LAS VEGAS — Food and beverage manufacturers gathered to showcase their latest convenience store channel innovations at the 2026 NACS Show.
The annual show, hosted by the National Association of Convenience Stores, was held in Las Vegas from Oct. 7-9 and featured over 1,200 exhibitors.
New products included multi-sensory confectionery innovations, nostalgia-inspired offerings and trending flavors.
Mars, Inc. unveiled Skittles Crystals. The product combines a sweet gummy base with a coating of “tangy” and “crunchy” crystals, according to the company. Skittles Crystals will be available in two varieties: original, with orange, grape, lemon, strawberry and green apple flavors, and tropical, with pineapple, mango melon, fruit punch and pink lemonade flavors. Mars said it will launch the product nationwide in 2027.
“Skittles Gummy Crystals answers the growing demand for dynamic, multi-textured treats by pairing a soft gummy center with a crystal crunch — giving fans an entirely new way to experience the rainbow,” said Ro Cheng, marketing vice president, Mars Snacking North America.
Keurig Dr Pepper unveiled plans to expand its beverage portfolio with Dr Pepper Ice Cream Float. The drink features the existing 23 flavors of the Dr Pepper formulation paired with the flavors of vanilla ice cream, caramel and butterscotch, according to the company. The product is expected to launch in canned and 20-oz bottle formats in February 2027, with fountain and frozen dispensed formats to follow mid-year.
“Beverages are one of the strongest drivers of traffic and basket growth for convenience retailers, and innovation is what keeps shoppers engaged,” said Jeff Tabor, chief customer officer at Keurig Dr Pepper. “Our 2027 pipeline brings together breakthrough energy varieties, culturally relevant flavors and meaningful investments in some of the industry’s most iconic brands. Backed by our broad portfolio and route-to-market capabilities, these innovations are designed to create excitement, spark discovery and help retailers capture incremental sales across the beverage category.”
The Ferrara Candy Co. added to its Trolli confectionery brand with the launch of Trolli Spicy Crawlers. Marking the company’s take on the sweet-heat flavor trend, the products blend the sour taste of Trolli candies with a hint of habanero spice, the company said. The candy includes mango habanero, pineapple habanero and strawberry habanero varieties.
“As consumer expectations continue to evolve, brand relevance and innovation remain key engagement and growth drivers,” said Greg Guidotti, chief marketing officer at Ferrara. “We’re focused on creating products and experiences that meet emerging consumer preferences, engage consumers on their terms and drive shoppers to our channel partners and create new opportunities for category growth.”
