If you have children, fidget toys have likely infiltrated your home. Designed to help with focus and attention, fidget toys come in many shapes, sizes and colors. You may already sell fidgets in your store—if they sell well, that’s all the more reason to make edible versions. If you don’t currently sell fidgets in your store, this could be a missed opportunity to target consumers shopping for youngsters.
Fidget
Spinners
In the midst of the fidget spinner craze a few years ago, RCI member Vande Walle’s Candies began making what they called “Fidget Non-Spinners.” During her Candy Clinic presentation, Tess Vande Walle explained, “They don’t spin, but they taste better!” To create a replica, Vande Walle’s filled the packaging from an actual fidget spinner toy with colored white chocolate. There are, however, a number of inexpensive moulds on the market to make chocolate fidget spinners.
Pop
Its
More recently Pop Its—flexible silicone toys akin to Bubble Wrap—began popping up in retail shops, birthday favor bags and school playgrounds everywhere. These wildly popular fidgets are available in a seemingly endless variety of colors, shapes and sizes from sparkly pink mermaid tails to rainbow striped cars. Like the Beanie Babies of yesteryear, many kids aspire to collect them ALL.
The already popular toy took a sweet turn when TikTokers started filling them with candy and melted chocolate. See for yourself in this video by HelloWondeful. RCI member, Anderson’s Candies, took advantage of the trend by creating their own versions just in time for Easter. We love this idea because it not only provides a treat to eat, but also a toy to keep and enjoy!
While anyone could create this on their own with a couple ingredients from the grocery store, confectioners can highlight the superior quality of your chocolate and get creative with different fillings. Although M&M candies seem to be a popular choice on TikTok, consider filling the cavities with peanut butter meltaway, caramel, roasted nuts or other popular fillings before capping it off with chocolate. Better yet, why not use a variety of fillings to create a mystery of sweet surprises? Note: Look for Pop Its made with FDA approved or food-grade silicone.
With
lots of holiday themed Pop Its on the market, this trend could also make for great
holiday gifts for kids. We like how Cherry Bay Cakes created an Easter themed
chocolate Pop It with pastel M&Ms and a custom tag that reads, “Hope you
have a poppin’ Easter!”
Keeping a pulse on trends with kids’ toys are a great way to identify ways to appeal to consumers looking to buy treats for the kids and kids-at-heart in their lives.
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