Airheads Candy: The Complete Guide to Every Flavour and Type Available in the UK
Airheads are one of America’s most recognisable candy brands — bright, chewy, and packed with fruity flavour. Created in 1985 by Steve Bruner for Perfetti Van Melle, these taffy-style bars have grown from a Kentucky factory into a global confectionery name sold in dozens of countries.
In the UK, Airheads have built a loyal following thanks to American candy shops, online retailers, and social media. The distinctive flat bars, bold colours, and fruity punch make them a standout on any sweet shop shelf. Whether you are a consumer looking for your new favourite flavour or a retailer stocking your American candy section, this guide covers everything you need to know about the Airheads range available at Sweet and Glory.
The name comes from a simple question. When Perfetti Van Melle’s marketing director asked his son what you would call a friend who did something silly, the answer was “airhead.” The smiley balloon face on every wrapper has been the brand mascot ever since.
Airheads are made in Erlanger, Kentucky, and have been available in the UK since 2015. They are a popular choice in American candy shops because of their strong brand recognition, eye-catching packaging, and the fact that they taste genuinely different from anything in the standard British confectionery aisle.
The popular theory is that White Mystery bars are made from the residual flavour left in the machines between production runs, meaning each bar is a random blend of whatever was made before it. Whether that is true or not, the mystery element makes it a brilliant conversation starter and a top seller for retailers. Customers buy them out of curiosity, try to guess the flavour, and then come back for more.
Xtremes Bites are one of the most versatile products in the range. They work in pick-and-mix displays, as a standalone shelf product, or as a shareable snack. The Paradise Blends variant adds a tropical twist that differentiates it from the standard fruit flavours.
These are available in 57g bags and 170g peg bags. The smaller bags are ideal for impulse buys and till placement, while the larger peg bags work well for hanging displays and pick-and-mix sections.
There is also a Paradise Blends version with tropical flavours, and a Soft Filled Bites variant with a soft, juicy centre for a different texture experience.
Available in three flavours:
Blue Raspberry — The top seller. Bold, tangy, and distinctively Airheads. The flavour crystals keep the blue raspberry taste going longer than most gums on the market.
Watermelon — A close second. Sweet and juicy with the same embedded candy pieces for extended flavour.
Raspberry Lemonade — A Paradise Blends flavour that combines sweet raspberry with tart lemonade. Slightly more complex than the other two flavours and popular with customers looking for something a bit different.
Retailer tip: Airheads Gum is one of the best margin products in the entire American candy space. It is small, lightweight, and has strong repeat purchase behaviour. Stock all three flavours near the till and you will see consistent sales. The Blue Raspberry and Watermelon gums are two of our top-selling Airheads products by units sold.
There is also a Sour Theatre Box at the same 93g size, containing sour-coated Airheads bars. This is the second highest-selling Airheads product and appeals to customers who want the theatre box experience with extra tang.
Retailer tip: Theatre boxes sell themselves. The format looks premium, takes up minimal shelf space, and has a built-in gift appeal. Position them near till points or in a dedicated American candy theatre box section alongside Nerds, Sour Patch Kids, and Mike and Ike theatre boxes for maximum impact.
Blue Raspberry — The most popular of the four, mirroring the success of the Blue Raspberry bar. A vivid blue colour and bold fruity taste make this an eye-catching addition to any drinks display.
Watermelon — Light, sweet, and refreshing. Works well as a summer drink and pairs naturally with the candy bars.
Orange — A bright, citrusy soda that tastes quite different from standard UK orange drinks.
Strawberry — Sweet and fruity with a candy-like edge that sets it apart from regular strawberry soft drinks.
All four come in 355ml cans and are sold in cases. For retailers, the sodas are a smart cross-sell. Display them alongside the Airheads candy bars and customers will often pick up both. The colourful cans also make them popular as photography props and social media content for online sellers.
