HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — Mars Wrigley Confectionery is debuting dozens of new product and packaging launches across its most popular brands at the National Confectioners Association (NCA) Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago this week.

In addition, Mars Wrigley Confectionery said it would share industry-leading insights in category management research and best practices.

“Consumers today are looking for a holistic shopping experience as lines between traditional retail and online shopping continue to blur,” said Tiffany Menyhart, vice president of U.S. category leadership at Mars Wrigley Confectionery. “Mars Wrigley Confectionery is investing in a variety of research to help develop tools and insights for retailers to maximize category growth. Numerous retailers have signed on to partner with us on customized merchandising recommendations based on our integrated approach, which features insights for the whole shopping journey, including in stores and online.”

Mars Wrigley Confectionery said it will also debut new products that address changing consumer preferences, with a focus on seasonal moments throughout the year.

“At Mars Wrigley Confectionery we continuously have a pulse on the latest flavor trends driving growth and make it a priority to address evolving consumer preferences through product innovation,” said Tim LeBel, president of sales for Mars Wrigley Confectionery. “Not only are we delivering exciting new flavor profiles, packaging formats and functional products, but we are also addressing an increasing consumer and retailer desire for unique offerings around key seasonal moments throughout the year.”

Mars Wrigley Confectionery is holding a panel discussion titled “The Reason for the Seasons: Are You Maximizing Your Seasonal Sales?” featuring Mars Wrigley Confectionery vice president of U.S. category leadership Tiffany Menyhart and NCA’s Larry Wilson, vice president of industry affairs. The panel will focus on how to optimize seasonal sales and gain incremental sales on new and untapped opportunities.

The following are items that Mars Wrigley Confectionery is featuring at the show:

• New Items for Halloween 2018: M&M’S FUN SIZE Milk Chocolate & Peanut Chocolate Candies Glow in the Dark Packs, SKITTLES Sweet Heat FUN SIZE, DOVE Promises Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate & Caramel Pumpkins, DOVE Promises Silky Smooth Chocolate Assortment, Singles Variety Box: M&M’S, SNICKERS and SKITTLES, Chocolate Variety Mix Party Bowl, Variety Mix Haunted House Serve & Display and SKITTLES & STARBURST Sweet + Sour FUN SIZE Mix.
• New Items for Christmas 2018: Holiday Minis Mix Tree Gift Box, SKITTLES Holiday Mix Candy, CELEBRATIONS Chocolates Magnum Gift Bottle, M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies Yard, SNICKERS Bar Yard & TWIX Bar Yard, M&M’S Peanut Chocolate Candies Holiday Cane and LIFESAVERS BUTTER RUM Candy Canes.
• 5 Gum is introducing 99 cent 8-stick packs, available exclusively during the 2018 Truth or Dare program.  5 Gum is bringing a new 99 cent pack available exclusively as part of 2018 Truth or Dare prepacked displays. Available flavors include Cool Mint Vortex, Cool Berry Beta and Smooth Mint Nexus. (September 2018, 99 cents)
• Alert Caffeine Gum gives adults an alternative to energy drinks, coffee and soda. One piece of Alert Caffeine Gum provides 40mg of caffeine, about the same amount as half a cup of coffee. Alert is available in Fruit or Mint flavors and can be purchased at retailers nationwide. ($2.49)
• COMBOS Honey Sriracha is a flavor combination of  sweet honey with garlic and chili pepper. ($1.38)
• DOVE Chocolate Covered Dusted Almonds and Cashews featuring three varieties: Cinnamon Dusted Dark Chocolate Almonds, Sea Salt Dusted Milk Chocolate Cashews and Cocoa Dusted Dark Chocolate Cashews. (2018, $1.99 for a 1.6-ounce slim pack and $3.99 for 5-ounce and 5.5-ounce stand up pouches)
• EXTRA Chewy Mints are chewable sugar mints. Each mint has a thin crispy outer shell and a chewy core. EXTRA Chewy Mints are available in two flavors — Peppermint and Polar Ice. (1.5-ounce durable plastic pack $2.19 and 7.5-ounce pegged stand-up Bag $6.99)
• JUICY FRUIT Collisions brings two-flavors-in-one to stick gum in 2018.  Available in Strawberry Watermelon and Tropical Berry flavor collisions. (May 2018, $1.19 in 15-stick single-serve pack, $2.69 in a multipack with three 15-stick single serve packs)
• JUICY FRUIT Mixies debuted four fruity flavors in each bottle, containing a mix of Original, Strawberry, Watermelon and Grape flavors. (15-piece single serve bottle $1.49, 40-piece bottle $3.49 and 120-piece stand-up bag)
• JUICY FRUIT Tropical is a sweet flavor added to the gum assortment in May 2018. (May 2018, 5-piece pack 79 cents)
• M&M’S Snack Mix — M&M’S Milk Chocolate Mix contains: M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies, M&M’S Crispy Chocolate Candies, Almonds and Pretzel Balls. M&M’S Peanut Mix contains: M&M’S Peanut Chocolate Candies, M&M’S Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies, Peanuts and Pretzel Balls. (April 2018, $1.69–$1.99 for 1.75-ounce share size, $2.00–$2.99 for 4-ounce Grab n Go, $2.99–$3.99 for 7.7-oz. sharing size)
• M&M’S White Chocolate Peanut will launch in September 2018, in three pack types: singles, share size, and sharing SUP. (99 cents–$3.39)
• MILKY WAY Fudge in both share size and minis. MILKY WAY Fudge is a bar made with chocolate, golden caramel and fudge nougat. (Spring 2018, $1.10)
• SNICKERS Peanut Butter Crisper comes in four portionable squares that fans are sure to love. (2017, $1.69 –$1.79 for share size)
• SNICKERS Hunger Bars debuted three flavors in 2018 for a limited time as part of the Hunger Bars promotion. SNICKERS Espresso, Fiery or Salty & Sweet. Each flavor has a hunger symptom on the outside of the packaging that relates to the flavor of the bar—Espresso: Irritable, Salty & Sweet: Indecisive, Fiery: Wimpy. (2018, 99 cents–$1.29)
• SKITTLES Sweet Heat features fruity flavors with a spicy kick including: Fiery Watermelon, Blazin’ Mango, Flamin’ Orange, Sizzlin’ Strawberry and Lemon Spark. (Single pack 99 cents, share-size pack $1.79, laydown bag $3.19 and medium stand-up pouch $2.59)
• STARBURST Minis Sours is building on the success of Starburst Minis Original with Starburst Minis Sours. Each pack includes a mix of flavors including cherry, blue raspberry, watermelon and strawberry. (Single pack 99 cents, peg bag $2.09 and medium stand-up pouch $2.59)
• STARBURST Gummies Sour Berries contain a variety of sour-packed fruit flavors: Strawberry, Berry Punch, Wild Berry and Black Raspberry. (3.5-ounce share-size bag, 5.8-ounce peg bag and 8-ounce stand-up pouch; $1.79–$2.59)
• STARBURST Sweet Heat where each pack includes a spicy mix of flavors including Cherry, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon and Strawberry. (Single pack 99 cents, share size pack $1.79, laydown bag $3.19 and medium stand-up pouch $2.59)
• TWIX White Chocolate Cookie Bars feature two crunchy cookie bars covered with caramel and in creamy white chocolate. (99 cents–$1.09 for a 1.79-ounce single, $1.69–$1.79 for 2.64-ounce 2 to go, $3.49–$4.99 for FUN SIZE Medium Bag)