Wells Enterprises Expands Frozen Novelty Portfolio at 2026 NACS Show
Wells Enterprises, Inc., a leading U.S. manufacturer of ice cream and frozen novelties and a member of the Ferrero Group, is bringing an expanded portfolio of frozen innovations to the 2026 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show. The company will showcase a new collection of products designed to combine recognizable candy brands with ice cream and frozen novelty formats, giving convenience store shoppers more variety, premium experiences and reasons to make an impulse purchase.
The lineup highlights the growing connection between confectionery and frozen desserts, featuring products inspired by well-known Ferrero and Ferrara brands. New offerings include Kinder Bueno® White, Butterfinger®, 100 Grand®, Baby Ruth®, Lemonhead® and Trolli® products, each adapted into frozen formats intended to deliver familiar flavors through new textures and experiences.
The 2026 NACS Show, taking place October 6-9 in Las Vegas, provides Wells Enterprises with an opportunity to present these innovations directly to convenience retailers and industry professionals. Attendees will be able to preview and sample select products at the Ferrero booth #N2647 and Ferrara Candy Company booth #N1229.
Frozen Treats Designed for Convenience Store Shoppers
Ice cream and frozen novelties continue to play an important role in convenience retail, where consumers often look for convenient products that provide an enjoyable treat during a shopping trip. According to research cited by Wells Enterprises, 47% of convenience store shoppers purchase ice cream as a treat for themselves.
The company also points to an important opportunity for retailers: more than half of shoppers have not selected a particular ice cream brand or format before making a purchase. This creates an environment where distinctive packaging, recognizable brands and innovative formats can influence decisions at the point of sale.
Wells Enterprises is using this opportunity to introduce products that combine the familiarity of established confectionery brands with the appeal of frozen desserts. The company’s extensive experience in ice cream manufacturing provides a foundation for developing products that are intended to attract both existing fans of the candy brands and consumers looking to try something new.
“At Wells Enterprises, we are creating frozen treats that build excitement and grow the ice cream category within the c-store channel,” said Ken Reuter, chief customer officer at Wells Enterprises. “By combining Wells’ legacy with the strength of Ferrero and Ferrara brands, we’re delivering a differentiated innovation lineup designed to bring joy to consumers, spark impulse purchases and drive incremental sales for the channel.”
New Candy-Inspired Frozen Innovations
The expanded portfolio includes a range of products spanning cones, pints and portable frozen pops. Each offering is designed around a recognizable brand while introducing different textures, flavors and consumption formats.
Kinder Bueno® White Frozen
Kinder Bueno White Frozen combines creamy hazelnut-flavored frozen dessert with a Kinder Bueno White disk and crispy meringue crumble. The combination creates a multi-textural experience designed to bring the familiar Kinder Bueno White flavor profile into the frozen category.
The product will be available in two formats: 3.04-fluid-ounce single-serve cones and 14-fluid-ounce tubs. The single-serve option is particularly suited to convenience retail, while the larger tub provides an at-home format for consumers who want to enjoy the product beyond the store visit.
Butterfinger® Ice Cream
Butterfinger fans can experience the brand in both pint and single-serve cone formats. Butterfinger Ice Cream combines creamy Butterfinger-flavored ice cream with the candy’s recognizable peanut-butter flavor and crisp, crunchy texture.
The product will be offered in 16-fluid-ounce pints and 3.04-fluid-ounce cones, providing retailers with options for both take-home consumption and immediate snacking.
100 Grand® Ice Cream
The 100 Grand Ice Cream offering provides another candy-inspired interpretation of a familiar confectionery favorite. It features caramel-flavored ice cream combined with chewy caramel and chocolate-covered crispy pieces.
The multi-textured combination is available in 16-fluid-ounce pints and 3.04-fluid-ounce single-serve cones. The product is designed to combine indulgent caramel and chocolate flavors with the convenience of a frozen dessert.
Baby Ruth® Ice Cream
Baby Ruth Ice Cream brings another iconic candy profile into the frozen aisle. The product combines nougat-flavored ice cream with caramel and chocolate-covered roasted peanut halves.
Available in 16-fluid-ounce pints, the product aims to recreate the recognizable flavor combination of the Baby Ruth candy bar while offering consumers a spoonable frozen format.
Lemonhead® Core Pops
Lemonhead Core Pops represents a new entry into the frozen category for the Lemonhead brand. The product features a bright Lemonhead-flavored candy center surrounded by lemon-flavored frozen confection.
Presented in a portable 3.0-fluid-ounce retro pop format, the product is designed for convenient, mess-free consumption. Its nostalgic presentation and bold lemon flavor are intended to appeal to consumers seeking a distinctive frozen treat.
Trolli® Gummi Pop Electric Blueberry Lemonade
Trolli Gummi Pop Electric Blueberry Lemonade adds a bold combination of fruit and sour flavors to the portfolio. Introduced in the fall, the product features a marbled blueberry lemonade flavor designed to provide two complementary sour-forward flavors in each bite.
The frozen pop maintains Trolli’s recognizable soft, gummy texture while translating the brand’s distinctive confectionery experience into a frozen format.
Building New Opportunities for Convenience Retailers
Wells Enterprises believes the latest product introductions can help convenience retailers capitalize on consumer interest in recognizable brands and innovative frozen formats. By bringing popular candy brands into ice cream and frozen novelties, the company is creating products that can potentially generate curiosity, encourage trial and increase impulse purchases.
The strategy also reflects the broader importance of premiumization and cross-category innovation within frozen desserts. Rather than simply introducing traditional ice cream flavors, the new products combine multiple textures and familiar confectionery components to create more differentiated experiences.
“What is exciting about this new wave of innovation is how we are challenging conventional frozen desserts and giving consumers a compelling reason to engage with frozen in new ways,” said Isabella Chia, chief marketing officer at Wells Enterprises.
Chia added that being part of the Ferrero family provides Wells Enterprises with opportunities to develop cross-category collaborations and translate the equity of established candy brands into authentic frozen products.
The emphasis on textures, formats and sensory experiences is also intended to help the products stand out in a competitive convenience store environment. From crunchy candy pieces and caramel to gummy textures and sour fruit flavors, the portfolio provides a broad range of experiences designed to appeal to different consumer preferences.
Wells Enterprises to Showcase Products at NACS 2026
The new products will be showcased during the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas from October 6 through October 9. Retailers, distributors and other convenience industry professionals attending the event will have the opportunity to see the products and sample select innovations.
The products will be featured at the Ferrero booth #N2647 and Ferrara Candy Company booth #N1229, giving attendees a firsthand look at how established confectionery brands are being translated into frozen formats.
With more than a century of experience in ice cream, Wells Enterprises is positioning its latest portfolio as part of a broader effort to expand the role of frozen treats in convenience retail. By combining the company’s frozen dessert expertise with the recognition and consumer loyalty of Ferrero and Ferrara brands, the company aims to create products that deliver novelty, indulgence and convenience while helping retailers capture additional consumer spending.
The expanded lineup ultimately reflects a strategy centered on brand recognition, product innovation and premium frozen experiences. As convenience stores continue to evolve beyond traditional grab-and-go offerings, Wells Enterprises is looking to make frozen desserts a more prominent part of the consumer experience with products designed to generate excitement, encourage trial and create incremental sales opportunities.
Source Link:https://www.businesswire.com/
