Mars aims to innovate with Skittles Gummies Fuego
In recent years, Gen Z consumers have been looking for more adventurous candies.
In August 2025, Mars' Skittles brand debuted a spicy gummy into its portfolio: Skittles Gummies Fuego. The item combines five fruit flavors—mango, watermelon, strawberry, raspberry, and lemon—with a chili-infused coating, reflecting continued consumer interest in sweet and spicy flavor combinations.
To learn more about how the idea for the gummy came about, we reached out to Ro Cheng, VP, marketing, Mars Snacking North America.
Liz Parker Kuhn: What made Skittles decide to create a spicy gummy?
Ro Cheng: We’re always keeping an eye on emerging trends and taking inspiration from our fans as we think up new innovations to help more people “Taste the Rainbow” with Skittles. In recent years, there’s been a rise in demand for spicy flavors, specifically with Gen Z consumers looking for more adventurous snacks and culturally influenced products. That’s why we expanded on our ever-growing innovation lineup with the introduction of Skittles Gummies Fuego in the fall of 2025, fusing sweet and spicy in one bold delicious bite to fulfill the “swicy” kick our fans have been wanting.
LPK: How long did it take to formulate the new gummy? What about taste-testing – did you have a consumer panel, or just taste-test in-house?
RC: We’re always looking to bring our latest and great innovations to fans as quickly as we can, and the journey from fiery inception to bringing Skittles Gummies Fuego to shelves was no different. We tested different spice blends with several hundred tasters to make sure the final product delivered the authentic and bold flavor experience we knew they would enjoy.
LPK: How was the chili-infused coating made?
RC: We developed several different spice blends and tested them to ensure we selected a coating that added the perfect spicy twist fans were craving to the already sweet gummies they love.
LPK: How did Skittles decide on the combo of five fruit flavors (mango, watermelon, strawberry, raspberry, lemon)?
RC: After testing different combinations of spice and fruity, we identified the top five flavors that deliver that familiar Skittles fruitiness fans know and love, while providing the best pairing with the tangy, chili coating, providing that perfect fusion of “swicy.”
LPK: The new gummy debuted in August through TikTok Shop, with a broader retail rollout planned – when will that rollout happen, and where can consumers find this product?
RC: We wanted to give Skittles fans the exclusive first taste of Skittles Gummies Fuego by launching on TikTok and at select retailers this past fall. Starting [this month], fans can try the new product when it hits shelves at major retailers nationwide and kick off the New Year with some extra heat!
LPK: What’s your personal favorite Skittles variation to enjoy?
RC: For me, I’ve always loved the original Skittles. The five bold, classic fruity flavors are what started it all, and they’re hard to beat! There’s something nostalgic yet timeless about opening a pack and being able to experience an unexpected delight in every bite.
A history of Skittles and Skittles Gummies, from the company:
- Skittles Origin Story: the lore is that 208 million years ago from the ocean below, a “colorful force with the strength of a thousand rainbows pierced the surface, cracked Pangea’s supercontinent, and altered the atmospheric levels of fruity juiciness on planet Earth forever.”
- 1974: Skittles were first produced and sold by The Wrigley Company in the U.K. in 1974, getting their name from a British slang term that’s synonymous with playful and fun, still true to the core of Skittles brand DNA.
- 1982: Skittles quickly became so popular that in 1982, we started producing them for consumers in the U.S.
- 1989: Skittles introduced their first flavor variations beyond the iconic, Original five flavors with Wild Berry Skittles and Tropical Skittles .
- 2000: Sour Skittles officially shelves for the first time.
- 2013: Skittles replaces the Lime flavor for Green Apple in Original packs.
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2021:
- Lime is officially added back into Skittles Original chewy packs after more than 130K consumers took to social media to voice their desire to bring it back – and the brand set out on apology tour to apologize to every single one of them.
- Skittles officially launches its first gummy product that delivers the iconic round form and fruity flavors with a soft chew in both Original and Wild Berry flavors.
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2023 – 2025: Skittles continues to innovate and grow the line-up of fruity fun for consumers including:
- Skittles Littles (2023): the brand’s littlest innovation to date that puts a tiny twist on the classic candy, now in a tiny and more poppable form.
- Skittles Pop'd (2024): a crispy and crunchy twist on Skittles classic candy that blends unique, crispy texture with the Original fruity flavors and new Sour flavors.
- Skittles Gummies Fuego (2025): the "swiciest" innovation that fuses sweet and spicy in one bite, delivering the "swicy" kick consumers have been craving.
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