Staying on top of the confectionery sector’s latest and leading strategies, creations and launches is crucial to meet consumer demands and stay ahead of the curve in the growing indulgent space.
Our fortnightly NPD series gives a glimpse into new market-ready launches and novel formulations by confectionery brands, small and big, offering an insight into how these will drive the sector forward. Whether you’re searching for ideas to inspire your R&D efforts, market your new SKUs or evolve your product ranges to align with changing confectionery trends, we bring you the latest from the sector to develop your sweet treat lines.
Here’s a selection of the latest launches in the confectionery industry.
Ring Pop launches chocolate variety
As spring arrives, Ring Pop transforms its product portfolio by rolling out its newest chocolate flavour. The Bazooka Brands-owned company is launching its Ring Pop-shaped milk chocolate with rainbow sprinkles SKU.
Launching for a limited time only to coincide with spring, the over-the-top gem-shaped lollipops will now come in a milk chocolate flavour. Bazooka Brands’ pop culture classic hopes to add a new twist to Easter and spring confectionery consumers’ baskets.
The new milk chocolate Ring Pop is a solid chocolate 3-D gem with an edible, wearable chocolate ring.
Available in Walmart stores throughout the US, Ring Pop is debuting its newest chocolate flavour in vibrant spring-themed packaging. It is geared towards making an ideal addition to Easter baskets, egg hunts or as a sweet individual, indulgent treat.
Sour Patch Kids unveils new glow-up gummy candy
Glow Ups is the latest product from Sour Patch Kids, an innovative gummy candy that glows under blacklight.
The novel sweet treat, which comes in a strawberry-watermelon flavour collaboration, contains edible confetti containing turmeric extract. It’s this that gives the confectionery a unique glow while remaining flavourless, enabling the brand to pack a flavourful punch with its strawberry and watermelon notes.
Owned by Mondelēz International, Sour Patch Kids is known for its fun, flavourful, novel product portfolio. With its latest Glow-Up SKU, the brand aims to convey its mischievous personality and willingness to experiment with new flavours and formats via its playful candy.
The strawberry and watermelon flavour combination is a popular choice for Mondelēz International and its current brand portfolio. In March, its Swedish Fish brand is also launching its mini strawberry-watermelon Glow Up soft and chewy candies.
Chocolove introduces new nut flavours
European-style premium chocolate, Chocolove is debuting three new nutty flavours to balance indulgence with unique taste and texture profiles. With 2025 marking the brand’s 30th anniversary, Chocolove launched its latest confectionery flavours at Natural Products Expo West 2025 in March.
Chocolove has formulated three new nut and sea salt bar flavours: milk chocolate with pistachios and sea salt, milk chocolate with pecans, cookies & sea salt and dark chocolate with walnuts and sea salt. The new launches are designed to appeal to growing consumer demands for appealing taste and nutritional value, increased interest in ingredients like pistachios and pecans, and trendy flavour profiles that are perceived to deliver sustainability, indulgence, and rich-in-texture experiences.
Available for a limited time only, it comes in a six-pack assortment box, with two of each variety and will launch in retail stores nationwide later in 2025.
Justin’s debuts new chocolate candy bars
The USDA-certified organic chocolate treat provider has announced it is launching new classic crunchy peanut butter and peanut caramel nougat chocolate candy bars. In a move designed to invite confectionery consumers to reclaim their crunch time, Justin’s latest SKU comes after it’s also teamed up with Rudi’s Rocky Mountain Bakery on a licensing partnership to roll out products made with Justin’s peanut butter.
The brand hopes to appeal to consumers’ interest in nostalgic chocolate candy made with simple ingredients. Its products will come in two flavours: dark chocolate peanut caramel nougat and milk chocolate peanut caramel nougat.
Tapping into the permissible indulgence trend, the new-for-April brand launch aims to appeal to consumers’ calls for textured and sweet treats in the better-for-you healthier alternatives segment. The bars will feature the popular peanut butter, caramel and nougat flavours in its peanut caramel nougat chocolate candy bars. Justin’s hopes its new SKU will provide a swap to traditional chocolate candy bars while capturing the rich taste profile synonymous with chocolate.
Startup sweet spotlight
New Brazilian brand Lowy emerges with a functional sweet line
Brazilian food company Cory Alimentos created a new brand, Lowy, to launch a functional sweet line combining flavour and nutritional benefits. Lowy’s product collection contains candy varieties with a high-protein content and is free from sugar and gluten.
Lowy’s Protein Cups line comes in peanut and hazelnut flavours. It sits alongside the brand’s Lowy Filled Cookie line, in four versions: cookies’n cream, dulce de leche, triple chocolate and hazelnut.
Consumers look for confectionery products that combine functionality, health credentials and appealing taste attributes. In response, Brazilian candy market leader Cory Alimentos has invested in R&D, exploring technology and innovation that elevates flavour, texture and lightness.
