Why Better-for-You Candy Finally Feels Like Candy
Top candy for me has been Sour Patch Kids since I was a kid.
But I don’t eat candy much these days.
Maybe when Dana and I sneak out to a movie, which is like once or twice a year. Even then, Sour Patch is a no-go. Sensitive teeth, peeling mouth, and regret. Feels like a candy hangover. Not worth it!
I’ve tried some alternatives and really like Better Sour. Not quite the same as Sour Patch. They’re a little chewier with more exotic flavors, but still delicious. And the label is incredible.
For a 51g bag, it's generally 70 calories and just 4g of sugar, with 0 to 1g added. Feels too good to be true. In fact, I recently gifted a 10-pack of these to a fellow sour-lover. *Side note: Better Sour, if you're listening, please add a variety pack to Amazon.*
For comparison, a 51g portion of Sour Patch Kids is around 182 calories and 40g of sugar 😵💫
Then... on Monday, I went to Fancy Food Show and fell in love with Rotten.
Ok, I ride a motorcycle, I play music, so maybe I’m leaning into a stereotype, but it felt made for me. If I were to launch a gummy, it would look like Rotten.
What makes it so cool is that it doesn’t look better-for-you, and yet for a 51g Rotten bag, it's 70 to 110 calories and 6 to 16g of sugar depending on the flavor. They even added 6g of prebiotic fiber for a little gut-friendly action.
I picture my son Mylo eating these in a couple of years the way I used to devour Sour Patch Kids and both of us feeling good about it. Pretty awesome.
Their latest innovation, Cruncheez, is like Nerds Ropes but better. Great texture. I gave Dana a bag yesterday and she was 🤯
What sets Rotten apart isn't just the branding, it also DOESN'T taste good for you. It reminds me of drinking non-alcoholic beer. All the experience of the original, but without the buzz. Your brain is telling your body this is wrong, but it’s not.
All to say, pumped to be adding Rotten to the candy roster. I love seeing brands like this pop up and challenge the incumbents, and grateful I get to work in this space. Excited to see Rotten and Better Sour continue to crush it. Much needed.
And shout out to Michael Fisher for the sick tote. Need to get my hands on t-shirt next 🤘🏼
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