I went to Haribo’s new flagship shop with never seen before sweets and nostalgic feature you can’t get anywhere else

AS soon as I stepped inside Haribo’s first flagship UK store Kent’s Bluewater I was hit by a waft of its iconic sweets.

Headache inducing bright colours and bags and bags of treats, it was like being in the middle of bag of Haribo sweets.

Like most people, my childhood was spent gobbling packets of Starmix at birthday parties and pretending the jelly rings in the bag were edible wedding bands.

To this day, I am still partial to a bag of Tangfastics, with the fizzy cherries always being the first to go when I indulge in them.

Its Bluewater debut is Haribo’s first store in the UK that is outside of a designer shopping outlet.

The brand, mascoted by a little golden bear, already has 10 locations across factory destinations in the likes of Ashford and Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.

But by opening a branch in this mainstream shopping centre – that attracts 28million visitors each year – Haribo wants to reach more customers.

My eye was immediately drawn to the massive pic n mix stand in the middle of the shop.

Since the demise of Woolworth’s and Wilko on the high street, it’s been hard to get good pick and mix fix on the high street – and the Haribo shop didn’t disappoint.

I was overjoyed to see Heart Throbs, red and white liquorice, and fizzy cola bottles.

If you have ever tried to load up a bag of sweets at a cinema or market stall at Christmas, you know it’s very easy to fork out a small fortune.

This is largely due to the fact that vendors charge by weight after you have finished packing it.

So I was very pleased to hear that Haribo stores actually charge a set price for a box and let shoppers fill their boots.

It’s a similar concept to the make-your-own Quality Street tin that John Lewis rolls out at Christmas.

Prices at Haribo for a small tub start at £6.50 and for a medium this rises to £8.50.

I am told that shoppers have been known to fit a kilo worth into medium sized tubs, which is impressive.

For £12, punters can fill their own 1kg plastic tub, but again, if you can squeeze more in, you won’t be charged.

RARE FINDS

Haribo sweets are enjoyed across the globe by millions, with flavours and products varying from country to country.

It was fascinating to see a whole wall dedicated to bags of jelly sweets from the brand imported from the likes of Spain, Turkey and France.

Here you find bags of Happy Cherries and other rare finds that are not sold in other UK stores.

New stock from countries comes in every few weeks, so returning shoppers will have a chance to try lots of different variations.

Another unusual feature in the store, is Haribo’s giant 3kg bags of classic childhood sweets, such as yellow belly snakes.

Many will remember these from their childhood as they are often sold in plastic tubs in corner shops.

You can pick up a wholesale 3kg bag for £20 at Haribo Bluewater, which is good value considering they can sell for up to £26 at wholesale suppilers like Paperstone.

Shoppers looking to go on a trip down memory can also pick up 3kg bags of foam fried eggs and gummy bears.

These could be a cost effective and fun way to add a special touch to a wedding or big event if you placed the sweets in a lovely serving bowl or party bag.

BAGGING A BARGAIN

Guests of the store also have a chance to try new ranges Haribo which are launching in supermarkets at a discounted price.

When I visited the store, they were trialling their new Nostalgix range, which is inspired by classic flavours such as rhubarb and custard and pear drops.

Shoppers can pick up a bag of the sweets for £1.10, which is about 15p cheaper than at Morrisons.

Of course, the Haribo store is filled with walls and walls of its best selling products such as Tangfastics and Starmix.

The prices of these sweets are on par with what you would pay if you bought them at a supermarket at around £1.35.

But those looking for tubs and larger packets of sweets definitely have a chance to save.

This is because the store gives you access to wholesale sized products without having to pay a delivery fee or have a membership to one.

And if you are keen to visit a Haribo store, but not living near Bluewater or one of its outlet destinations, fear not.

The brand has told The Sun that readers should keep their eyes peeled for new locations popping up.

This includes a branch in Scotland which will open up later this year.