Food Dive reported the development on 2026-01-07. New gummy balls coated in crunchy candies encourage consumers to play with their food while mixing and matching flavors.
The report places the news in a wider commercial context. Hershey is expanding its Shaq-A-Licious gummy line to tap into the growing demand for multiple textures and gamified experiences. The Pennsylvania-based company is launching Shaq-A-Licious Slams, which features chewy, sour mango rings and gummy balls coated in crunchy candies. The balls are available in watermelon, strawberry and orange flavors.
For the food sector, the practical implications extend beyond the immediate announcement. Consumers can play with the candy by dunking the basketball-shaped gummies into the mango rings. The flavor variety also allows shoppers opportunities to mix and match depending on their preferences.
Attention now turns to how companies, customers and regulators respond. While Hershey is best known for its namesake chocolate bars, Kisses and Reese’s, it has been aggressively boosting its presence in the fast-growing gummies sector. Hershey partnered in 2024 with basketball star Shaquille O’Neal to roll out Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies and also brought hard candy Jolly Rancher into the category.
Food Dive
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