# Hybrid Candy Sodas Sonic's Latest Candy Drink Mix Follows the Brand's Nerds Soda By Jana Pijak | Published 2015-04-29 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/candy-soda References: [news.yahoo](http://news.yahoo.com/hit-nerds-sonic-plans-another-candy-drink-mix-144525711--finance.html) American fast food chain [Sonic](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zero-sugar-drink-mixes) gained a large fan following after releasing their [Nerds candy soda](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nerds-strawberry-milkshake) and plans to add another sugary drink to their menu in coming months. Though caloric, this hybrid soda adds a fun twist to the brand's iconic Slush drinks. In a recent statement, Sonic CEO Cliff Hudson confirmed that the soda will be launching across American locations this summer. In an effort to appeal to millennial consumers, fast food brands are upping the creativity of classic menu items and are opting for products that are more daring and unexpected rather than those that are offered by competitors. Sonic's latest [candy soda products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/frozen-strawberry-drink) appeal to a younger consumer and are a staple extreme foodies and snack lovers are guaranteed to try. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.3/10 - Popularity: 47% | Activity: 14% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Hybrid Candy Sodas:** Sonic's Nerds and upcoming candy sodas demonstrate a trend towards sugary, creative drinks that appeal to millennials and extreme foodies. - **Innovative Fast Food Offerings:** Fast food brands like Sonic are innovating their menus with creative, unexpected products to appeal to younger and more adventurous customers. - **Caloric Indulgence:** Despite concerns over sugar and calorie intake, the popularity of hybrid candy sodas shows a trend towards indulgent, fun food and drink options. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fast Food:** The fast food industry is embracing innovation in products like candy sodas to differentiate themselves in a competitive market. - **Beverage:** Beverage companies are experimenting with sugary, creative drinks that appeal to a younger consumer, as seen in Sonic's candy soda offerings. - **Snack:** Hybrid candy sodas and extreme foodie culture demonstrate a trend towards indulgent, outrageous snacks that are popular among younger consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sour Candy Frozen Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sour-patch-kids-slush-float.md) - [Candy-Inspired Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/candy-lips.md) - [Drive-In Chains Drink Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flavorista-favorites.md) - [Creamy QSR Soda Refreshments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sonic-dirty-drinks.md) - [Gummy-Flavored Soda Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gummyflavored-soda.md) - [Whimsical Unicorn-Inspired Refreshments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unicorn-dreams-slush.md) - [Expanded Candy-Inspired Soda Flavors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ring-pop-soda.md) - [Fizzy Can-Packaged Candies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweet-bandit-fizzy-soda-can.md) - [Functional Candy-Flavored Sparkling Waters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sparkling-ice-x-life-savers.md)