Blackwood-based Bon Bon Buddies, Europe’s leading licenced character confectionery company, has teamed up with infamously irreverent soft drink brand, Tango, to extend its own-brand range with the launch of new Tango Nanobytes.

Following the launch of the cosmic-themed Nanobytes sweets in 2013, Bon Bon Buddies’ new partnership with soft drink producer, Britvic, will see Tango’s notoriously cheeky sense of humour and intense taste collide with the chewy sweets to create three new Tango flavours, Orange, Apple and Cherry.

Tango Nanobytes are available across the UK and Middle East from the end of September 2014, in a re-sealable foil pack featuring a new front-of-pack window so the contents can be clearly seen. Bon Bon Buddies is also introducing a new price-marked pack for UK wholesale customers.

The new confectionary range will further strengthen Bon Bon Buddies’ own brand range, which is rapidly growing to become a significant income stream for the business.

It currently accounts for four per cent of the company’s business, and it hopes to grow this to 15 per cent by 2018.

Chris Howarth, managing director of Bon Bon Buddies, said: “Tango is a brand fizzing with energy and its intense flavours and cheeky sense of humour are loved by adults and children alike. It was the perfect choice to extend the Nanobytes range, and we are all really excited to launch the new Orange, Apple and Cherry Tango flavours.

“We are proud of our experience and understanding of the licensed confectionery industry and already work with a number of the sector’s biggest names, including PEZ Sweets, Ritter Sport and Zaini. It’s great to add such a respected British brand as Britvic to this list, and to take the first step in working together in partnership.

“We have worked hard to establish Nanobytes across the UK and international markets, and I am looking forward to getting a whole new fanbase excited about the brand, as well as offering our current fans new flavours to discover.”

Ian Downes, director of Start Licensing, license agent for the Tango brand, said: “We are happy to add Bon Bon Buddies to the licensee list. Their Nanobytes range is a perfect match with Tango and is a fantastic addition to the licensing programme."

Bon Bon Buddies currently has three major own-brand products aimed at the everyday children’s confectionery sector. In 2011, it launched its first own-brand, the mega-sour Brain Blasterz, which was followed by the launch of space-themed Nanobytes in 2013. Its latest product range is the eponymous Bon Bon Buddies, launched in January 2014, which features a range of pocket money-friendly treat-sized sweets along with fun retro toys, branded with fun-loving Bon Bon Buddies characters.

Bon Bon Buddies was established in 1993 and has grown to become Europe’s premier provider of character confectionery to 40 countries worldwide, with eight dedicated European sales and logistics facilities with further distribution in Central Eastern Europe, China and the Middle East.

The company has won the highly esteemed Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International trade in recognition of its outstanding achievement in innovation, international trade and sustainable development.