Surya Foods, one of the UK’s leading world food suppliers, is launching Candy Crescent, an innovative new range of halal sweets. The new treats – Candy Crescent Gummy Bears and Candy Crescent Cola Bottles – arrive in over 900 Tesco stores this week (MARCH 14th), with gummy worms, gummy elephants, fizzy rings and a variety of marshmallows planned for future release.
Many conventional gummy sweets, from well-known brands, contain pork-derived gelatin, making them unsuitable for halal diets. Candy Crescent opens the market up to Muslim consumers.
“We are passionate about giving Muslim families easy access to treats that everyone else enjoys,” said Harry Dulai, group chief executive officer at Surya Foods. “Candy Crescent means no child has to miss out on the simple joy of gummy sweets.”
Demand for halal food has surged across the UK. Around 6.5% of the population of England and Wales – approximately 3.9 million people – identify as Muslim and follow a halal diet, according to Census 2021 data from the Office for National Statistics. Notably, the UK’s Muslim population also skews young, with 84.5% aged under 50 compared with 62% of the overall population, making categories such as confectionery particularly relevant.
Surya Foods is known for its speed in identifying and responding to market trends. The company is also behind Humza (UK’s No.1 world food frozen brand3) a leading halal frozen food brand with annual sales exceeding £12 million. In 2025, Humza unveiled a brand refresh and launched Humza Signature, a premium selection of Asian snacks and sides. Humza, one of the largest suppliers of halal frozen foods into UK and European retail, produces an impressive 35 million handmade samosas annually and continues to expand its range with trendy lines for modern Muslim consumers.
Surya Foods also holds the No.1 market position in the UK for Laila Basmati (No.1 dry rice brand), Mai Thai (No.1 Jasmine rice brand)¹ and Thai Dragon (No.1 sriracha sauce brand)3. The company’s rice brands – including Laila, Salaam and Mai Thai – account for over half of the UK’s branded dry rice market, testament to Surya’s expertise in building authentic world food brands that resonate with both niche and mainstream audiences.
During recent years Surya Foods has launched an impressive array of world food NPD into UK supermarkets, including Korean brand Sun Hee (one of the first Korean brands to enter major UK retailers), Khao-Chi (Indo-Chinese classics), Akira (Japanese rice, snacks and sides) and Trophi (Greek mezze). In August 2025, Laila entered the fast-growing convenience sector with a collection of 10 microwaveable rice pouches rolled out across Tesco stores.
Available Now
Candy Crescent Gummy Bears, RRP £0.40p per 35g pack
Candy Crescent Cola Bottles, RRP £0.40p per 35g pack
Both products are available in Tesco stores on retail clip strips from MARCH 14TH
