Love is in the air for confectionery manufacturers with a host of sweet and romantic innovations hitting the shelves.
Seasonal gifting remains a key growth driver, with luxury chocolate collections and revamped conversation hearts offering consumers new ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Meanwhile, dual-sided messages, emojis and premium packaging underline the push for personalisation and emotional connection.
Moving away from Valentine’s treats, Easter innovation is already beginning to blossom, with Kellogg’s unveiling a hopping new mashup.
Read on to discover the latest in global confectionery innovation.
Love is in the air for Ethel M
Ethel M Chocolates, part of Mars, has launched its 2026 Valentine’s Day Collection, offering a range of premium gifting options for the season. Available online at EthelM.com and in stores, the line-up includes limited-edition assortments and customisable boxes designed to appeal to consumers seeking luxury and personalisation.
The collection features Small and Large Heart Boxes with curated assortments of 14 and 28 chocolates. The Large Heart Box includes a pop-up heart card for added presentation appeal.
Also new is the five piece Love Collection, showcasing heart-shaped chocolates with fillings such as Lemon Satin Creme, Peanut Butter and Passion Fruit. A five piece Truffles Collection is also available, offering flavours like Cinnamon Pecan and Kona Bean Espresso.
For shoppers seeking bespoke options, Ethel M also offers customisable chocolate boxes, allowing consumers to select preferred flavours in cream or heart-shaped packaging.
Hear it from Brach’s heart
Ferrara Candy Company has unveiled Brach’s Sweet Bright Conversation Hearts for Valentine’s Day 2026, introducing a modern twist to the classic seasonal treat. The new product features dual-sided messages, emojis and even an American Sign Language symbol for “I love you”, responding to consumer demand for more expressive and inclusive designs.
The hearts offer a crunchy texture and a tangy flavour profile, blending six varieties including Blue Raspberry, Fruit Punch, Lemon-Lime, Orange, Cherry and Pineapple. Available in single, four- and eight-count boxes, the format is designed for gifting, baking and decorating, as well as immediate consumption.
Alongside Sweet Bright Conversation Hearts, the brand’s Valentine’s range includes Classic Conversation Hearts, Wisecracks and Conversation Hearts Go Global, as well as other themed treats such as Strawberry Cupcake Glitter Lollipops.
BonBon expands into chocolate
BonBon Swedish Candy Co. has expanded its portfolio with the launch of its first chocolate product, the Chocolate Wafer Bar. Known for introducing Swedish candy culture to the US, the brand moves beyond gummies into the chocolate segment, tapping into a tradition of wafer-based snacks that are a staple in Sweden.
The Chocolate Wafer Bar is designed to deliver a light, crisp texture through layers of wafer and thin ribbons of chocolate. Positioned as an everyday indulgence, the product aims to replicate the casual chocolate-eating habits common in Sweden, offering American consumers a new experience in confectionery.
The Chocolate Wafer Bar joins BonBon’s growing range of private-label packaged confections, which are distributed globally.
Kellogg’s Easter mashup
Kellogg’s has unveiled a limited-edition Rice Krispies Squares flavour ahead of Easter: Crushed Mini Eggs & Chocolate. The seasonal variant is available now in Tesco stores across the UK, offers shoppers a new twist on the popular snack brand.
The new product combines the classic Rice Krispies crunch with chocolate syrup, a crushed mini eggs topping and a chocolate drizzle.
Rice Krispies Squares continues to perform strongly in the category, with value sales up 10% year-on-year. Kellogg’s aims to build on this momentum by introducing its first Easter-inspired flavour, targeting consumers looking for novelty and indulgence during the spring season.
Holly Wright, Senior Brand Activation Manager at Kellogg’s, said the launch is expected to drive excitement in-store and appeal to shoppers seeking seasonal treats.
