Dunnington youngster Emma Wainwright, nine, the niece of Nestl Rowntree receptionist Catherine Wainwright, with some of the new Smartie products

So you thought Smarties were just a popular chocolate sweet? Have York confectioners Nestl Rowntree got news for you...

It seems that when you possess the UK's best-selling children's confectionery, the brand image can be used to sell much more than chocolates alone.

You can already buy Smarties footwear, from wellies and chunky boots to bumper trainers, sandals and slippers, made by Team Sports. And in the stationery shops you can get Smartie-branded pencils and pens made by Sanford UK, and writing and drawing pads, and files, produced by Tollit & Harvey.

But this Christmas, you will even be able to buy Smarties crackers, produced by International Greetings, each one containing a packet of the chocolate beans.

Two Smarties books are also being published this month by Robinson Publishing - Smarties Incredible Facts, all about the "biggest, yuckiest, fiercest, fastest, hungriest things in the world," and Smarties Joke Book.

And in January, a range of Smarties childrenswear will be launched by the Flyers Clothing Company.

Designed for two-to-eight-year-olds, the range includes dresses, bootlegs and pedal pushers for girls, while sporty Smarties garments are being made for boys.

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