I don't know if you've seen these before, maybe they are just a Eugene special, but I tried these Strawberried-Peanut Butter M&Ms the other day and in not so many words, they are barfy.
To describe the taste, it is an oddly confusing mixture of fruit and peanut. Now, I kind of get it. PB & J right? Oh how clever. But, it doesn't work. I don't mind a mild sensation of confusion every once in a while, but this taste test was just completely perplexing. At first, it's a whole lot of strawberry. And then it's all peanut butter, but when it's said and done, it's mostly just nonsense.
What is it with candy companies getting overly creative? I mean, I know, from my business school vocab, "product extension", "product expansion", "product line diversification". But really, is M&M a product that needs any sort of diversification? Its three strongest products, Plain, Peanut, and Peanut Butter, are on the top 10 list of best-selling candies. They have a good thing going! No need to mar their reputation by adding fruit to the mix! I mean, it's not like there is a hugely competitive peanut butter and fruit-flavored candy market out there. When you got a good thing going, stick to it.
Considering what it takes to get a product from concept to store shelf, it is amazing to me how a strawberried-peanut butter products get the green light. Among the other products that really don't belong within reach of consumers:
- popcorn-flavored Jelly Belly's
- fish-flavored candies
- booger candy
There are a lot of better examples at good candies gone wrong but I can't think of any. If you have some, do share.
Bottom line: avoid the disappointment, deny the intrigue, stay away from this M&M mutant and stick to the M&M product you love.
