At this year’s Natural Products Expo West 2026 in Anaheim, I came across a brand that’s approaching candy in a completely different way. Daddl is officially entering the U.S. market with its Daddl Candy Dates, and the concept is simple but genuinely interesting, taking the flavors people already love from Swedish candy and recreating them using dates.
The brand was showcased at Booth N940 inside the Anaheim Convention Center, where buyers, distributors, and media were invited to experience the product firsthand.
A Different Take on Candy
What stood out immediately is how Daddl positions itself. It’s not trying to replace candy entirely, but it is offering an alternative that feels more aligned with how people are choosing to snack today.
Instead of traditional ingredients, Daddl uses whole, unprocessed dates. There’s no added sugar, no artificial preservatives, and no artificial colors. At the same time, the product still delivers that chewy texture and bold flavor that people expect from candy.
Because it’s date-based, it also naturally contains fiber and key minerals like potassium and magnesium, which gives it an added functional benefit without complicating the ingredient list.
Inspired by Swedish Candy Culture
The idea behind the product comes from the growing popularity of Swedish candy, especially its mix of sweet, sour, and fizzy flavor profiles that have been trending across social media and specialty stores in the U.S.
“We wanted to recreate those familiar candy experiences using real ingredients,” said Nizar Odeimeh, Co-Founder of Daddl. “Dates gave us the ability to achieve both the sweetness and texture naturally.”
That connection to Swedish candy is what makes the product feel familiar, even though the base ingredient is completely different.
Flavor Lineup
For the U.S. launch, Daddl introduced six flavors:
- Sour Cola
- Sour Watermelon
- Sour Apple
- Fizzy Bottle
- Strawberry Milkshake
- Sweet Peach
Each one is designed to reflect classic candy profiles, but with a cleaner ingredient approach. The sour flavors in particular stand out because they still deliver that tangy punch, balanced by the natural sweetness of the dates.
Positioned for Today’s Retail Trends
Daddl is entering the market at a time when retailers are actively expanding their better-for-you snack sections. Consumers are clearly looking for options that reduce sugar and artificial ingredients, but still feel indulgent.
This is where Daddl fits in quite naturally, sitting somewhere between confectionery and fruit-based snacks.
The U.S. rollout is supported by Mellanmål Inc, which focuses on bringing Nordic brands into the American market.
“Nordic brands already have strong credibility when it comes to clean ingredients,” said Donnie SC Lygonis, CEO of Mellanmål Inc. “Daddl builds on that while also tapping into the current interest in Swedish candy flavors.”
A Clear Market Opportunity
From what I saw at Expo West, Daddl isn’t just launching a product, it’s tapping into a shift in how people think about candy.
There’s a growing expectation that snacks should offer both enjoyment and transparency. Daddl manages to do that by keeping the ingredient list simple while still delivering on taste.
About the Brand
Daddl is part of For the Love of Dates, a company focused on innovating within the date-based snack category. The brand combines clean ingredients with flavor inspiration from Swedish candy to create a new type of confectionery product.
Final Thoughts
After seeing the product firsthand, what makes Daddl interesting is how straightforward the concept is. It doesn’t overcomplicate things, it just takes something familiar and rebuilds it using a single, natural ingredient.
As the better-for-you snack space continues to grow, products like this are likely to gain attention, especially among consumers who want something sweet but are more mindful about what goes into it.
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