Page 22 - Food & Drink Business Magazine September 2018
P. 22

CONFECTIONERY
The trend towards confectionery cross-pollination is going strong with the launch of more lolly-inspired chocolate varieties. Alison Leader reports.
Sweet collaborations
IN a fresh bid to combine classic confectionery favourites with the product development know-how of Australia’s biggest brands, a number of food companies are thinking outside the square in the chocolate aisle.
On the back of the success of Marvellous Creations, Mars last year launched an M&Ms Block chocolate range which combined M&Ms with milk chocolate in six varieties – Milk, Almond, Hazelnut, Crispy, Crispy Mint and Strawberry.
Nestlé has also had a play with blocks of chocolate blending such favourites as Jaffas and Smarties, and, in its latest blending foray, has launched a limited-edition Allen’s-branded family block using the mixed-lolly favourite the Freckle.
The special-edition product
contains rainbow 100s and 1000s encased in milk chocolate for a crispy texture, according to Nestlé Oceania’s head of marketing confectionery Anna Stewart.
It is the first time the buttons, which were introduced in the early 1960s, have been reinvented.
Allen’s is encouraging consumers to share their Allen’s rituals on Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #eachtotheirallens.
Stewart said the new Freckles creation is a playful twist on one of the nation’s favourites, Allen’s Freckles.
“We’re always looking at ways to delight our Allen’s fans and experiment with new flavour combinations that bring together the best of things that really work,” she said.
‘Allen’s inspired by Freckles’ milk chocolate (170g) is currently
sold in Coles supermarkets nationally with a RRP of $5.19.
Allen’s also teamed up Peters earlier this year for its first-ever lolly collaboration of ice-cream flavoured jellies, inspired by fruity Frosty Fruits and the classic creamy Drumstick.
Allen’s Frosty Fruits lolly flavours include Tropical, Watermelon & Pineapple, and Orange & Pink Grapefruit. The Drumstick range features popular classics like Vanilla, Super Choc, and Boysenberry.
Such ‘mash-ups’ seem to be on the rise, and Stewart says the Nestlé team is working on a number of other collaborations, due to launch soon.
“We know that lolly and chocolate-lovers love it when their favourites come together, as long as they taste good, so watch this space for some new delicious combinations in the near future,” she said. ✷
ABOVE: ‘Allen’s inspired by Freckles.
ABOVE RIGHT: Bulla’s Picnic-flavoured cones.
22 | Food&Drink business | September 2018 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au


































































































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