“For years, the youth gum stick category has been stuck in a bubble,” said Jen Redmond, gum and mints category director, Perfetti Van Melle. “We’re ready to shake things up and bring back the fun with a new formula and brand-new eye-catching look!”

The relaunched products will debut to consumers at national retailers this November. Suggested retail price for a pack of five-piece bubblegum is $1.25-$1.65.  

Airheads introduces new “Very Berry” flavor in Xtremes Belts and Bites 

The company's newest Airheads Xtremes flavor, Very Berry, is available for shipping to U.S. retailers after an exclusive launch at a major U.S. convenience retail chain. Xtremes Very Berry Belts 2-oz packs are available for shipping now with other packing options including 6-oz Bites available in November.

Airheads Xtremes Very Berry Belts and Bites offer a blend of berry flavors with a twist, the brand says.

“We’re thrilled to introduce our newest flavor innovation, Very Berry, to build upon the success of Airheads Xtremes," says Chris Borges, non-chocolate category director for Perfetti Van Melle North America. “This playful new twist brings a fresh burst of flavor to our popular Belts and Bites candy to satisfy consumers’ sweet, and sour craving in a chewy, soft texture that’s just plain fun to eat anytime, anywhere.”  

Airheads Xtremes Very Berry Bites and Belts are peanut- and tree nut-free and will be available in sharable 6-oz. peg bags (SRP: $2.69) and 2-oz. single serve packs (SRP: $1.59). 

Mentos introduces 14-flavor Discovery Roll

The company is introducing a new confectionery offering from Mentos, the original chewy mint.

New Mentos Chewy Mint Discovery Rolls offer 14 different fruity flavors in one 14-piece roll. Thanks to special packaging technology, the 14 flavors are wrapped in the same order, every time. Flavors include passion fruit, grapefruit, blackcurrant, blueberry, lime, strawberry, raspberry, orange, lemon, watermelon, banana, grape, cherry and pineapple. 

“With 14 flavors of sweet ranging from classic strawberry to exotic passion fruit, our goal is to encourage consumers to embrace the joy and excitement of trying new flavors,” says Jen Redmond Gum and Mints Category Director at Perfetti Van Melle. “U.S. consumers will be introduced to six new exciting flavors never before offered by Mentos, including lime, grapefruit, passion fruit, blackcurrant, banana and blueberry. These Discovery Rolls offer a uniquely fruity experience and are a wonderful way to freshen the day!”

The product is available now at select online retailers and will debut to consumers at retailers nationwide this summer. Each 1.32-oz Discovery Roll contains 14 different flavored chewy mints. The suggested retail price for one roll is $1.39-$1.59. 

Trident Vibes debuts sugar-free Cotton Candy-flavored gum

The company's newest gum flavor, Trident Vibes Cotton Candy, is now available for shipping to U.S. retailers after an exclusive six-month launch at a major U.S. mass retail chain. The 40-piece bottle fills a key gap in the market as the only sugar-free cotton candy gum, the company says. Its suggested retail price is $3.84 per bottle.

“This new flavor innovation reflects our ongoing commitment to providing consumers with new, fresh, and exciting taste experiences paired with the quality and long-lasting chew Trident is known for,” says Redmond. “We’re thrilled the launch of Cotton Candy Vibes is backed by strong early performance and are confident the new flavor will encourage consumers to try and become repeat purchasers.”

Perfetti Van Melle is on the current Candy Industry “Global Top 100 Candy Companies” list. Click here to view the current “Global Top 100” rankings.