<\/p>\n
The early 2000s are back, baby!<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, CNBC reported that searches for \u201c2016 aesthetic\u201d and similar phrases had skyrocketed, as millennials and Gen Zers were hit with a wave of nostalgia for a time gone by.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Social media strategist Joel Marlinarson told the outlet that these younger generations, awash in internet culture, have started looking back on the early 2000s and 2010s as a time that was more authentic and less performative.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think people see this era as a universal feeling of the world being lighter,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Brands are taking note, playing up this nostalgia in advertising campaigns and product design. And some are taking things a step further, using this yearning for simpler times as a way to relaunch.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the brands that haven\u2019t maintained that cultural relevance that are using this as an opportunity to remind,\u201d Marlinarson told CNBC. \u201cThe emotional tie that people have with brands that they [used] when they were 10, when they were 15 \u2014 that\u2019s always going to be something that brands can latch onto.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Target brings back a cult classic\u00a0<\/p>\n
Iconic Candy is the latest brand to jump on this nostalgia bandwagon. Earlier this month the retro candy company and Target announced they would be partnering up for a limited-time drop.<\/p>\n
Four flavors of Iconic Candy\u2019s retro sours \u2014 watermelon, passionfruit, mango, and raspberry \u2014 will be available in Target stores for a five week run this spring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve been hearing it nonstop\u2014customers have been begging for more Retro Sours flavors at Target,” Iconic Candy co-founder Kim Wiesen said in a statement. “So we gave it to them. This expansion is directly driven by our fans and what they want to see on shelves.”<\/p>\n
While you may not recognize retro sours by name, your taste buds are sure to recall the Altoid Sours reproduction. While the recipe isn\u2019t identical to the original (Kraft Foods has not shared its proprietary recipe with Iconic Candy), those who\u2019ve tried the revival say they can\u2019t taste the difference. The hard candies even come in the same round tin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe remember what [Altoid Sours] tasted like, we remember what it felt like in our mouth, we remember having blisters after eating it, because you can only eat so many until your mouth literally feels like it’s going to bleed,\u201d Wiesen told People magazine.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think at the end of the day, we’ve spent a lot of time creating something that we’re really happy with and that is also uniquely our own, and that’s Retro Sours,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n
Iconic Candy is bringing a reproduction of a classic early ’00s candy to Target stores for five weeks this summer.<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
The candy market is booming<\/p>\n
The current emphasis on health and wellness may have led you to believe that the demand for \u201cbad for you\u201d products is shrinking. But that couldn\u2019t be farther from the truth.<\/p>\n
Candy sales are expected to hit $27.8 billion by 2030, according to a report from The National Confectioners Association.<\/p>\n
\u201cNon-chocolate candy is the second-largest confectionery category and its share of total confectionery units has steadily increased since 2020, reflecting consumer demand for candy\u2019s many types and flavors,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n
With millennials, Gen Zers, and younger generations being the largest drivers behind this growth, it\u2019s essential that candy companies like Iconic Candy appeal to their taste preferences.<\/p>\n
\u201cInnovation is at heart of the confectionery industry, which is especially clear with non-chocolate candy,\u201d National Confectioners Association President John Downs said. \u201cAs each generation finds ways to put their own stamp on the sub-category, confectionery manufacturers balance tradition with forward thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n
More retail:<\/p>\n
Walmart unveils exclusive, limited-edition Mountain Dew lineupCostco’s latest food court treat has fans dividedStarbucks drops new summer menu with returning favorites, new drinks<\/p>\n
For millennials and Gen Zers in particular, sour and spicy flavor profiles tend to be the preferred options. Which makes eye-watering Retro Sours a solid bet for Iconic Candy.<\/p>\n
The company first launched Retro Sours in 2024, selling them online and at limited brick-and-mortar IT\u2019S SUGAR and Cracker Barrel locations. The initial demand was high, leading to the current Target partnership.<\/p>\n
And for shoppers who prefer something a little less tart, the retailer has resurrected a handful of other nostalgic treats including Creme Savers, Reeds hard candies, and Ouch! Bubble Gum.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Related: Chili’s rewards loyal fans with new menu items<\/p>\n
#Target #brings #nostalgic #treat #limited #time<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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