Bon Buddies, Justin Thomas, told ConfectioneryNews, Bon Bon Buddies had to revise its business plan to accommodate the growth trajectory following the “record-breaking” financial year.
“Fruitickles fits perfectly within this revised outlook, which is at the heart of everything we do along with our strategy to collaborate with the biggest and best licensors,” he added.
Partnership with Disney
The new Frutickles line was developed through a new three-year partnership with Disney in addition to their longstanding relationship for the past 14 years, according to Bon Bon Buddies.
The character-branded Fruitickles range comprises five products made with mixed strawberry, orange and blackcurrant flavors. The range will come in singular consumption packs, multipack consumption packs, surprise bags (large and small sizes), surprise capsules and surprise cones.
Fruitickles also features characters from some of well-known Disney brands, including Disney Princess, Frozen, Cars 3, Spiderman and Star Wars.
“Fruitickles is a healthier alternative to standard confectionery on the market, especially as many other products that promote themselves as fruit-based products only, in fact, contain about 0% to 6% fruit,” Thomas said.
“It is also a portion-controlled, gluten-free confectionery product suitable for vegetarians, made with only natural colorings and flavors.”
Using recipes developed in-house
Thomas claimed Fruitickles was “unique” compared to other Bon Bon Buddies’ products because the recipe was developed completely in-house.
“It isn’t available anywhere else in the world, and has been carefully thought through by our talented team,” he said.
“We also paid a particular focus on the eat quality of Fruitickles, and its healthier credentials are not only endorsed by parents, but also enjoyed by kids.”
Not launching in Asia any time soon
Bon Bon Buddies has no plan of bringing the new licensed fruit candies to Asia for now. Asia accounts for a single-digit percentage point of its overall sales, but helped increase the company’s rest-of-the-world revenues by 165% during the last financial year.
The UK confectioner is now focused on physical store distribution in Asia, and it is putting together a full e-commerce plan, which is considered “particularly important” for its China business.
Thomas said ISM had given the company “a perfect platform for the Fruitickles launch” with all key customers and distributors in one place.
By the time when Fruitickles appears on store shelves, Bon Bon Buddies will run a full marketing campaign, and also look to provide sampling opportunities to boost consumer awareness.