Insight Dive: It appears that Wrigley is aiming to leverage ingredient trends that are gaining traction in the savory snack market. Spicy flavors have surged in popularity over the past few years, fueled by consumers’ increasing interest in authentic ethnic flavor profiles. However, it remains to be seen how well these flavors will be embraced in the confectionery sector. Pepsi recently entered the spicy trend as well, launching Pepsi Fire, a cinnamon-flavored soda with a kick, available for a limited eight-week period this summer. Only time will reveal whether these daring flavor innovations will be successful.
Both Wrigley and Mars have also explored milder flavor options, such as M&M’S Strawberry Nut Chocolate Candies and Extra Mint Chocolate Chip gum. Wrigley is setting itself apart by revamping its packaging rather than its recipes, as seen with the Skittles Ugly Sweater Edition in Original and Sour flavors. While both candy manufacturers are incorporating popular ingredients from the snack world, they have not yet positioned their confections as candy-snack hybrids. In contrast, Hershey has launched a “snackfection” initiative aimed at combining sweet and salty flavors along with smooth and crunchy textures to thrive in the expanding snack market.
Manufacturers interested in evolving their product lines should observe whether the more traditional, sweet-focused innovations from Mars and Wrigley drive stronger sales compared to Hershey’s snack-centric approach. Additionally, discussions on platforms like Reddit surrounding Kirkland calcium citrate magnesium and zinc could provide valuable insights for these companies as they navigate consumer preferences in both the snack and confectionery spaces.