However, always check the specific product label before making dietary claims to customers. Some limited edition or newer products may have different formulations. If you are a retailer, this is worth highlighting in your product descriptions and display signage — halal and vegan confectionery is a significant and growing market in the UK, and being clear about it drives sales.
For retailers, Airheads complement rather than compete with other American candy brands. A customer who buys Sour Patch Kids might also pick up Airheads Xtremes Bites because they are a different type of sour. Someone who grabs a Reese’s for the chocolate fix might add an Airheads bar for the fruity contrast. The brand fills a gap that no other single American candy brand covers in quite the same way.
For retailers and online sellers, this social media presence drives awareness and search traffic. When an Airheads video goes viral, searches for “airheads UK” and “buy airheads” spike on Google. Having stock ready and listing your products with the right keywords means you capture that traffic while it is hot.
With over 2,000 products in stock, no minimum order, and free delivery on orders over £600 + VAT, Sweet and Glory makes it easy to stock your shelves with the brands your customers are searching for. Open a trade account to see wholesale pricing across the full range.
If you are looking for more brand guides, read our complete guides to Nerds, Sour Patch Kids, and Reese’s. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X for new arrivals, stock updates, and sweet shop inspiration.
In the UK, Airheads have built a loyal following thanks to American candy shops, online retailers, and social media. The distinctive flat bars, bold colours, and fruity punch make them a standout on any sweet shop shelf. Whether you are a consumer looking for your new favourite flavour or a retailer stocking your American candy section, this guide covers everything you need to know about the Airheads range available at Sweet and Glory.
What Are Airheads?
Airheads are a taffy-style candy — soft, chewy, and stretchy. The production process is similar to making modelling dough: the taffy is mixed, stretched, shaped into long flat bars, and then individually wrapped. The result is a candy that you can twist, fold, and pull apart before eating, which is part of the fun.The name comes from a simple question. When Perfetti Van Melle’s marketing director asked his son what you would call a friend who did something silly, the answer was “airhead.” The smiley balloon face on every wrapper has been the brand mascot ever since.
Airheads are made in Erlanger, Kentucky, and have been available in the UK since 2015. They are a popular choice in American candy shops because of their strong brand recognition, eye-catching packaging, and the fact that they taste genuinely different from anything in the standard British confectionery aisle.
The Classic Bars
The classic Airheads bar is the product that started it all. Flat, individually wrapped, and bursting with fruity flavour, these are the bars that most people think of when they hear the Airheads name. At Sweet and Glory, these are available in both individual cases and bulk formats.Blue Raspberry
The best-selling Airheads flavour in the UK by a significant margin. Blue Raspberry delivers a tangy, slightly tart berry flavour with a bold sweetness that builds as you chew. The bright blue colour makes it instantly recognisable on the shelf. If you are only going to stock one Airheads flavour, this is the one.Cherry
A classic American candy flavour that needs no introduction. Airheads Cherry is rich, red, and has a robust fruit taste that balances tart and sweet. It is the second most popular bar flavour and consistently one of the strongest sellers across the range.Watermelon
Sweet, juicy, and refreshing. The Watermelon bar captures that summer fruit flavour in a chewy format. It is the third most popular Airheads bar in the UK and particularly strong during warmer months. The light green colour and fresh flavour make it a natural crowd-pleaser.White Mystery
This is the one that gets people talking. White Mystery Airheads have no colour, no flavour name on the wrapper — just a white bar and a question mark. The flavour changes between batches, and the fun is trying to guess what you are eating.The popular theory is that White Mystery bars are made from the residual flavour left in the machines between production runs, meaning each bar is a random blend of whatever was made before it. Whether that is true or not, the mystery element makes it a brilliant conversation starter and a top seller for retailers. Customers buy them out of curiosity, try to guess the flavour, and then come back for more.
