After we final spoke to Funday early final 12 months, the agency had simply hit the 1,000 stores mark and advised us of plans to make it to three,000 retailers by the top of 2022 – a goal which it has now achieved.
“Funday pure sweets are actually in Chemist Warehouse and Woolworths retailers worldwide, in addition to some 450 Ampol fuel stations, WH Smith shops as of final December, and Harris Farm as of this month (January 2023),”Funday Founder Daniel Kitay advised FoodNavigator-Asia.
“That is along with Chemist Warehouse retailers in New Zealand in addition to a number of impartial markets there – and we are actually in severe discussions with the 2 main grocery chains in Singapore, so we do anticipate a Singapore presence in Singapore supermarkets in 2023.
“The guilt-free side of our merchandise is de facto working effectively with shoppers because the formulation is exclusive – not solely can we comprise 91% much less sugar than common gummies resembling Haribo, that is additionally true for perceived more healthy gummies resembling The Pure Confectionery Co.
“We even have a bonus over sugar-free merchandise as lots of these take away the sugars however exchange these with sugar alcohols resembling maltitol or sorbitol – and lots of shoppers have reported intestine points because of this, from laxative results to bloating to fuel and extra .
“For us, we take out all of the refined sugar and exchange this with plant-based fibers from tapioca starch and chicory root – this not solely reduces the sugar content material whereas sustaining style, however removes the discomfort and likewise provides a prebiotic impact.”
Along with this, Funday additionally has a one-bag-one serve packaging technique which Kitay says appeals to shoppers from a way of life and comfort perspective.
“With regards to confectionery, it’s no secret that lots of people wrestle with portion management – take Haribo for instance, only a few individuals can restrict themselves to only one or a couple of gummies as soon as the pack is opened,”I mentioned.
“This is the reason we created the 50g bag, such that it’s a one-bag-one-serve packaging with every serve being simply round 100 energy – it is a easy proposition, but it surely makes individuals really feel good after they can have a bag of sweet, plus it tastes good and does not make them really feel sick.”
Guilt-free confectionery rising
Though the recognition of the gummy product format has been rising for a number of years within the confectionery sector, Kitay believes that the rise of well being and wellness developments implies that even larger issues are to come back particularly for the guilt-free area.
“Confectionery by itself is a powerful class, however the guilt-free area is especially rising to be very robust now,”I mentioned.
“That is particularly so in Asia, because the useful advantages are very well-understood right here particularly by shoppers within the center and higher socioeconomic lessons. Issues like prebiotics, probiotics, collagen and different magnificence elements are very well-received right here.
“Curiously, we now have discovered that in Asia, shoppers do not have a tendency to like the bitter flavors as a lot as in Australia – which has actually delivered to our consideration the significance of localization to realize real success in every particular person market.”
Funday presently has 5 merchandise in its guilt-free vary – Fruity Gummy Snakes, Bitter Peach Hearts, Raspberry Gummy Frogs, Bitter Vegan Gummy Bears, and Fruity Vegan Gummy Bears. Every 50g pack retails for A$4.50 to A$5.50.
“We do have one other product launching this month, and usually our proposition has been well-received so we’ll stick to confectionery – however maybe a while sooner or later we’ll transfer past gummies to issues like exhausting candies, it’s going to all rely upon client suggestions shifting ahead,”I mentioned.
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