Cue the nostalgia: Who else grew up carrying around edible belts known as Airheads?
The beloved candy brand dates back to the 1980s, and in honor of its 40th birthday, Airheads is introducing an all-new product that will roll out to retailers nationwide this winter.
Per a recent press release by its parent company Perfetti Van Melle, the Xtremes Mega Bites is just the latest example of Airheads’ knack for “innovation” and will feature two flavors in every bite. Check out a preview image of the new offering below.
After embracing the sour-candy craze in the early 2000s by launching Airheads Xtremes, the upcoming Mega Bites mark the brand’s first new candy since 2024’s Airheads Sour Bars, Allrecipes reports.
The sour candies — which will reportedly register in the “middle” of Airheads’ sour scale — will be sold in 5.5-ounce bags, with a variety of flavors included in each. Millennials and beyond, do we have your attention?
Airheads were first introduced in 1986 and ultimately carved out its own cultural lane by the early ’90s with its iconic ads featuring irreverent humor and the candy’s unmistakable texture.
“Airheads has always celebrated individuality and not taking yourself too seriously,” said Perfetti Van Melle brand director Chris Borges in a statement. “Especially in the ’90s, it became part of how kids connected, traded and expressed themselves.”
In 2024, the Sour Bars quickly gained traction with consumers, tapping into growing demand for sour candy with a bold balance of sweet and tangy flavor that’s becoming a go-to for fans, per Perfetti Van Melle.
And going back to the nostalgia — it’s hard to picture a time before social media these days, when kids across the U.S. were expressing themselves through bold flavors, neon colors and playful weirdness. Airheads were certainly a key player in that era.