Buoyed up by the enviable growth being shown by confectionery (7.9% year on year), Lancashire’s hand-crafted sweets impresario, Stockley’s felt compelled to play to their ‘permissible indulgence’ strengths by extending their Speciality Channel push in 2025 to include two more nostalgic classics with an unexpected twist.
This April sees new ‘newstalgic’ arrivals Jam Roly Poly & Custard (think about a sublime Rhubarb & Custard complete with a rich berry stripe and a chewy raspberry centre) and Choc-Scotch (dreamy marriage of crisp butterscotch encircling a milk chocolate core) enter the fray.
- In 2024 sharing formats (bags, boxes) grew by a staggering 8.7%
- Sugar confectionery has also been a deserving beneficiary of spiralling cocoa costs and chocolate bar hikes as consumers seek out alternative ‘everyday affordable’ treats that tap into happy nostalgic memories for older consumers, whilst enticing younger sweets enthusiasts with access to yesteryear flavours & textures with a modern twist.
Although some may see super-charging the Rhubarb & Custard as dabbling with ‘sweet royalty,’ head of marketing, Andy Valentine is adamant, “Having enjoyed enviable growth over the last 12 months, with the arrival of new prestige distributors like Cotswold Fayre and Cress, Stockley’s is in no mood to take its foot off the throttle. Jam Roly Poly & Custard is a stunning twist on this tart yet sweet classic whilst Choc-Scotch provides our unique take on a crisp butterscotch shell made with real butter that contrasts intriguingly with its smooth yet indulgent, milk chocolate core.”
These two offerings play to growing enthusiasm for contrasting flavours and textures. Jam Roly Poly & Custard blends tart with sweet whilst Choc-Scotch marries brittle and soft.
£5.49 (250g)
