Sweet Stash, an Omaha-based candy startup co-founded by composer twins Adeev and Ezra Potash alongside actor Martin Starr, developed Jams, a line of gummies made without corn syrup or synthetic food dyes and built around flavor-forward recipes and carefully engineered textures. After introducing the product in 2025, the company expanded the range with sour and crunchy variations showcased at the 2026 Sweets & Snacks Expo.
The gummies were developed in partnership with Nebraska candy innovation company Sprinkk, where food scientist Tessa Porter helped translate the founders’ detailed flavor concepts into six music note-shaped gummies with distinct textures and layered flavor experiences. Initial production was completed through Sprinkk’s small-batch manufacturing capabilities before scaling to larger production facilities as distribution expanded across Midwest retailers.
For consumers, Jams offers a premium candy experience centered on ingredient transparency, texture and flavor complexity rather than artificial additives. The company’s growth highlights a broader trend toward clean-label confectionery and demonstrates how specialized development partners can help emerging food brands move from concept to commercial scale.
Image Credit: Sweet Stash
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Clean-label Confectionery
- Ingredient-transparent sweets are reshaping premium candy by replacing synthetic dyes and corn syrup with recipes that align indulgence with wellness-conscious purchasing habits.
- Texture-led Gummies
- Layered chew, crunch and sour formats create room for candy brands to differentiate through sensory engineering rather than relying solely on flavor extensions.
- Small-batch Scaling
- Specialized food development partners give emerging confectionery startups a faster path from experimental concepts to retailer-ready production without requiring early investment in full-scale facilities.
Where This Applies
- Candy and Confectionery
- Premium gummies made with cleaner ingredients signal a shift in mass-market candy toward products that combine nostalgic appeal with modern label expectations.
- Food Manufacturing
- Flexible production models are becoming valuable as startups need technical formulation support, small-batch validation and scalable manufacturing pathways within a single innovation ecosystem.
- Natural Food Retail
- Retailers focused on better-for-you snacks gain differentiated shelf offerings as clean-ingredient candies blur the line between indulgent treats and ingredient-conscious food products.
