The new ‘Max’ varieties have been introduced to Barratt’s flavours such as Fruit Salad, Black Jack, Bruiser Kola and Bruiser Blackcurrant and Apple.
The bars will retail at 20p, while standard bars will remain priced at 12p.
New markets
Laura Burton, Barratt brand manager told ConfectioneryNews.com: “Barratt Sweets are always looking for new export opportunities, so there is potential to move into new markets.”
Tangerine later confirmed these markets would predominatly be in the UK.
Asked which new export markets Tangerine saw potential for with its other brands and why, she said: “Scandinavia has the highest sugar confectionery consumption per head.”
Tangerine said that it was looking at the Scandinavian market for new product launches planned in Spring.
Barratt large bars
Some of the Barratt Sweets products are available in export markets such as its Sherbet Fountain, which is available in Australia.
Burton said that value and larger pack formats were a key trend supporting the growth of the confectionery category at the moment.
“It is reflective of consumers’ preference for ‘sharing’, in today’s economic climate people are staying in more and purchasing larger, sharing pack formats to enjoy at home with family and friends,” she said.
“The 20p ‘Max’ chew bar is a fantastic opportunity to grow the Barratt Sweets brand and tap into the pocket money market. Both price points will appeal to kids buying treats for themselves,” she continued.
The larger sized chew bars will be manufactured at the company’s Blackpool site, and Burton said Tangerine had not had to alter any equipment or expand production lines in order to accommodate for the larger sized bars.
She said that the company was not willing at this time to disclose how much more expensive the larger bars were to manufacture.
Category leader
In October last year, Tangerine acquired the Wham bar from McCowans, expanding a category-leading portfolio which includes Barratt Refreshers, Sherbet Dip Dabs, Sherbet Fountains, Black Jacks and Fruit Salads.
The company claims to boasts six out of the top 10 chew bar brands.