Surya Foods has unveiled halal confectionery range Candy Crescent.
Gummy Bears and Cola Bottles (rsp: 40p) will launch into over 900 Tesco stores on 14 March, with gummy worms, gummy elephants, fizzy rings and a variety of marshmallows planned for future release.
Unlike many confectionery brands, Candy Crescent’s gummies do not contain pork-derived gelatine, so are suitable for Muslim consumers.
The innovations responded to surging demand for halal food in the UK, said Surya Foods.
Around 6.5% of the population of England and Wales – approximately 3.9 million people – identify as Muslim and follow a halal diet, it pointed out, citing Census 2021 data from the Office for National Statistics.
The UK’s Muslim population also skews young, with 84.5% aged under 50 compared with 62% of the overall population.
“We are passionate about giving Muslim families easy access to treats that everyone else enjoys,” said Harry Dulai, Surya Foods Group CEO.
“Candy Crescent means no child has to miss out on the simple joy of gummy sweets.”
Surya Foods gave its frozen halal brand Humza a refresh in May, and added a premium selection of Asian-inspired snacks under the sub-range, Humza Signature.
Candy Crescent isn’t the only confectionery brand playing to Muslim shoppers, who have previously been underserved by the category.
In May, YouTuber Niko Omilana launched Shades, a range of halal gummies in the shape of sunglasses, in Straight Up Strawberry, Tropical Blast and The Originals.
Omilana teased the launch in a three-minute video posted across his and Shades’ social media channels, in which he vowed to take down a bear called ‘Harry Bowe’, who didn’t make sweets suitable for him.
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