New flavors, formats and consumption occasions give convenience retailers more ways to respond to evolving shopper preferences

KEY POINTS:

• Ferrara is showcasing its latest portfolio innovations and strategies to help convenience retailers drive trips, grow baskets and convert shoppers
• NERDS^® Juicy Gummy Clusters^® was the No. 1 sugar candy innovation in convenience for 2026¹ highlighting demand for new flavor experiences and formats
• New candy innovations include Trolli^® Spicy Crawlers^®, NERDS^® Gummy Clusters^® Cherry Lemonade and Lemonhead^® Gummies, SweeTARTS^® Double Takes and SweeTARTS^® Pineapple Punch Ropes tapping into emerging flavor and texture trends
• Ferrara is expanding its brands into new consumption occasions and formats, including frozen offerings such as Lemonhead^® Core Pops and Trolli^® Gummi Pop Electric Blueberry Lemonade

CHICAGO, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ferrara Candy Company, the No. 1 sugar confection manufacturer in convenience ², is showcasing its latest innovations and strategies for helping retailers respond to evolving shopper preferences at the 2026 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show.

Amid continued pressure on convenience retailers around store traffic and shopper conversion, sugar candy has delivered more buyer growth in the convenience candy category than chocolate, gum or mint year-to-date ³. With its singular focus in this sugar confections space, Ferrara is partnering with convenience retailers to drive trips, grow baskets and convert shoppers by responding to evolving preferences with category-leading brands, flavor-forward innovation, merchandising solutions and new consumption occasions.

Ferrara continues to bring new products to the category that reflect evolving consumer preferences and occasions. Earlier this year, NERDS^® Juicy Gummy Clusters candy — featuring crunchy NERDS candies, a chewy strawberry-flavored gummy center and a drop of strawberry punch-flavored juice — became the No. 1 sugar candy innovation in convenience in 2026¹, demonstrating continued consumer demand for multisensory textures, bold flavor combinations and new formats. The company is also tapping into emerging flavor trends, including sweet heat and bold flavors, with innovations such as Trolli^® Spicy Crawlers, while continuing to evolve its price-pack architecture with Iconic Pocket Packs, featuring generation-crossing brands including Everlasting Gobstopper^®, Bottle Caps^® and Red Hots^®, among others, giving retailers more ways to meet different shopper needs and occasions.

“Convenience retailers continue to navigate a dynamic environment, making shopper conversion and basket growth more important than ever,” said Beau White, Vice President of Convenience Stores at Ferrara. “Our focus is working strategically with our retail partners to capture the opportunity within sugar candy through flavor-forward innovation, best-in-class merchandising and new formats and experiences that create more ways for consumers to enjoy our brands.”

Ferrara innovation highlights at NACS Expo include:

• NERDS^® Gummy Clusters^® Cherry Lemonde candy: One of Ferrara’s top-performing NERDS limited-time flavors is now a permanent addition to the portfolio following strong consumer demand. The flavor combines sweet strawberry and cherry with tart lemonade in the signature NERDS crunchy-and-gummy multisensory eating experience.
• Trolli^® Spicy Crawlers^®: Launched in July, Trolli Spicy Crawlers bring a bold take on the growing sweet-heat flavor trend. Available in Mango Habanero, Pineapple Habanero and Strawberry Habanero, the gummies combine Trolli’s signature sour taste with a hint of habanero heat.
• Lemonhead^® Gummies:New candy innovations include Lemonhead^® Gummies, SweeTARTS^® Pineapple Punch Ropes, SweeTARTS^® Double Takes, NERDS^® Gummy Clusters^® Cherry Lemonade and Trolli^® Spicy Crawlers^®
• SweeTARTS^® Chewy Double Takes: Offers the perfect mix of intensely tart and irresistibly sweet pieces. Each piece features a crunchy shell and chewy center, choose from vibrant Strawberry for sweet and Blue Punch for tart — or combine both for the ultimate flavor experience.
• SweeTARTS^® Ropes Pineapple Punch: The #1 rope in America⁴, SweeTARTS^® Ropes is adding a new, fruity flavor combination of Pineapple Punch flavor to its classic soft and chewy Ropes.

“As consumer expectations continue to evolve, brand relevance and innovation remain key engagement and growth drivers,” said Greg Guidotti, Chief Marketing Officer at Ferrara. “We’re focused on creating products and experiences that meet emerging consumer preferences, engage consumers on their terms and drive shoppers to our channel partners and create new opportunities for category growth.”

Ferrara will also highlight the company’s continued expansion into the frozen category, in partnership with Ferrero-owned Wells Enterprises, Inc. Lemonhead^® Core Pops bring the brand’s signature citrus flavor experience into the frozen aisle, and Trolli^® Gummi Pop Electric Blueberry Lemonade introduces a new flavor variation combining two sour-forward flavors in every bite while maintaining the product’s signature soft, gummy frozen texture.

All products are rolling out now to select convenience retailers nationwide.

Attendees at the 2026 NACS Show can visit Ferrara at booth #N1229, October 6 –9 in Las Vegas, for a first look at the latest innovations and samples of select products. For more information about Ferrara and its portfolio of brands, visit www.ferrarausa.com. 

About Ferrara
For nearly 120 years, Ferrara has created sugar confections that enable moments of sweetness, celebration, and connection for candy lovers of all generations. Today, the company is a leading sugar confectioner in the United States, Brazil, and Europe, with global sales in nearly 70 countries. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of more than 9,400 employees creating and delivering hundreds of products sold under 40+ popular brands. Brach’s^®, Jelly Belly^®, NERDS^®, SweeTARTS^®, Laffy Taffy^®, and Trolli^® are enjoyed by more than 91 million U.S. households annually. In Brazil, popular snacking products from Dori include brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100. Iconic candy and chocolate brands of Carambar & Co. have earned generations of loyal customers throughout Europe, including Carambar, Krema, and Terry’s. Ferrara’s success in industry-leading innovation has been driven by deep consumer insights, strong retailer partnerships, and a dedication to diversity of thought, experience, and people. The company has its global headquarters in Chicago and more than 30 facilities across the world. Ferrara is a privately held Ferrero-affiliated company. Learn more at www.ferrara.com or www.linkedin.com/company/ferrara-. 

Sources

1. Circana US Convenience Calendar YTD Data Ending 9.6.26
2. Circana Total US Convenience Latest Calendar YTD Data Ending 9.6.26
3. Circana Receipt Panel US Convenience Calendar YTD Data Ending 8.9.26
4. Circana Total US MULO+ Convenience L52 W Data Ending 9.6.26; #1 Based on Dollar Sales

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SOURCE Ferrara