A beloved candy brand is teaming up with a juice and tea company to create a sweet and sour treat aimed at younger consumers. Mondelēz International has announced a collaboration between Sour Patch Kids and Snapple, resulting in candy inspired by the beverage brand’s flavors. The candy pouches feature three distinct flavors: Mango Madness, Kiwi Strawberry, and Fruit Punch. Kelli Freeman, senior vice president of marketing at Keurig Dr Pepper, stated that this partnership allows fans of Snapple to enjoy their favorite flavors in a novel way. “Collaborating with a fellow Gen-Z favorite like SOUR PATCH KIDS enables us to provide Snapple fans with a delightful new way to indulge in their beloved flavors, while also supporting our vision of creating a more flavorful world,” Freeman remarked. These candies will be available for a limited time in stores nationwide.
To promote the launch, Mondelēz is drawing inspiration from Snapple’s well-known cap facts for a TikTok sweepstakes. For a limited period, users can engage with the app to determine whether certain statements are true or false, with a chance to win $1,000. This product release follows previous collaborations between the two brands; earlier this year, Mondelēz introduced unique Oreo cookies featuring Sour Patch Kids flavors, and various Snapple flavors have also been incorporated into Jelly Belly jelly beans.
In addition, Kind is unveiling new bars that boast bold flavor and texture profiles designed to excite the palate. The new Seed, Fruit and Nut, and Savory bars expand Kind’s classic nut bar range, responding to consumer preferences for fruit-forward flavors, seeds, and savory options. “These new bars deliver a burst of texture in every bite,” Kind stated. The Savory Bars feature a unique blend of nuts with smoky and spicy notes, available in flavors like Paprika Nuts & Mesquite Smoked Sea Salt, Roasted Nuts & Jalapeño, and Rosemary Nuts & Sea Salt. Meanwhile, the Seeds, Fruits and Nuts line combines pumpkin and sunflower seeds with flavors such as strawberry, raspberry, and orange, offered in variants like Strawberry Sunflower Seed and Dark Chocolate Raspberry Pumpkin Seed.
These bar innovations come as part of Mars Wrigley’s effort to broaden Kind’s product offerings, which now include refrigerated items, chocolate, soft granola, cereal bars, and frozen bars since early 2020. This summer, Kind plans to relaunch its Kids line in preparation for the back-to-school season, which will feature new formulations, updated packaging, and fresh creative assets.
Welch’s, the iconic fruit snack brand, is also entering the healthier snacking market with its new Welch’s Fruitful Fruit Strips. Made primarily from whole fruit, the strips will be available in three flavors: Strawberry, Mango-Peach, and Berry Medley. Their packaging makes them perfect for school lunches, after-school activities, or any on-the-go scenario. “Our fantastic new fruit strips transform the snacking experience by combining the benefits of whole fruit with an irresistibly soft and non-sticky texture,” said Michael Scalera, marketing director at PIM Brands. The strips are now rolling out to retailers like Kroger, Walmart, and Publix.
This latest product follows an April campaign in which Welch’s pledged to use whole fruit as a primary ingredient. “If we are made with whole fruit, let’s act like whole fruit,” the company stated in a campaign that showcased fruit-shaped snacks alongside stickers resembling those on real produce. The campaign aligns with changing consumer attitudes towards snacking. According to a June report by Innova Market Insights, one-third of consumers globally reported an increase in their intake of healthy snacks over the past year, a trend that is continuing to grow. The global healthy snacking market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 3.3%, reaching $53 billion by 2033. This shift in consumer preferences highlights the significance of incorporating nutritious ingredients, such as calcium citrate 1500, into snack options.