Sugar confectionery – or candy as it seems to be called these days – remains a vital impulse category in convenience and a raft of recent NPD and media campaigns is keeping the category fresh and exciting.
The total candy category is worth over £881m [Nielsen, Sep 2017] and remains a hugely important impulse category for local retailers in Scotland. Driving that success in part is a continued commitment by the major manufacturers to continually keep the category fresh and exciting with new products and media campaigns to meet a wide range of customer need states.
Mars Wrigley gets busy
Mars Wrigley Confectionery, which owns the Skittles and Starburst brands, has being doing its bit for the category in recent times with the launch of Starburst Chewing Gum.
Dan Newell, Confections Marketing Director at Mars Wrigley Confectionery comments on the three variants that were unveiled: “Starburst Fruity Mixies, Starburst Strawberry Cubes and Starburst Red Berry Sticks provide consumers with a sugarfree treat alternative which bridges the gap between gum and candy.”
Meanwhile the company added a Very Berry variant to its £18.5m Starburst portfolio in single (45g), hanging bag (150g) and sharing pouch (192g) formats, including price-marked pack options.
Barratt adds Softies
Tangerine Confectionery is expanding its Softies range with the addition of three new products under the Barratt brand: Dip Dab Softies, and Refreshers and Fruit Salad Mini Softies. The range is modern twist on the classic Dip Dab to appeal to a younger consumer but also to adult consumers who remember the sweet from their childhood.
Tangerine has also announced the launch of both Refreshers Mini Softies and Fruit Salad Mini Softies, 30g versions of the core products.
New Haribo combos
Haribo has unveiled new frenzy variants of its top-selling Starmix and Tangfastics: Frenzy Starmix Fruit Punch and Frenzy Tangfastics Fruit Spritzers.
Maynards Bassetts promo
Maynards Bassetts has launched a new on-pack promotion across its range, offering over 1,000 prizes to lucky consumers. Running through to August 31, the Sweet Sounds of Summer promotion offers consumers the chance to win music-related prizes, including gig tickets, headphones and portable speakers.
Choos and Squashies launch
Swizzels has expanded its PMP range and entered the soft chew hanging bag category with the launch of Choos, available in two variants with a choice of five flavours per pack. Drumstick Choos provide five double flavour combinations including brand-new Peaches & Cream and Strawberry & Banana, while Refreshers Choos offer five fizzy flavours with the unique sherbet centre, including Pineapple and Apple.
Sweetstake summer
Mars Wrigley has launched The Sweetstake, a new on-pack promotion offering consumers the chance to win millions of prizes including free products and cash. An adaption of the classic fan tradition of “sweepstakes”, the promotion will run across 11 brands in singles, multipack and pouch packs. There are 100 million promotional packs in the marketplace during the football this summer.
Tangerine options
Tangerine Confectionery is extending its recently returned Barratt range with the launch of two new products: Sour Bon Bons and Fruity Coconut Mushrooms. Barratt Sour Bon Bons are available in 180g sharing bags (RSP £1), offering a mix of flavours including sour cherry, apple, lemon, and blue raspberry.
Also launched are Fruity Coconut Mushrooms in a 190g mixed sharing bag (RSP £1).
Bassetts NPD
The Maynards Bassetts Wine Gums range has been expanded with the addition of Tangy, Tropical and Merry Mix candy bags, bringing in more than 300,000 additional shoppers says the company.
Wine Gums Mocktails was also added in March, aiming to broaden appeal to younger adults. It sees non-alcoholic Strawberry Daiquiri, Pina Colada and Cuba Libre flavours added to the range of iconic Wine Gum shaped jelly sweets.
