Limited Edition (LE) candy is specialized candy manufactured for a limited time period, typically eight to twelve weeks. Limited-edition as a candy marketing strategy was first used in 2003; by August 2005, more than 60 limited-edition candy varieties had been marketed.
Hershey's Dark Kisses (released as limited-edition in July 2003), Kit Kat White Chocolate, and Reese's White Chocolate were eventually made permanent due to customer demand.
LE candy are often used for cross-promotion with films.
Some believe that LE candy merely builds upon base brand sales; others believe in the long-run that they "cannibalize base brand sales."
Some vendors, notably Six Flags, are reluctant to carry LE candy, preferring "proven sellers."
| Examples | ||
|---|---|---|
| LE brand | Base brand | Release date |
| IceBreakers Hot Cinnamon Limited Edition Tin | Hershey | July 2003 |
| Kit Kat Dark Chocolate Limited Edition | Hershey | July 2003 |
| Altoids Cinnamon Limited Edition | Wrigley | July 2003 |
| Reese's Dark Chocolate Limited Edition | Hershey | July 2003 |
| Pay Day Honey Roasted Limited Edition | Hershey | September 2003 |
| Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Honey Roasted Limited Edition | Hershey | September 2003 |
| Kit Kat White Chocolate Limited Edition, Cat in the Hat | Hershey | November 2003 |
| Snickers Limited Edition Canister | MasterFoods | December 2003 |
| Kit Kat Mint Limited Edition | Hershey | January 2004 |
| Kit Kat Orange Limited Edition | Hershey | January 2004 |
| Altoids Limited Edition Tin Curious George | Wrigley | January 2004 |
| Cookies 'n' Chocolate Limited Edition | Hershey | March 2004 |
| Cookies 'n' Mint Limited Edition | Hershey | March 2004 |
| Reese's BIG CUP Peanut Butter Cup Limited Edition | Hershey | April 2004 |
| Air Heads Xtremes 3 roll Variety Pack-Limited | Perfetti Van | April 2004 |
| Almond Joy Piña Colada Limited Edition | Hershey | June 2004 |
| TicTac Big Box Limited Edition Lemon | Ferrero USA | July 2004 |
| TicTac Big Box Limited Edition Lime | Ferrero USA | July 2004 |
| TicTac Big Box Limited Edition Orange | Ferrero USA | July 2004 |
| Kit Kat Triple Chocolate! Limited Edition | Hershey | July 2004 |
| Kit Kat White Chocolate Limited Edition | Hershey | July 2004 |
| York Chocolate Truffle Mint Pattie Limited Edition | Hershey | July 2004 |
| Ring Pop Limited Edition Bazooka Bubble Gum | Topps Company | July 2004 |
| Ring Pop Limited Edition Cotton Candy | Topps Company | July 2004 |
| Almond Joy Chocolate Chocolate | Hershey | July 2004 |
| Kit Kat Inside Out Limited Edition | Hershey | August 2004 |
| Reese's Big Cup King Size Limited Edition | Hershey | August 2004 |
| Reese's Big Cup White Chocolate Limited Edition | Hershey | August 2004 |
| Reese's Inside Out Limited Edition | Hershey | August 2004 |
| S'Mores King Size Limited Edition | Hershey | August 2004 |
| Nestle Crunch with Peanut Butter Limited Edition | Nestle | August 2004 |
| Air Heads Popping Candy Dip Limited Time | Perfetti Van | August 2004 |
| Hershey's Double Chocolate Limited Edition | Hershey | September 2004 |
| Reese's PBC Extra Smooth & Creamy Limited Edition | Hershey | September 2004 |
| Swoops Peppermint Limited Edition | Hershey | October 2004 |
| Tootsie Roll Vanilla Flavored Midgees Limited Edition | Tootsie Roll | October 2004 |
| Hershey Cookies 'n' Creme Limited Edition | Hershey | November 2004 |
| Hershey's Nut Lovers Limited Edition | Hershey | November 2004 |
| Hershey's White Choc w Almond Chunks Limited Edition | Hershey | November 2004 |
| Reese's Pieces Peanuts & Peanut Butter Limited Edition | Hershey | November 2004 |
| Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark Limited Edition | Lindt & Sprungli | November 2004 |
| Hershey's Nut Lovers Limited Edition | Hershey | December 2004 |
| Reese's White Chocolate PB Cups King Size Limited Edition | Hershey | January 2005 |
| Reese's Fudge Peanut Butter Cups Limited Edition | Hershey | February 2005 |
| Reese's Peanut Butter Lovers Limited Edition | Hershey | March 2005 |
| Reese's Chocolate Lovers Limited Edition | Hershey | March 2005 |
| POP'ables Almonds Limited Edition | MasterFoods | March 2005 |
| POP'ables Chocolate Crisps Limited Edition | MasterFoods | March 2005 |
| Ring Pop Limited Edition Cotton Candy Bubble Gum | Topps Company | March 2005 |
| Twix Dark Chocolate Limited Edition | MasterFoods | March 2005 |
| Creme Savers Tropicals Limited Edition | Kraft | April 2005 |
| Hershey's Special Dark with Almonds Swoops Limited Edition | Hershey | April 2005 |
| Crunch Dark | Nestle | May 2005 |
| Finding Nemo Fruit Snacks | Kellog's | June 2005 |
| Take 5 White Chocolate Limited Edition | Hershey | June 2005 |
| Hershey's Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate & Heath | Hershey | July 2005 |
| TwoSomes: LE Hershey's Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate & Reese's | Hershey | July 2005 |
| Mini Pieces TwoSomes LE: Hershey's Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate & Whoppers | Hershey | July 2005 |
| TwoSomes LE: Almond Joy Passion Fruit Milk Chocolate Limited Edition | Hershey | July 2005 |
| Almond Joy Key Lime White Chocolate Limited Edition | Hershey | July 2005 |
| Kit Kat Extra Creamy | Hershey | July 2005 |
| Reese's Big Cup with Nuts | Hershey | July 2005 |
Famous quotes containing the words limited, edition and/or candy:
“Misfortunes leave wounds which bleed drop by drop even in sleep; thus little by little they train man by force and dispose him to wisdom in spite of himself. Man must learn to think of himself as a limited and dependent being; and only suffering teaches him this.”
—Simone Weil (1909–1943)
“Books have their destinies like men. And their fates, as made by generations of readers, are very different from the destinies foreseen for them by their authors. Gulliver’s Travels, with a minimum of expurgation, has become a children’s book; a new illustrated edition is produced every Christmas. That’s what comes of saying profound things about humanity in terms of a fairy story.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)
“I’m headed for a land that’s far away
Beside the crystal fountains.
So come with me, we’ll go and see
The Big Rock Candy Mountains.”
—Unknown. The Big Rock Candy Mountains (l. 5–8)