Hleks’ delightful candies prove to be a popping success in Malaysia

Challenge

With a wide range of products that vary in color, flavor, size and coating, Hleks wanted to expand their products’ presence to more food services, bakeries, confectionaries and the chocolate industry in Malaysia.

Hleks also believed that its products, which use no hydrogenated fat and non-GMO ingredients, and which are gluten-free, sugar-free and use natural colors and flavors, can attract more consumers with specific food preferences.

Approach

Our experienced team of food and beverage technical specialists worked with Hleks to create several varieties of popping candy prototypes tailored to specific consumer tastes and the preferences of the local market. Through several sensory evaluation sessions focused on achieving the required grade for the new products, we helped Hleks to come up with various enhancements for its products.

From our dedicated innovation center, we also provided our recommendation on how Hleks could improve the handling of product samples and storage of stocks so that the products retain their quality and performance in the hot and humid Malaysian weather environment.

Our specialists implemented a targeted digital campaign and conducted several online marketing activities to raise product awareness and develop new business opportunities. The aim was to ultimately increase digital sales leads for Hleks’ popping candies.

Result

The biggest accomplishment from the collaboration was that Hleks was able to penetrate the dairy market segment through product placement in a popular Malaysian ice-cream chain store.

In what was initially planned as a Christmas launch, the chain store decided to keep the product on its shelves for a whole year instead.

The success continued with the creation of another new flavor for the ice-cream company in time for the Chinese New Year.