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Ferrero’s Tic Tac brand has teamed up with Dr Pepper to launch a limited-edition mint in the US, underscoring the growing use of cross-category flavour licensing in the competitive confectionery and beverage markets.

The new Tic Tac Dr Pepper mints combine the soda’s signature 23-flavour profile with Tic Tac’s small-format mint, marking the latest collaboration between sweet packaged food manufacturers and beverage groups seeking incremental growth through brand extensions.

The product is being rolled out initially at select retailers, with wider national distribution planned in the coming months, according to the companies.

For Ferrero, which has expanded aggressively in North America in recent years, the launch represents another attempt to leverage licensed flavours to drive novelty and impulse purchases in the mint and confectionery aisle.

Tic Tac, introduced in the US in 1969, competes in a mature segment where innovation cycles and limited-time offers are increasingly used to maintain shelf space and retailer interest.

For Dr Pepper owner Keurig Dr Pepper, the tie-up extends the brand beyond carbonated soft drinks into pocket-sized confectionery, offering an additional route to monetise its intellectual property without expanding bottling or distribution complexity.

Cross-brand collaborations have gained traction across food and beverage as companies look to tap into established fan bases and social media engagement, particularly among younger consumers.

By translating Dr Pepper’s distinctive flavour blend into a mint format, the partners are targeting on-the-go consumption occasions such as commuting and travel, where portability and novelty can drive trial.

"Tic Tac Dr Pepper Mints bring together two powerhouse brands in an unexpected way," said Endri Shtylla, marketing director at Ferrero.