TikTok popularized "candy salad," inspiring millions to pour their favorite mix of gummies, chocolates, sweets and sour bites into a big bowl for mix-and-match snacking experiences, and 1UP Candy's Mashups Candy Salad Kit taps into this phenomenon. Part of the magic of candy salad is that no two bites are ever quite the same—every scoop unlocks a new combination of flavors, textures, and pairings, keeping the experience surprising, snackable and shareable from start to finish. Taking the viral snack and removing most of the labor of procuring an assortment of multisensorial candies, the pour-and-eat Mashups Candy Salad Kit includes components like a pair of sauces, sour powder, plus a salad fork for eating.
In the Sweets & Snacks Expo's 2026 Most Innovative New Product Awards, 1UP Candy's Mashups Candy Salad Kit won the Novelty/Licensed category.
AI-Driven Creator Economy Tools
Creators are adopting AI-driven tools to monetize, remix, and engage audiences with innovative, consent-driven content, enhancing creative control and revenue opportunities.
Question 1
Do you currently create any kind of content for an audience on any of the following platforms?
Select all that apply
Question 2
Have you used any AI-powered tools to create or manage content in the past 12 months?
Question 3
What impact, if any, has using AI-powered tools had on your content creation?
Select all that apply
Fruit Roll-Up–Wrapped Popsicles
Consumers are adopting Fruit Roll-Up–wrapped popsicles as a DIY viral treat inspired by TikTok for a fun, customizable, and edible frozen snack experience.
Question 1
Which best describes your experience with Fruit Roll-Ups wrapped popsicles?
Question 2
What, if anything, appeals to you about Fruit Roll-Ups wrapped around popsicles or frozen treats?
Select all that apply
Question 3
Where, if anywhere, have you seen or heard about Fruit Roll-Ups wrapped around popsicles or frozen treats?
Select all that apply
Digital Detox Travel Hardware
Consumers are adopting dumbphones and single-purpose gadgets as essential travel hardware to minimize digital distractions during summer trips.
Question 1
During a summer leisure trip, have you ever left your usual smartphone behind and used only a basic phone or "dumbphone" with limited functions?
Question 2
What was the MAIN reason you used this type of device during your trip?
Question 3
On a future leisure trip, how likely would you be to leave your smartphone behind and use only a basic phone with limited functions?
Consumer Demand Drives Foldable and Multi-Screen Devices
Consumers are adopting foldable and multi-screen devices as they seek more versatile and pocketable screen options for enhanced mobility and functionality.
Question 1
Which of the following types of devices have you personally used in the past 12 months?
Select up to 8
Question 2
What are the main reasons you use or chose this type of device?
Select up to 3
Question 3
How likely would you be to choose a foldable or multi-screen device the next time you purchase a smartphone, tablet, or laptop?
Protein Cottage Cheese
Consumers are expanding their consumption of protein-rich cottage cheese products as TikTok-driven interest fuels innovation and market growth
Question 1
Compared with 12 months ago, how often do you consume cottage cheese or cottage-cheese-based products today?
Question 2
Which of the following, if any, have influenced your interest in cottage cheese or cottage-cheese-based products?
Select all that apply
Trend Themes
Modular Snack Experiences — A focus on build-your-own kits and interchangeable components reveals potential for products that enable personalized, combinable consumables and accessories.
Social-first Food Products — Products designed for shareability and visual appeal on platforms like TikTok create opportunities for snack formats that prioritize virality and communal consumption.
Multisensorial Flavor Mixing — Combining textures, sauces, and powders in a single offering highlights demand for multisensorial tasting experiences that transform conventional single-format treats.
Industry Implications
Confectionery Retail — Retailers could see new revenue from curated assortment kits and in-store customization stations that change how candies are merchandised and sampled.
Food Packaging and Accessories — Innovations in portioned, resealable, and presentation-focused packaging along with themed utensils point to novel product-format and convenience engineering opportunities.
Experience-based Marketing — Brands leveraging pop-up activations, influencer-driven unboxings, and tactile demo experiences can reshape customer engagement beyond traditional advertising.
