York-based chocolate company Nestl Rowntree have followed their controversial chocolate and fudge covered pretzels with a new product - colourful flavoured nougat coated in chocolate.

The new Ventura range, which comes sharp on the heels of Flipz, are long sticks of tangy mint, orange or bubblegum flavoured nougat containing crispy pieces and draped in milk chocolate.

And the company is hoping they will be a big hit with the younger sweet buyers.

James Porteous, Nestl Rowntree trade communication manager, said: "We're aiming this product firmly at the seven to 11-year-old children's self-purchase market.

"Ventura is a lively, wacky and fun brand with lots of street cred and a value for pocket money price point to match. It's something kids will feel cool buying yet won't alienate their parents."

Nestl's latest product follows their chocolate- covered pretzels whose attraction, according even to their own adverts, is bemusing.

The new snacks were given a top award from SuperMarketing magazine, whose customers were polled on topics including presentation, sales performance compared with manufacturer's expectations and the product's success in pioneering a new market.

Judges said the product was totally unique, but the award came only weeks after Nestl announced a production halt for Flipz, with a loss of 51 casual workers. About 130 people were working on the chocolate or white fudge-covered snacks. It was planned that 80 would stay on, working in other departments, with the others likely to return to cope with the preparations for Christmas demand.

Nestl insisted that sales of the snack were going well.

The new Ventura will be in the shops from Monday. The launch is being supported by a £2 million television and press advertising campaign.

And Nestl is hoping it will be a long lasting success.

Mr Porteous said: "The number of seven to 11-year-olds in the UK is set to grow at three times the rate of the total population, which underlines the bright long-term prospects for Ventura."

A taste-test around the Evening Press offices yielded mixed results for the Ventura.

Reporter Caroline Barrett liked the orange flavour, but was unimpressed with the mint version. She said: "I'm not sure about the mint flavour - it's got potential but it's a bit of a let-down. The orange is much better. Nice and fruity. But the chocolate is a bit bland."

Commercial property writer Paul Rhodes said: "The mint one tastes just like an Aero, but it's a bit too minty. It would be much better if it was just bite-sized. I don't think I'd go out and buy one."

Photographer Paul Baker thought the Ventura did not know quite what it was meant to be. He said: "It tastes like a cross between a Twix and a Bounty. I'm not too sure about the mint or the orange flavour, but I think curry flavour would be good."

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