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HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — Mars Chocolate North America plans to launch an array of candy and snack items through the balance of the year, including the new goodnessknows Snack Squares.
The new goodnessknows Snack Squares, due out this summer, come in three flavors and are offered in single bars and five-packs.
Mars announced the new offerings at this week’s National Confectioners Association Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago.
Due to roll out in July, goodnessknows Snack Squares are made with dark chocolate, slow-roasted whole almonds, toasted oats and real fruit and come in cranberry almond dark chocolate, apple almond and peanut dark chocolate, and peach and cherry almond dark chocolate flavors. The snack carries a retail price of $1.39 to $1.59 for 1.2 oz. singles and $4.99 to $6.99 for a five-pack carton.
“Shoppers purchase snacks and confections for a variety of reasons, and we’re seeing an increase in requests for lower-caloric snack options,” stated Timothy LeBel, vice president of sales for Mars Chocolate North America. “Our new goodnessknows Snack Squares will fulfill consumers’ appetite for a new snack that tastes indulgent at 150 calories per four-square serving.”
Also coming out in July is the Milky Way Marshmallow with Caramel Bar, which brings combination of fluffy marshmallow nougat covered with a layer of smooth caramel, covered in creamy milk chocolate. The 1.72-oz. candy bar will retail for $1.09 to $1.39.
A flurry of items are due out this fall. In October, the cranberry and cherry variants of Real Fruit Dipped in Dove Dark Chocolate will be available in a new size: resealable, stand-up pouches, retailing for $8.99 to $10.99 for a 17-oz. pouch.
November will bring an addition to the Combos Baked Snacks line launched by Mars in April: Combos Baked Snacks Sweet & Salty Chocolate Fudge Pretzel. The new variety, priced at $2.29 for a 6-oz. medium bag, features creamy fudge filling surrounded by a salty, crunchy pretzel shell.
Also slated to launch in November are M&M’S To-Go Bottles and the Snickers Mixed Nuts Bar. The M&M’S To-Go Bottles are reusable bottles with 3.5 ounces of M&M’S milk chocolate and peanut chocolate candy and will retail for $2.50 to $3.50. The Snickers Mixed Nuts Bar ($1.09 to $1.39 for 1.76-oz. bar) offers a mix of peanuts, almonds and hazelnuts combined with caramel and nougat, coated with creamy milk chocolate.
Hitting retail stores in December will be the Milky Way Midnight Bar in a 2.83-oz., 2 To Go size ($1.69 to $1.99) enclosed in a resealable twist-wrap. Each bite offers creamy caramel and vanilla-flavored nougat coated in dark chocolate.
Mars also announced that next March it plans to relaunch the M&M’S Box Pack format ($1.00 to $1.99 per box pack), which will be supported with a major marketing initiative, including a summer promotion dubbed “M&M’S Brand Movie Ticket Mania.”
In addition, the company said it’s introducing seasonal innovations — including new flavors, packaging and displays — to give retailers more ways to continue the double-digit sales growth of seasonally wrapped confections.
Mars, too, is exhibiting everyday display options, from traditional counter units and shippers to a Mixed Singles Skinny Tower that requires minimal floor space. Retailers also will see a versatile option to display M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies: the Single Face Carton. The new format allows for merchandising on the shelf, on the wall and on the counter, according to the company.
“At the show, we’ll also share with retailers our promotional calendar,” LeBel added. “One of the ways that Mars Chocolate connects with our consumers is through promotions that encourage relationships with friends and family. We call them ‘key moments’ that bring family and friends together, whether they’re celebrating holidays, sporting events or just sharing time.”