Sour Blue Blast and Sour Watermelon Punch
The sour versions of the classic bars take the original flavours and coat them in a tangy sour sugar. Sour Blue Blast builds on the Blue Raspberry base with an extra tart kick, while Sour Watermelon Punch adds a punchy sour layer to the watermelon flavour. Both are popular with customers who like their sweets with a sour edge, and they tap into the broader sour candy trend driven by brands like Warheads and Toxic Waste.Variety Packs and Bulk
For consumers, the Airheads 5 Bar Pack offers a sampler of assorted flavours in a single pack. For retailers, the Singles 60 Count box and the bulk 11.35kg Mini Airheads case provide volume options for pick-and-mix displays, party bags, or high-traffic tills. The individually wrapped bars make Airheads one of the easiest American candy products to sell by the unit.Airheads Xtremes
Airheads Xtremes are the sour, tangy side of the brand. These are not taffy bars — they are fruit rolls and bites with a sour sugar coating that gives them a completely different texture and flavour profile. If the classic bars are the easy-going side of Airheads, the Xtremes are the ones that make your face scrunch up.Xtremes Belts
Long, flat sour belts similar in format to other sour strip candies. Available in Rainbow Berry, Bluest Raspberry, and Very Berry flavours. The Rainbow Berry belts are the top seller in the Xtremes range, with their multicoloured stripes and sweet-sour balance making them visually appealing and easy to eat. These come in 57g bags and 85g peg bags, giving you flexibility on pricing and display.Xtremes Bites
Bite-sized pieces of sour candy, coated in tangy sugar and bursting with fruity flavour. Available in Rainbow Berry, Blue Raspberry, Very Berry, and Paradise Blends (a tropical mix of Cherry Pineapple Blast, Raspberry Lemonade, Citrus Rush, and Blue Hawaiian). The Bites come in 57g bags and larger 170g peg bags.Xtremes Bites are one of the most versatile products in the range. They work in pick-and-mix displays, as a standalone shelf product, or as a shareable snack. The Paradise Blends variant adds a tropical twist that differentiates it from the standard fruit flavours.
Xtremes Sourfuls
The newest addition to the Xtremes family. Sourfuls are chewy, sour pieces with a juicy centre that gives a burst of flavour when you bite through. Available in Rainbow Berry, they offer a different texture to the Bites — softer, with more of a gummy feel. For customers who enjoy sour candy but prefer something less intense than a Warhead, Sourfuls hit the sweet spot.Airheads Bites
Not to be confused with Xtremes Bites, the standard Airheads Bites are tiny Airheads-flavoured candy pieces in a candy shell. They combine five fruity flavours — Cherry, Orange, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, and Mystery — in every bag. The candy shell gives them a satisfying crunch before you hit the chewy centre.These are available in 57g bags and 170g peg bags. The smaller bags are ideal for impulse buys and till placement, while the larger peg bags work well for hanging displays and pick-and-mix sections.
There is also a Paradise Blends version with tropical flavours, and a Soft Filled Bites variant with a soft, juicy centre for a different texture experience.
Airheads Gum
Airheads Gum translates the brand’s bold fruity flavours into a chewing gum format, with Micro-Candies embedded in each stick for a longer-lasting burst of flavour. This is one of the strongest-performing product lines in the entire Airheads range at Sweet and Glory, consistently ranking among the top sellers by volume.Available in three flavours:
Blue Raspberry — The top seller. Bold, tangy, and distinctively Airheads. The flavour crystals keep the blue raspberry taste going longer than most gums on the market.
Watermelon — A close second. Sweet and juicy with the same embedded candy pieces for extended flavour.
Raspberry Lemonade — A Paradise Blends flavour that combines sweet raspberry with tart lemonade. Slightly more complex than the other two flavours and popular with customers looking for something a bit different.
Retailer tip: Airheads Gum is one of the best margin products in the entire American candy space. It is small, lightweight, and has strong repeat purchase behaviour. Stock all three flavours near the till and you will see consistent sales. The Blue Raspberry and Watermelon gums are two of our top-selling Airheads products by units sold.
