Sweets & Snacks Gallery: Katjes Collabs with Jake Shane, 1UP Taps into Candy Salad Trend

Continuing with our Sweets & Snacks Expo 2026 coverage, here’s a look at some of the hottest new treats that we spotted on the show floor, including 1UP Candy’s take on the viral “candy salad” trend, Katjes’ collaboration with influencer Jake Shane and SmartSweets’ first foam candy.

1UP Candy

1UP Candy – the confectionery brand founded by content creator Brian “FaZE Rug” Awadis – is tapping into the viral TikTok “candy salad” trend with the upcoming launch of its Mashups Candy Salad Kit. The customizable mix includes candy sauces (Strawberry and Blue Razz flavors), assorted confections (chewy gummies and sour belts) and sour powder.

Katjes

Vegan gummy brand Katjes is continuing its U.S. expansion through a new collaboration with influencer and comedian Jake Shane, who recently joined the brand as chief creative officer. The brand will soon launch Squishy Sourpuss Gummies, octopus-shaped sour gummies inspired by Shane’s TikTok handle, @octopusslover8 (he had originally created the account to review octopus dishes).

HI-CHEW

Morinaga’s HI-CHEW brand took to the show floor to highlight its Retro Remix, a nostalgia-inspired candy chew line featuring three flavors in one. The new line includes Root Beer (vanilla and cherry flavors surrounding a root beer center) and Crunchy Rocket Pop (blue raspberry and lime flavors with a crunchy, cherry-flavored center).

Hershey’s

Hershey’s unveiled a new coffee shop-inspired Affogato Crème Bar, which combines the brand’s signature milk chocolate with a dual-layered filling of espresso-flavored caramel and vanilla crème. The treat will begin hitting store shelves this fall in King Size bars and Snack Size individually wrapped bites.

Joyride

Joyride has rolled out a handful of new launches, including Sour Zips (sour-coated, crunchy, chewy candy bites), Fruit Chews (taffy squares in strawberry, lemon, cherry berry and fun drink flavors) and Fruity Zips (crunchy, chewy candy), all of which are available at Target stores nationwide in 3.5 oz. bags.

Trolli x Mountain Dew

Ferrara and PepsiCo are bringing back the Trolli x Mountain Dew collab for a second run. The Trolli x Mountain Dew Sour Brite Crawlers features gummy worms infused with classic Mountain Dew flavors, including Original Citrus, Original Citrus x Cherry and Original Citrus x Blue Raspberry.

SmartSweets

Low-sugar candy purveyor SmartSweets highlighted a slate of new products, including Sweets & Sour Candy Salad, Dream Puffs (the brand’s first-ever foam candy), and Fruit Flavored Snacks in Berry Medley and Mixed Fruit varieties.

Unreal Snacks

Unreal Snacks unveiled its latest offering: Peanut Butter Drops, a cleaner take on Reese’s Pieces crafted without artificial dyes, flavors or preservatives. The new offering contains 33% less sugar than the leading brand, according to Unreal.

Calypso

Basic Promotions II, Inc. (BPI) is introducing Calypso Sour Wedges in Ocean Blue Lemonade and a Lemonade Favorite Mix (Strawberry Lemonade, Island Wave Lemonade and Southern Peach Lemonade). The chewy candy will come in 4.5 oz. bags.

Final Boss Sour

Gaming-themed sour snack brand Final Boss Sour has partnered with Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras to launch Trevor Zegras x FBS Level 4 Sour Grapes. As its name suggests, the new offering includes dried green grapes coated in “level four” sour powder (read: very sour).

NERDS

Ferrara’s popular NERDS brand is bringing back NERDS Gummy Clusters Cherry Lemonade, this time as a permanent flavor based on consumer demand. Additionally, the brand will introduce NERDS Juicy Gummy Cluster Valentine’s Day featuring a Cupid’s Punch-flavored center coated in pink and red NERDS.

Black Forest

Black Forest announced that its entire gummy candy lineup is now USDA Certified Organic. Additionally, the Ferrara-owned brand debuted Black Forest Organic Gummy Forest Friends with five new shapes (owl, rabbit, bear, fox and squirrel) in six flavors (watermelon, grape, mango, raspberry, peach and cherry).