Shocking Details About The Brand New Hershey Candy Launched This March
The Hershey Company is behind several moves in candy sales. One product line alone pulled in $400 million in 2024, up 25 percent from the previous year. At the same time, three out of four shoppers say they are open to trying bold new flavor combinations. This has pushed the brand to rethink how candy looks, tastes, and even how people interact with it. The latest March releases show just how far that rethink has gone with the Hershey Company.
A Classic Candy Just Changed After More Than 50 Years
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Bubble Yum built its identity on soft gum after its 1973 debut. This March release changes that idea completely by turning it into a lollipop. The new version starts with a hard shell and moves into a chewy center.
The flavor lineup relies on what people already recognize, including Green Apple, Strawberry, Watermelon, and Cotton Candy. The Cotton Candy option elicits the strongest reactions because it connects directly to early 2000s candy habits that many people clearly remember.
The product is already widely available across major retailers and online platforms, including Amazon, where an 8.8-oz bag sells for about $5.59. This shows Hershey is treating this as a major release.
Candy Is Turning Into Something You Interact With
The company pushed further with Shaq-A-Licious Slams, developed with Shaquille O’Neal. This product adds a physical element by combining gummy balls in fruit flavors with a sour mango ring shaped like a basketball hoop.
Eating it involves stacking and “dunking” the pieces before chewing. The idea builds on Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies, which became Hershey’s top sweets launch in 2024.
Sweet Is No Longer Enough on Its Own
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Jolly Rancher is pushing flavor in a different direction with its Heat Wave Gummies. These combine fruit flavors like mango, pineapple, watermelon, lime, and citrus punch with a chili coating. It’s a mix of sweet and spicy, often called “swicy,” that adds a noticeable kick without overpowering the base flavor.
Interest in spicy ingredients has grown quickly, with items like Tajin rising by 286 percent and jalapeño by 97 percent. A 2024 survey found that three out of four consumers are willing to try sweet-and-spicy products. That demand has expanded into snacks and drinks, and candy is now following suit. Jolly Rancher itself has evolved along with that shift.
The Strategy Goes Beyond Candy
These releases also align with a broader strategy around timing and engagement. Hershey is pairing new products with seasonal launches, themed shapes, and limited-edition collaborations. Heat Wave Gummies launched alongside a collector’s box, while other products tie into holidays and special campaigns.