Airheads Theatre Boxes
The Airheads Theatre Box is the single highest-selling Airheads product at Sweet and Glory. It is a 93g box containing assorted individually wrapped full-size Airheads bars in a mix of flavours. The theatre box format — originally designed for American cinemas — has become a popular gift, impulse buy, and display product in UK sweet shops.There is also a Sour Theatre Box at the same 93g size, containing sour-coated Airheads bars. This is the second highest-selling Airheads product and appeals to customers who want the theatre box experience with extra tang.
Retailer tip: Theatre boxes sell themselves. The format looks premium, takes up minimal shelf space, and has a built-in gift appeal. Position them near till points or in a dedicated American candy theatre box section alongside Nerds, Sour Patch Kids, and Mike and Ike theatre boxes for maximum impact.
Airheads Soda
Yes, Airheads make sodas too. The Airheads Soda range translates the brand’s candy flavours into fizzy soft drinks, and they have become a strong seller in the UK market. Available in four flavours:Blue Raspberry — The most popular of the four, mirroring the success of the Blue Raspberry bar. A vivid blue colour and bold fruity taste make this an eye-catching addition to any drinks display.
Watermelon — Light, sweet, and refreshing. Works well as a summer drink and pairs naturally with the candy bars.
Orange — A bright, citrusy soda that tastes quite different from standard UK orange drinks.
Strawberry — Sweet and fruity with a candy-like edge that sets it apart from regular strawberry soft drinks.
All four come in 355ml cans and are sold in cases. For retailers, the sodas are a smart cross-sell. Display them alongside the Airheads candy bars and customers will often pick up both. The colourful cans also make them popular as photography props and social media content for online sellers.
Are They Vegan?
This is one of the most commonly searched questions about Airheads in the UK, and the answer is good news for a lot of customers. The original Airheads bars and Airheads Xtremes do not contain gelatine or any animal-derived ingredients, which means they are suitable for vegans.However, always check the specific product label before making dietary claims to customers. Some limited edition or newer products may have different formulations. If you are a retailer, this is worth highlighting in your product descriptions and display signage — halal and vegan confectionery is a significant and growing market in the UK, and being clear about it drives sales.
How Airheads Compare to Other American Candy
Airheads occupy a unique space in the American candy market. They are chewy like Laffy Taffy but with a smoother, more pliable texture. They are fruity like Jolly Rancher but soft rather than hard. They are colourful like Nerds but in a completely different format.For retailers, Airheads complement rather than compete with other American candy brands. A customer who buys Sour Patch Kids might also pick up Airheads Xtremes Bites because they are a different type of sour. Someone who grabs a Reese’s for the chocolate fix might add an Airheads bar for the fruity contrast. The brand fills a gap that no other single American candy brand covers in quite the same way.
Airheads on TikTok and Social Media
Airheads have had several viral moments on TikTok, most notably the 2023 challenge where users discovered a different way to eat the bars — peeling them into layers rather than biting straight through. The stretchy, pliable texture makes them naturally engaging for video content, and the bright colours photograph well for Instagram.For retailers and online sellers, this social media presence drives awareness and search traffic. When an Airheads video goes viral, searches for “airheads UK” and “buy airheads” spike on Google. Having stock ready and listing your products with the right keywords means you capture that traffic while it is hot.
Shop the Full Airheads Range at Sweet and Glory
Sweet and Glory stocks the full range of wholesale Airheads — from classic bars and Xtremes to gum, theatre boxes, and sodas. Browse the complete Airheads collection or explore more of our American candy, chocolate, soft drinks and grocery range.With over 2,000 products in stock, no minimum order, and free delivery on orders over £600 + VAT, Sweet and Glory makes it easy to stock your shelves with the brands your customers are searching for. Open a trade account to see wholesale pricing across the full range.
If you are looking for more brand guides, read our complete guides to Nerds, Sour Patch Kids, and Reese’s. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X for new arrivals, stock updates, and sweet shop inspiration.
