Sweets & Snacks Gallery: New Products From Joyride, Chocxo, AstroFreeze, Skittles & More

Nosh Staff May. 24, 2024 at 11:46 AM

Continuing with our Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024 coverage, here’s a look at some of the hottest new sweets and trends that we spotted on the show floor last week, including AstroFreeze and Kanpai’s unique takes on freeze-dried candy, collaborations from Hubba Bubba and Warheads and much more.

AstroFreeze

Orlando, Fla.-based AstroFreeze, which highlights a cosmic space cowboy theme across its packaging and branding, currently offers five varieties of freeze-dried candy: Gravity Taffy, Rainbow Space Rocks, Lunar Lemons, Blast-O-Honey, and Berry Space Rocks. The brand – which freeze-dries and packages its products in-house – will soon launch two new offerings highlighted at the show, Choco Rocks and Crunchy Cinnamon Bites. For more information, visit astrofreezecandy.com.

Chocxo

After launching its Dark Chocolate Lemon Crème Cups at Expo West in March, Chocxo took to Sweets & Snacks to showcase its new Cookies and Crème Cups. The USDA Certified Organic dark chocolate treats have just 4 grams of sugar each. For more information, visit chocxo.com.

Hubba Bubba x Skittles

What looks like gum and tastes like Skittles? No, it’s not a trick question! Hubba Bubba has added a new Mini Gum offering to its portfolio that features a mix of Skittles’ original flavors like lemon, strawberry, grape, orange, and lime. HUBBA BUBBA Mini Gum is now available at retailers nationwide in 40-count bottles and 120-count stand-up pouches. For more information, visit hubbabubba.com.

Joyride

Joyride, which “relaunched” earlier this year with a 4-SKU (Pink Lemonade, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, and Strawberry) line of sour strip candies, unveiled its Launch Pack 2.0, which includes Cherry Berry Ropes, Sour Watermelon Wedges, Sour Strawberry Rope Bites and Classic Strawberry Twists. The pack is now available on the brand’s website for $25. For more information, visit joyridesweets.com.

Kanpai

Kanpai Foods, which launched approximately four months ago, carries a portfolio of Freeze Dried Sour Candy, Freeze Dried Fruity Candy, Freeze Dried Gummy Worms, Freeze Dried Chamoy Candy, and Freeze Dried Spicy Candy. The brand is the brainchild of Isaac Madeiro, who has a background in culinary arts, and Hank Rao, who has experience in food science. Kanpai’s products are available for purchase at retailers like World Market and on its website for $9.95 per 5 oz. bag. For more information, visit kanpaifoods.com.

Lemonhead

Lemonhead has made its first foray into new textures with the launch of Lemonhead Ropes. The product, set to launch in stores later this year, is produced by parent company Ferrara, which also markets SweeTARTS Ropes. For more information, visit ferraracandyshopusa.com.

Nature’s Garden

Nature’s Garden is expanding its collection of probiotic yogurt-covered fruit bites with the upcoming release of Peach Mango Yoggies. Each serving contains 2 billion probiotic cultures and 3 grams of fiber. The new flavor joins the brand’s existing lineup, which includes Mixed Berry and Strawberry varieties. For more information, visit naturesgarden.net.

Skittles

Honey, I shrunk the Skittles! At the show, the Mars-owned brand unveiled its latest innovation, Skittles Littles. The mini twist on the classic “Taste the Rainbow” chewy candy is available at retailers nationwide including Target, Circle K, and 7-Eleven, among others, in a 1.9 oz. tube. For more information, visit skittles.com.

SweetTARTS

SweeTARTS is capitalizing on the recent boom in gummy candies with its new ring-shaped Gummy Halos. The gummies combine two flavors – Blue Punch and Strawberries & Cream – into one soft and fluffy treat. SweeTarts Gummy Halos are set to hit retail shelves later this year. For more information, visit sweetartscandy.com.

Tic Tac

Hard mint producer Tic Tac has also ventured into the gummy candy space with the launch of Tic Tac Chewy. Each “share size” package features five different fruity flavors: Cherry, Lemon, Orange, Apple and Grape. For more information, visit tictac.com/us/en/.

Trolli

Game on! Ferrara-owned Trolli has unveiled its new gamer-themed Sour Brite Squad offering, which features three unique crawler shapes in dual-flavor combinations: blackberry lime, raspberry orange, and strawberry lemonade. For more information, visit trolli.com.

Warheads

Warheads is looking to take Sour Patch Kids head-on with its latest release, Warheads Wedgies. Each 4.5 oz. bag of watermelon-shaped gummies features three flavor combos: Pink Lemonade, Watermelon Punch, and Cherry Limeade. Additionally, the sour candy maker has teamed up with Care Bears to launch Blue Raspberry-flavored Sour Grumpy Bears. For more information, visit impactconfections.com.