Keeping up-to-date on the latest confectionery developments and chocolate, candy and gum trends is vital in today’s competitive and changing sector. In our bi-weekly new product development (NPD) roundup, we bring you the latest launches from confectionery companies, big and small, to show you the latest product releases in this fast-moving space.
M&M’s celebrates National Peanut Butter Day
In time for National Peanut Butter Day on January 24, M&M’s is launching its Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich. Hailed as the first of its kind, M&M’s latest innovation aims to deliver a nostalgic and flavourful product. The brand’s sweet-and-salty creamy peanut butter launch is the latest addition to its M&M’s Ice Cream portfolio, prioritising colour and fun.
The Mars-owned brand has developed its confectionery and dessert collaboration to mark the ongoing popularity of the fan-favourite flavour, peanut butter. M&M’s says peanut butter remains the number one nut flavour for Generation Z and Millennials ice cream consumers.
M&M’s Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich is designed to deliver a multi-texture flavour experience that brings together the crunchy sensation of M&M’s Milk Chocolate Minis with the melt-in-your-mouth sweetness of “home-baked” style sugar cookies and the rich and creamy sensation of 100% real peanut butter ice cream.
The brand’s latest launch is the newest addition to its popular M&M’s Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich lineup, which features existing flavours like vanilla, chocolate, and cookies and cream varieties.
Keebler unveils cookie-inspired Fudge Stripes
Global sweet-packaged food company Ferrero strives to double the indulgence of its Keebler-brand’s iconic cookie with its new release: Fudge Stripes.
Keebler’s latest product, Fudge Stripes Double Fudge Cookies, is its first permanent flavour addition to its Fudge Stripes portfolio, bringing together chocolate and cookies. Keebler’s latest flavour sits alongside its other 30-plus sweet treats and cookies, including its classic Fudge Stripes, Chips Deluxe and Sandies varieties.
Designed to deliver an appealing texture and flavour, and serve as a permissible indulgent treat and a shareable moment, the brand’s new Fudge Stripes cookies combine a crisp, chocolatey base with a coating of rich fudge.
The Ferrero brand’s latest release is available in mass, grocery and convenience stores throughout the US.
Fulfil releases its new protein snack
With its latest launch, Fulfil Nutrition wants to take its functional confectionery consumers on a new snacking adventure. As part of its new lineup, Fulful has teamed up with Cody Rigsby, a US fitness instructor, dancer and television personality, to release its latest snack. Together, the duo aim to highlight the importance of protein in a balanced diet and as a way to support consumers' focus on wellness goals.
Fulfil Nutrition is unveiling three core innovations to complement its latest product selections. The brand has created Protein Bites, a convenient bite-size power-rich snack for on-the-go use. The product is available in two flavours: Chocolate Salted Caramel and Chocolate Peanut Caramel. Packaged in a pouch, each one has seven bites and contains 16g of protein, 3-4g of sugar and 4g of net carbohydrates.
Next up, the brand has re-envisioned Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar made with Reese’s Peanut Butter. The bar comes in a 55g offering and a 40g bar size, which contains 15g of protein, 3g of net carbs and 1g of sugar.
Finally, Fulfil Nutrition has launched its biggest bar, which comes in a 55g format, 15g more than its original 40-g Fulfil protein bar. It contains 20g of protein, 2g of sugar and 3-4g of net carbs. It comes in various sweet and salty flavours, including Chocolate Salted Caramel, Chocolate Peanut Caramel and Chocolate Peanut Butter made with Reese’s Peanut Butter.
With its latest range, Fulfil Nutrition aims to appeal to consumers looking for better-for-you, functional confectionery. It offers high-protein snacks that taste like sweets and are easily accessible and enjoyable for all consumers.
Fulfil Nutrition’s new product launches are available at Amazon and US retailers, including Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Kroger, Albertson’s Safeway and regional grocers.
Swizzels launches new Squashies Love Hearts
Ahead of Valentine’s and Galentine’s Day in February, British sweet maker Swizzels has debuted its new limited-edition product. Swizzels is bringing together two of its leading brands in its latest launch: Squashies and Love Hearts.
With the release of its new product, Swizzels is combining moreish flavours and signature soft texture with an added fun, famous twist that sees playful messages or emojis emboss each foam sweet. Reimaging Valentine’s confectionery, its latest limited edition sweet treat comes in traditional Love Hearts’ classic colours and flavours, including Pineapple, Lime, Blackcurrant, Lemon, Cherry and Orange.
Swizzels has formulated its latest product mashup in 120g bags, sold in cases of 12. They feature fun and popular messages like ‘KISS,’ ‘WOW,’ ‘FAB,’ and ‘LOVE,’ as well as cheerful, romantic and playful emojis.
The family-owned independent sugar confectionery business’s latest product development is part of a broader campaign of UK research that explores how love and Valentine’s Day have evolved. It also delves into how consumers’ feelings towards love have changed. Swizzels offers six all-year-round flavours and a selection of seasonal limited-edition offerings, of which its Squashies and Love Hearts duo is one.
YumEarth releases two new varieties
Better-for-you, allergen-friendly candy brand, YumEarth, has launched two new sweet treats: Sour Littles and Duo Pops. Tapping into the sour craze and combined flavours, the brand hopes to appeal to allergen-friendly candies that deliver bold flavours, transparency and fun for all generations.
Sour Littles is a tangy twist on sour candy that YummyEarth says features bold mouth-puckering flavours like Blue Raspberry, Lemon and Strawberry. The brand’s Duo Pops centres on a nostalgic lollipop that contains a hard candy shell and chewy, candy-filled centres in fun flavour combos like Cherry Apple, Blue Raspberry and Strawberry Lemon.
YumEarth products are free of the top nine allergens – peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, sesame, and gluten – non-genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and made with ingredients, free from additives.
Sweet startup spotlight
Fudge Kitchen
The UK-based artisan confectionery company Fudge Kitchen is expanding its range, increasing the premiumisation of its sweet products. Located in Canterbury, Kent, Fudge Kitchen has formulated its latest products with nostalgic flavours like raspberry and coconut.
Developed on the values of quality, nostalgia and tradition, Fudge Kitchen has released a new rock-salted peanut brittle, its latest vanilla cranberry fudge and its salted caramel cranberry fudge, which brings together sweet caramel and salt in one formulation.
Operating in the confectionery sector for over 40 years, Fudge Kitchen is now reimagining its sweet products for the conscious consumer, highlighting its support for ethical and sustainable approaches. Each product is packaged in Forest Stewardship Council-certified boxes (FSC), printed with plant-based inks free from preservatives and sealed with water-based adhesives. Fudge Kitchen’s products use British sugar, locally sourced and organic dairy, recognising quality and environmental responsibility.
