Skittles is introducing a new candy that blends gummies with edible crystals to create a crunchy texture. The product, named Skittles Gummy Crystals, will be offered in two varieties: Original, featuring strawberry, lemon, grape, orange, and green apple flavors, and Tropical Splash, a mix of fruit punch, pink lemonade, mango melon, pineapple, and watermelon.
The Mars-owned brand stated that this offering taps into consumer interest in bold texture experiences. It follows the successful launch of Nerds Juicy Gummy Clusters in 2020, another treat that leans into multi-textural experiences. Ferrero, which owns Nerds, said last year that sales of the brand were on track to reach $900 million in sales in 2025, a more than 1,700% increase from the $50 million in sales when it acquired the confection in 2018 from Nestlé.
Skittles’ latest innovation
Skittles Gummy Crystals will initially be available on TikTok Shop starting November 2. The product will then be distributed to select retailers later this year before expanding nationally in 2027.
“Consumer-led innovation is at the heart of Mars Snacking, and the true magic of SKITTLES lies in delivering the unexpected,” Ro Cheng, marketing vice president for Mars Snacking North America, said in a statement. The candy joins Skittles’ fast-growing lineup that has added new formats including gummies and Skittles Pod’d, a freeze-dried candy, in recent years.
Mars said shoppers are seeking out novelty through multi-sensory experiences within their treats. The company’s yearly Halloween trends report found 71% of consumers surveyed want texture in their treats, while nearly 60% are looking for extreme flavors.
Cup Noodles’ seasonal offering
Cup Noodles is releasing a Halloween-themed flavor named Vampire Noodles. This limited-edition ramen transforms into a blood-red color when hot water is added, utilizing natural beet coloring. It’s paired with hot garlic and savory chicken umami flavors that are “so irresistible that even garlic despising vampires can’t resist it.”
Priscila Stanton, senior vice president of marketing at Nissin Foods, said, “Halloween is the perfect moment to create something unexpected, and Vampire Noodles does exactly that. The blood-red transformation and bold hot garlic flavor turn an everyday meal into a memorable Halloween experience.”
Vampire Noodles are available for $1.18 exclusively at Walmart nationwide, while supplies last. As part of the launch, Cup Noodles is partnering with Titan Casket to create a custom collector casket inspired by the limited-edition launch. Consumers can enter online to win the custom casket, or buy one of their own for $3,999.
Relaxation beverages gain popularity
The founders of THC cocktail brand Nowadays are launching a new relaxation-focused beverage called Unwind. This sparkling drink contains magnesium L-threonate and L-theanine to “support a calm state of mind.” It’s caffeine free and has low sugar and calories.
Unwind is available in berry, cherry, citrus, tropical, and spicy lime flavors. It retails for $2.79 per can and $10.99 for a four-pack. The product debuted in 1,000 Walmart stores and on TikTok Shop on October 1. The company plans to expand to additional retailers in 2027.
Unwind is a separate company than Nowadays, despite having the same co-founders and team. In a press briefing, co-founder Justin Tidwell said this was intentional, emphasizing the importance of having two distinct entities for very different consumer bases. Unwind will be more CPG focused, he said. Other THC beverage companies have launched their own relaxation-focused beverages in the midst of a pending ban on hemp-derived THC products set to take effect later this year.
THC cocktail brand Cann released a 0 THC milligram option earlier this year that had mood-boosting attributes from magnesium. “While we’re continuing to invest in the growth of Nowadays, we wanted to take what we’ve learned and apply it to a completely different consumer need–making relaxation feel more approachable,” Tidwell said in a statement.