NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Dec. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The most anticipated candy launch of 2017 is finally here! After six long years of waiting, Wacky Wafers® started shipping this week, just in-time for the holidays! The initial run is expected to sell out quickly based on overwhelming demand from Leaf's website pre-sales orders. As with all LEAF's products, the company went to great lengths to ensure Wacky Wafers® were just like consumers remembered them; the big silver-dollar sized wafers, that invigorating smell of watermelon, orange, green apple, strawberry and banana and that perfect "crack" sound as you break them in your mouth all had to be perfect.
LEAF® Brands officially announced the nostalgic candy in Chicago, at the 2017 Sweet and Snacks Expo saying Wacky Wafers® would ship in July, but due to manufacturing complexities, had to push the release date to December. "You'd be surprised how challenging it is to make a package of five pressed dextrose wafers exactly like the originals. Its previous owner, Nestle®/Wonka®, changed the brand beyond recognition so we spent many years rolling the product back to its successful original design" said Leaf Brands CEO Ellia Kassoff. "Like many products made by large companies over time, tweaks are made, which in some cases disenfranchise core customers. In-fact, the once popular wafers had been gradually reduced to a small vitamin-sized candy, so loyal customers ended-up with something they didn't like or remember. We had to completely reverse-engineer the whole product and develop a sampling program using a focus group of fans of the once-popular candy." "We're glad it's finally done so we can make Wacky Wafer® fans happy again. The final design is the five original sized candies in their clear packaging with their original flavors; Watermelon, Green Apple, Orange, Strawberry and Banana."
Over the past five years, LEAF® received hundreds of emails monthly requesting Wacky Wafers® and fans are thrilled their favorite candy is back based on the overwhelming demand the company received through its initial on-line sales. "When we opened preorders in November we thought maybe 100-200 cases would be sold. Once we went live, the sales were unbelievable, quickly surpassing our expectations. In just the first four weeks we had pre-sold over 500,000 units, which is amazing since we only offered them on our webpage and to a few distributors, nothing more" said Garvey Daniels, LEAF's VP of Sales. Wacky Wafers® MSRP is $1.49, and will come five wafers to a pack, with 24 packages to a display, and 6 displays to a master case.
About LEAF® Brands, LLC: The original LEAF® Brands was started in the 1920's. LEAF® Brands, once the fourth largest candy producer in North America, produced candy classics such as Whoppers®, Jolly Rancher® and Rain Blo Bubblegum®, which were later sold to Hershey® Chocolate & Confectionary Corporation in the late 1990's. Family members have acquired the LEAF® Brands name and assembled together to revive the LEAF name and its famous image. Products include: Hydrox® Cookies, Astro Pops®, Farts Candy® and Tart n' Tinys®, Bonkers!® Fruit Chews and Wacky Wafers®.
For additional information, contact:
[email protected]
(949) 424-1664
SOURCE Leaf Brands, LLC
Related Links
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article