What’s hot in confectionery? New product development from Hershey and Liquorice Flyers

Keeping up to date with the latest confectionery innovations and industry developments is vital in the competitive and shifting landscape of chocolate, candies, popcorn and gum.

In our fortnightly new product development (NPD) roundup, we bring you the latest launches from confectionery companies, both big and small, to show you their releases in this fast-moving space.

Whether you’re seeking inspiration to drive innovation, ideas to expand your product offerings or just to stay on top of the changing confectionery market, you’ll find the latest insights and information to support your business’s launch, expansion and success.

Here what’s hot this month:

Sour Punch Pickle Roulette expands beyond the US​

The confectionery range, which has already been successful in the US, will come to the UK. World of Sweets, the UK’s leading distributor, importer and wholesaler of confectionery products, and Hancocks, a confectionery wholesaler, are introducing Sour Punch’s Pickle Roulette selection to UK shoppers.

World of Sweets will stock and sell Sour Punch Pickle Roulette Straws and Sour Punch Pickle Roulette Bites. The brand’s Pickle Roulette Straws come in lemon & lime, green apple, and watermelon flavour, with ‘surprise’ pickle-flavoured straws hidden inside to ramp up the novelty factor.

The Sour Punch Pickle Roulette range sold out within just two days of its initial US launch after receiving 1,600 orders. World of Sweets expects a similar reaction from UK shoppers. It hopes consumers will tap into the range’s fun and risky elements to capture novelty-seeking sweet shoppers. 

Retailers can purchase the Pickle Roulette products from the World of Sweets retailer app and website and from Hancocks.

Hershey unveils 2024 Halloween collection​

With just two months to go until the spooky season, The Hershey Company is getting consumers ready for Halloween now with several launches.

Among the firm’s new products is its Kit Kat Ghost Toast. The familiar favourite retains its classic wafer bar but adds the twist of cinnamon toast-flavoured creme. The latest Kit Kat variety is available for a limited time and comes in standard, king and snacking sizes.

Meanwhile, Reese’s is releasing its Werewolf Tracks, a mix of vanilla-flavoured creme, milk chocolate and peanut butter in snack, standard and king-size options.

Drawing inspiration from the mystical fan favourite Harry Potter, Hershey is also launching its Milk Chocolate Harry Potter Bar snack size product in time for Halloween. Available in 9.45 oz bags, its limited edition chocolate bars feature designs inspired by the film franchise.

It has also added Twizzlers Ghosts to its new-for-2024 range. As the name suggests, the chocolate giant has added a Halloween-inspired twist to its seasonal Twizzlers shapes collection with ghost-shaped candies in a cherry flavour.

Reese’s Pumpkins will also make a comeback in various sizes, ideal for both snacking and sharing. Reese’s Skeletons, which feature creamy chocolate and peanut butter candies, will return in 9.1 oz bags. Reese’s Assorted Jumbo Bag Snack Size Shapes featuring individually wrapped ghosts, bats, and pumpkins will also be on sale in 14.4 oz bags.

And finally, Hershey will continue to team up with Haribo to see the duo’s Haribo Gold Bears return, available in a range of Hershey assortment bags.

Liquorice Flyers releases new zingy cherry product​

Around for more than 70 years, Flyers, a leading brand in the world of liquorice, is introducing a new, vibrant cherry flavour​ to its range of sour and fruity liquorice sticks.

First launched in 1946 with the strapline, ‘the magic’s in the middle’, Flyer’s latest product seeks to combine the distinct liquorice aroma – known for its blend of sweet, bitter, sour and salty taste profiles – with the vibrant taste of naturally flavoured sweet or sour centres.

Hailed as a cult liquorice pioneer, the brand knows only too well that liquorice has a ‘love it, hate it’ quality to its flavour. By leveraging the popularity of sour-themed sweets – which are seeing scores of shoppers flock to the shelves – with cherry flavour, the brand hopes to capture consumers with its indulgent and adventurous sweets that feature innovative flavours and textures.

Ahead of launching its Cherry option, Flyers researched 14 flavours, with its now-launched cherry flavour firmly at the top of the samplers’ favourite flavour list.

Each Flyers pack, which is suitable for vegans, contains seven liquorice sticks priced at 99p.

Butterkist new caramelised biscuit flavour comes to stores this summer​

KP Snacks-owned popcorn brand Butterkist is introducing a new take on its traditional crunchy toffee popcorn by adding a biscuit element. The brand’s new caramelised biscuit flavour seeks to combine toffee crunch with a delicious biscuit taste.

KP Snacks’ latest Butterkist flavour taps into the trend for dessert-like flavours that create a new and unique taste and texture experience. Exploring premium popcorn options that feature gourmet flavours like caramelised biscuits can also tap into the growing demand for upscale and artisanal snack choices.

With sharing occasions in mind, Butterkist’s latest product is geared towards consumers enjoying a movie night at home or eating its newest popcorn variety as an indulgent treat. Yet, with the popcorn bucket a snacking format favourite around the world, Butterkist also hopes to tap into this familiarity and popularity.

This latest flavour is now available in the UK at Co-op stores, arriving on 22nd July, followed by Sainsbury’s and Asda. Butterkist Caramelised Biscuit Flavour toffee popcorn will be in 155g sharing bags.

Mondelēz teams up with another global giant​

This summer Mondelēz has teamed up with another global giant, Coca-Cola. Together, they will launch two exclusive limited-edition products: Oreo Coca-Cola Sandwich Cookie and Coca-Cola Oreo Zero Sugar Limited Edition.

The newly-released Oreo Coca-Cola Sandwich Cookie combines the famous chocolate-based cakes consumers are familiar with, and a Coca-Cola inspired flavour. The basecakes also have a Coca-Cola design, contain smooth white creme and red edible glitter. Oreo aims to bring its creativity and imagination to life with this launch, by exploring new flavours.

From September, the limited edition Oreo Coca-Cola Sandwich Cookie and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Oreo will be on the shelves of local grocery stores and convenience stores in various countries, including the US, Canada, China, Mexico and Brazil.

Sweet startup spotlight: Popcorn Kitchen​

Artisanal business Popcorn Kitchen is launching its new Rainbow Sweet & Salt popcorn in time for Christmas. Suitable for vegans, the sweet treat uses vegan-friendly natural colourings and ingredients.

After expanding its 51-cm tall Giant Money Box Bottles, Popcorn Kitchen is now available online and in the UK via independent stores, food halls, farm shops, garden centres, book shops, hotels including the Ritz, high street stores and hamper companies.

Priced at £23.99, the brand hopes the vibrant packaging will appeal to consumers looking for seasonal treats.