New Transformers Edition M&Ms

Mars Snackfood US announced today the availability of limited-edition M&M's Strawberried Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies and SNICKERS Nougabot Bar to celebrate the June 24 release of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen".

The new M&M's are available today, while the movie doesn't debut until June 24.

The M&M's Strawberried Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies feature smooth peanut butter and sweet strawberry flavor. The new M&M's are offered in singles (1.4 oz) and medium bags (11.4 oz) and retail for $.79 and $3.49, respectively.

In addition to M&M's, Mars' SNICKERS brand is launching a limited-edition SNICKERS NOUGABOT Bar with bright Yellow Nougat and Dark Caramel to resemble the colorings of one of the Transformer characters.

Source: M&M's website

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Eiffel BonBons

New Eiffel BonBons are bite-size strawberry and apple chewy candy pieces from The Foreign Candy Co., Inc.

You can find them in single serving (1.25-ounce) bags or peg bags (4 ounces).

They've been popular in Europe for about 20 years and only debuted here in North America late last year. They're available now online and in at retail chains like Walgreen's & Target. Look for additional flavors to be rolled out as well.

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Tic Tac Chill

I'm being told that Ferrero USA is planning to introduce a new variety of Tic Tac called, "Tic Tac Chill".


It's being billed as a larger sized Tic Tac candy, to set up the marketing angle that it's longer-lasting, and keeps your breath fresh longer than traditional sized Tic Tacs.

It'll also be sweetened with Xylitol, making it sugar free.

The container also employs a "dual opening" system, with one end using the famous flip-top, and the other container a slider-opening.

Flavors will include, "Exotic Cherry" and "Paradise Mint".

It's supposed to come out sometime this year.

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Altoids Monopoly Game Piece

Hasbro launched a new edition of its Monopoly board game called, "MONOPOLY: Electronic Banking Edition", which includes all new game pieces, among them a tin of Altoids.

The new Monopoly game edition is supposed to be the modern-day antithesis to the old world of the standard edition. It embraces pop culture, and so, the toy company needed game pieces that encapsulates an entirely new world. And so, Altoids made the cut.

I'm sure it's great advertising assuming the new board game can catch on. I wonder if Wrigley had to buy its way into the board game.

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24 Karat Gold Lollipop

Swiss-based DeLafee International SARL announced today their 24 Karat Gold, totally edible, strawberry-flavored Lollipop.

The company has been making headlines lately with its various offerings of gold-laden consumable products, including their 24 Karat Gold cigars, chocolates, and champagnes. The move into the lollipop sector has the candy-licking community buzzing with anticipation.

For just $29.05 USD, you can demonstrate your love to that special junk food junkie in your life. You might want to also purchase a bed pan to recycle your investment.

Visit DeLafee online...
http://www.delafee.com

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Hannah Montana Candy Line

Apparently Imaginings 3 of Niles, IL is planning to launch a line of candy under the "Hannah Montana" brand name.

Among the offerings are these "Glamour Guitar Lollipops" which includes one sour, and one sweet. There are also sweet & sour "Concert Candy Sour Gummies" in shapes of guitars and microphones, as well as the "Disco Ball Pop", and the "Picture Ring Lollipops", and gum roll.

The line is expected to retail in 2008.

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Belly Bugs Gummy Candy

I love candy like this that stretches the boundaries of what's socially acceptable.

Belly Bugs Gummy Candy is made by San Diego, CA-based Kandy Kastle.

You open up the incision in this guy's belly, and extract the parasites from his gut with the included tweezers. Then you put the blood-suckers into your mouth, and chew the gummy goodness.

And you can only get away with this if it's candy. Imagine a baby doll in which kids open up an incision in its belly, and pull out a 2-foot long tapeworm! Parents would be livid. But candy, no problem!

Visit Kandy Kastle online...
http://www.kandykastle.com

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Sushi Gummis

I don't know where to begin.

These aren't the first gummi product to take advantage of the popularity of sushi but certainly the first to combine space invaders with Japanese cuisine in a candy.

This product appears to be called Enjoy! Sushi and is manufactured & distributed by Brand New Products, LLC (of Chicago).

The little gummis are shaped perhaps like fish or something but the package says (starting in the upper left and going clockwise):

Invasion of the Saucer-Men

The bug eyed brain man says, "It's a deliciously fun decapitated candy treat!"

Chopsticks Included!

Includes: Alien Skull Sashimi
Bug Eyed Brain Maki

The gummis are strawberry and blueberry flavored. The box holds 3.25 ounces. No word on the price or where they're sold. (I really wish these were still available. They were really cute.)

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Yogos Bits - New Flavors

Kellogg's line of Yogos Bits was extended to include two new flavors, "Berry Berry Banana" and "Watermelon Splash".

The yogurt covered fruit flavored bits with a chewy center are claimed to be a "good source of calcium" fortified with 100% percent daily value of vitamin C.

They're meant to provide kids with a vitamin-rich alternative to snacking.

Find them at grocery stores everywhere.

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Trolli Gummi Spiders

Just in time for Halloween, Farley's & Sathers has extended its line of Trolli Gummi Candy by adding a new animal: spiders.

Available in black cherry, grape, and strawberry varieties, the flavorful arachnids are sure to pull out the baby teeth of any boy or girl.

No word on if they ooze out webbing when you bite down them.

They come with a suggested retail price range of 99 cents to $1.49.

For more info, visit Farley & Sathers online...
http://www.farleysandsathers.com

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Twinkle introduces Fish-Ka-Pops

Why waste a whole stick with only one piece of candy perched at the tip? Try Twinkle Candy's new Fish-Ka-Pops that feature four fish-shaped decorated jelly candies on a single stick, just like a kabob.

