Gluten-free bakery brand Genius has joined forces with Katjes stablemate Candy Kittens to launch a co-branded rocky road.
The “trailblazing” NPD (rsp: £4/4x45g) combines chunks of gluten-free biscuit with mini versions of Candy Kittens’ vegan Wild Strawberry gummy sweets, covered in dark chocolate.
It will roll into the free-from section in Morrisons and Ocado on 28 April, followed by Tesco and Waitrose in June.
“Partnering with Candy Kittens has allowed us to push boundaries and deliver a truly standout product for free-from consumers,” said Genius Foods CEO Stephen Hann.
“It represents everything we want the future of free-from to be, a space where no one needs to miss out.”
This is Genius’ first product launch under its refreshed branding, and Hann’s leadership, which commenced in January.
In its latest accounts filed last week, Genius’ pre-tax losses hit £3.7m in the year to December 2023, as revenue fell over 5% to £29.6m.
As a result, German confectionery group Katjes, which bought the company in 2022, was forced to pump in £4m between January 2024 and February 2025, alongside a loan facility for a further £5m, the accounts show. This came on top of £2.8m in shareholder loans provided by Katjes the year before.
Speaking on the challenges faced by Genius, Hann admitted: “The free-from category has seen its fair share of turbulence over the last five years, from inflation to supply chain pressures, with the recent government budget adding another layer of complexity.
“Our new category-transforming plan sets a clear roadmap to 2026 and beyond, with the early signs in 2025 indicating a promising year ahead,” he said.
No comments yet