The only thing sweeter than spring after a foul winter is the Easter treats that come along with it. We found three new products that should have kids and marketers on a sugar high.

Cadbury kit has families Munsching on chocolate

No one knows Easter better than Cadbury. In fact one in four Easter products sold is produced by the confectioner. This year the manufacturer went all out with The Complete Egg Hunting Kit, including a clucking bunny toy, a letter from the Easter Bunny with searching tips and of course chocolate eggs – all in a container rugrats can use when they go on the prowl. As well, when consumers send the UPC code away they can get a CD of kids’ author Robert Munsch reading a story he wrote specially for the confectionery giant. The target for the kit is moms and grandparents who have family Easter traditions or want to start them. In-store promo efforts will include appearances by Munsch and the Easter Bunny.

That’s a Smartie

We all know kids love surprises, so kudos to Nestlé’s Smarties Peanut Butter Egg for containing several. It looks like an innocuous chocolate egg, but inside it’s filled with peanut buttery goodness. Then inside that sticky treat are mini Smarties. John Herbert, marketing associate – packaged chocolates at Nestlé Canada, says that the candy co launched the egg because, between its Turtle Egg’s $1 million SKU and Smarties’ recent double-digit growth, it seemed like a no-brainer. And in part since Turtles did so well last year, a new Nestlé Easter Egg prepack containing both products, as well as the new ROLO Egg, is likely to ‘drive purchase and trial,’ he says.

L’il Scoops offer teeny twist

We like this offering from Kraft International brand Milka because of its packaging – the chocolate eggs come in a bright cardboard container reminiscent of the real deal. Called L’il Scoops, opening up the carton reveals not only the four eggs, but two teeny spoons to savour the creamy mousse filling inside them. That’s sure to please l’il tykes, plus moms who want to avoid the mess usually associated with these kinds of products. Plus, the box can be used for crafts after the fact – a way to keep kids busy once the sugar kicks in. LD