Each candy is hand decorated with fins, eyes. lips and speckles.

Look for them at gift and candy shops near you. No word on the retail price.

Official Website.

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Wonka introduces Shockers Squeez

Last year Wonka (part of Nestle) brought out a tube version of SweeTarts two most popular flavors: Cherry & Green Apple. Now they've released an even more tart version under their line called Shockers.

Shockers Squeez comes in two flavors: Mouth-Blastin’ Berry and Tongue-Trippin’ Lemon.

The little plastic tubes feature a flip top that allows dispensing onto other candies or directly into the mouth.

The 1.5 ounce tubes have a retail price of $.99 and should be available in stores in September.

Consumer's Corner got a preview of the new product and now Candy Blog's review of both flavors.

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Sour QBZ

WarHeads have long been known as one of the sourest candies around.

The new product in their line, WarHeads QBZ Sour Fruit Chews are a new chewy version of their tongue-blisteringly tart offerings.

The plastic bags feature Green Apple, Strawberry, Blue Raspberry & Watermelon cube candies. The literature states "bite-sized, sour-coated cubes don't stick to teeth like many chewy candies."

On the package's sour meter, these only rate a simple sour, which means that most mortals can enjoy a few of them before experiencing mouth discomfort.

Made by Impact Confections, Inc.

Official website.

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2 Tape Worms

Kandy Kastle has introduced a new line of gummi novelty candies.

2 Tape Worms Gummy String Candy are packaged in round plastic dispenser disks. They hold 1.41 oz. (40g) of gummi string candy. Each package holds 6 feet of each of the two strings.

The flavors of the strings alternate between Green Apple, Strawberry and Mango and are tart. (At least that's what I think they do ...)

Retail price is $1.00, look for them at convenience and drug stores.

Kandy Kastle makes a variety of novelty candy items, my personal favorite was the introduction of Lightning Bugs, which are little glowworm gummis that can be picked up with a pair of plastic tongs with an LED that activates when a piece of candy is grasped. (Review here)

Kandy Kastle Website

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Fido's Mints

I love theme-based products like this new "Fido's Mints" from Denver, CO-based Amuse Mints because they open things up for all sorts of puns and laughs.



First, notice the two words on the left of the tin that reads, "For People".

If you didn't read that right away, you'd think Amuse Mints created actual breath mints for dogs. In fact, that's what I thought. I went to their website to look up the ingredients thinking it was going to have the same stuff you'd find in Greenies or something. But then I saw the words, "For People".

The catch phrase, "Don't be caught with dog breath", makes a clever marketing angle. "Dog-gone fresh breath" is rather ordinary, though. I might have tried something like, "Freshen your breath doggie-style", or maybe, "For really ruff breath". And I guess if I was losing my job I would have put, "For when you've licked yourself there".

Visit Amuse Mints online...
http://www.amusemints.net/

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TicTac Bold! in Berry Sour

Ferrero USA introduced the newest expansion to their Bold! line of TicTacs. The new flavor is Berry Sour and comes in a similarly rounded clear plastc box.

Still less than 2 calories per mint (and Bold! are slightly larger than regular TicTacs).

TicTac Bold! also come in classic Mint flavored (blue package) and Fruit (red package).

Retail price is $1.25

TicTac website.

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Andes Mints - Sugar Free

A sugar-free variety of Andes Mints is on its way from Tootsie Roll Industries, according to our industry sources.

Sugar Free Creme De Menthe Thins will allow consumers to enjoy Andes famed chocolate mint freshness without the added the guilt (or something like that).

I don't have any information on what kind of artificial sweetener is being used. But hopefully the Giovanni's restaurant here in Menifee will stock these so that I can munch several of them down after filling myself up on linguini w/clams.

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York Peppermint Patty - Vanilla Mint

York Peppermint Patties are now selling in a limited edition Vanilla Mint flavor, at a retail price of $3.90 for a six-pack.



Other York Peppermint Patty products we wrote about...

• York Mints in a Tin - Nov 3, 2006

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Newman's Own Organic Mints

Organic Mints are new to the Newman's Own Organics line from the Aptos, CA-based food manufacturer.

Made with organic sweeteners, varieties include "Wintergreen", "Hot Cinnamon", "Peppermint", and "Ginger" with graphics of a polar bear, a tiger, a ram and a dragon, respectively.

According to product literature, the flavors are made from organic sugar, organic corn syrup, gum arabic, natural flavors, and rice bran extract. Three pieces contain ten calories with 2g of sugar with no total fat, sodium or protein. Each tin is stamped with the USDA organic seal.

They're now available in the USA for a suggested retail price of $2.39, though not yet represented on the company's website as of this writing.

Visit the company's website at: http://www.newmansownorganics.com

Other products from Newman's Own Organics we wrote about...

• Newman's Own Caramel Cups - May 31, 2006

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Empowered Mints

Hint Mint Inc. is now selling a new breath mint product called "Empowered Mints".

They're billing it as the "the first full line of breath mints that naturally harnesses the power of legendary herbal extracts".

Varieties include, "Mint Echinacea" (target your health), "Green Tea Ginkgo" (target your mind), "Lemon Ginger Ginseng" (target your energy), and "Cinnamon Astragalus" (target your endurance).

What they need now is a fifth variety for "Aphrodesiac" (target your ....)

The "100 percent all natural, vegan and kosher" mints are said to contain no artificial flavors or coloring and have less than 0.4 carbs per mint. They come with a suggested retail price of $1.99 each.

The website I was given for Empowered Mints doesn't appear to be working at this time... http://www.empoweredmints.com/

But you can visit Hint Mints corporate site at: http://www.hintmint.com/

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