Lollipop Brands That Are More Than Meets The Eye

It’s a great time to be in the lollipop business. The market for hard candies (almost 40% of which are lollipops) experienced an increase in sales of almost 20% between May 2021 and 2022, with Spangler Candy Co., one of the oldest and largest lollipop manufacturers in the world reporting a 50% increase in sales from $120 million in 2021 to $175 million in 2022. Between 2022 and 2031, lollipop sales are projected to experience the highest compound annual growth rate (3.8%) of all hard candy categories, which Candy Industry magazine says is being driven by nostalgia, health claims and flavor innovations.

With all of this love for lollipops, it would only make sense that manufacturers, entrepreneurs and opportunists, both old and new, would ride the current wave of growth and take some risks… perhaps even become a bit more innovative with what was once considered to be “just a kids’ treat.”

One thing’s for sure, a lollipop these days is no longer just a lollipop. Here are a few examples…

Seed-bearing lollipops : Amborella Organics

Amborella Organics are eco-friendly, healthy and delicious seed-bearing lollipops. Seed bearing? Well, once you eat one of the functionally delicious flavors such as Lemon & Thyme (grows thyme), Peach & Marigold (grows marigold), Lavender & Lemongrass (grows lavender), Sage & Marshmallow (grows sage), Strawberry & Basil (grows basil), Champagne & Roses (grows rosetta cosmo), Rosemary & Mint (grows mint), and Vanilla & Hibiscus (grows baby blue eyes), simply plant the patented seed-bearing stick to grow a flower or an herb— a sustainable first for candy brands. Not surprisingly, Amborella was recently selected as a finalist for the Consider Beyond sustainability awards. The eco-conscious brand, which was also recently handpicked by Reese Witherspoon for her book club, can be found in trendy stores such as Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom and Anthropologie as well as coffee shops and museums throughout the United States. They also can be purchased online as beautiful gift sets. Amborella has also recently expanded into vegan, sugar free candy gummies with 100% recyclable packaging that will be available at Disney in Spring, 2023.

Fashion forward, multi-sensory lollipops: Chupa Chups

With a logo designed in 1969 by the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí, Chupa Chups is known as one of the trendiest and most innovative lollipop brands. The most recent innovations featured by the candy brand are sensory experiences that capitalize on the multi-texture candy trend. The recently launched Fr-ooze Pops line features oozing liquid candy inside. UK Brand Manager, Kate Kowe says that “This super-fun product blends fruity flavor with the novel experience of the candy gel oozing down the lollipop to create the ‘fr-ooze’ taste sensation.” The brand has also recently launched the XXL Trio lollipop which Chupa Chups says is the only gum-filled lollipop in the United States that claims a multiple flavor (Tutti Frutti Pineapple, Cola Lemon, Mango Organge or Strawberry Kiwi) multi-sensory experience. Chupa Chups is also well known for its marketing innovations such as a giant lollipop display at Singapore Changi Airport and a TikTok “How to Open” campaign, which was tremendously successful in 2022.

CBD lollipops: Mountain High Suckers

Mountain High Suckers describes its brand of THC & CBD infused lollipops as having a fast acting, moderately psychoactive effect, with a host of benefits. The Josh Blue’s Dream line of Mountain High Suckers, which comes in a number of flavors: Cherry, Blueberry, Watermelon and Sour Pineapple (the most popular) made with Blue Dream cannabis, and endorsed by stand up comedian Josh Blue, recently won Westword’s Best Celebrity Weed Brand of 2022. Josh Blue, who won third place in America’s Got Talent, uses the brand to help treat symptoms of cerebral palsy.

Another popular brand in this category is Feel Well Lollys CBD lollipops that come in flavors such as Honey lavender and Cotton candy, and contain 50mg of hemp derived CBD with vitamin B12, D3, Zinc and Elderberry to help promote immunity.

Functional lollipops: 8GREENS Lollipops

The functional category in food and drink has been on the rise over the past few years, with sales for sugarless hard candy up 13.8% in 2022.

One of the most trendy and popular functional brands in 2022 was 8GREENS Lollipops, with more than 2 billion units sold. The lollipop brand is made from real greens powder and contains only greens, including spinach, aloe vera, barley grass, spirulina, blue green algae, chlorella, and the tasty tropical flavor of lulo, a citrus fruit from Columbia. The brand also capitalizes on the popular multi-texture trend, with its hard shell and chewy center.

Special mentions in this category also go out to Eternal Youth Biotin lollipop with biotin, vitamins C, E and collagen, in peach and pineapple flavors, that help to improve moisture levels and elasticity in the skin while reducing wrinkles, and YumEarth, Ultimate, Organic Anti-Oxidant Lollipops in Mango, Orange and Lemon that provide 150% of the daily value of Vitamin C and 30-45% of the daily value of Vitamins A and E and are free of the nine leading allergens.

Boozy-flavored lollipops: Walkston Candy

Walkston Candy is the UK’s first homemade hand crafted candy business. Walkston says that it uses century old recipes and techniques without the help of any machinery, and uses real liquor flavorings to create lollipops in the flavors of Raspberry Wine, Blood Orange Gin, Passion Fruit Martini, Pink Gin, Rhubarb & Custard Gin, Gin & Tonic, Parma Violet Gin, Strawberry Daiquiri, Gin & Elderflower, and Piña Colada.

Special mention goes to Coors Light Chillollipops: beer-flavored lollipops launched in March 2022 and sold in sets of six that resemble six-packs.

Pest-infested pops: Orkin Pestpops

While the limited edition campaign was launched for Halloween 2022 and has since been discontinued, it was definitely one of the best marketing campaigns of 2022, featuring lollipops. The hard candy treats, which came in flavors such as Screamin’ Scorpion, Creepy Cricket and Atrocious Ant, featured edible insects and were sporadically given to Georgia-based customers upon completion of Orkin services. “While squirmy, these pops are nothing compared to a pest infestation that could occur this season if you are not mindful of fall pest pressures,” said Lia Vaughn, Marketing Director at Orkin.

Listen to music through your mouth: Amos TastySounds Audio Lollipops

Why not enjoy your lollipop and some tunes at the same time? TastySounds Audio Lollipops use bone conduction to send music through the teeth to the ears. Anyone can privately listen to a song of their choice by pressing the button at the end of the stick and placing the lollipop into their mouth. Flavors include peach, blueberry, strawberry and orange and musical selections include Happy Birthday, hip hop music, rock music and Watch Me Rise. The sweet treat was the winner in the Best Novelty category for the 2022 ECRM Buyer’s Choice Awards.

So whether you’re an environmentalist, want perfect skin, looking to get high as a mountain, or get your daily shot of greens, you may not have to go further than your local confectionery store.