Who says you can’t mess with the classics.
Ferrara Candy Co. says new flavors of its iconic Red Hots and Now and Later candies are a hit with customers.
The Oakbrook Terrace candymaker rolled out the new flavors and new packaging in the past few months.
The traditional cinnamon-flavored hard candies are now available in three new flavors:
• Kick’n Mango Lime combines mango, lime and habanero
• Sizzling Sour riffs on the traditional tamarind flavor by adding some tangy, sour hints
• Dark Chocolate Red Hots bring together dark chocolate with the traditional cinnamon Red Hots
Ferrara also added Now and Later Extreme Sour fruit chews, a super-sour taffy that comes in watermelon, apple and cherry flavors.
“Our new Red Hots and Now and Later offerings tap into consumers’ increasing interest in sour and intense flavors in a chewy format,” Jamie Mattikow, Ferrara’s chief commercial officer, said in a news release. “It’s important to adapt and change to stay relevant with today’s consumers.”
The company says sales of Red Hots are up 7 percent and sales of Now and Later are up 13 percent, while overall non-chocolate candy sales rose 4.4 percent.
Ferrara also has announced the launch of Trolli Sour Brite Weird Beards candy, a sour gummi inspired by basketball star James Harden’s beard. Trolli created a Crawlers for Ballers campaign that will put displays inside 7-Eleven stores featuring larger-than-life images of Harden’s face and beard. Trolli Sour Brite Weird Beards will be available through June 30.
