The world’s largest hand-rolled, soft pretzel company recently teamed up with the leading North American manufacturer of quality chocolate products to create a product now testing in 31 locations across the country.

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and The Hershey Company, both international businesses with roots in central Pennsylvania, combined fresh-baked pretzels with the Kit Kat brand to create Chocolate-Covered Stix. The product consists of Auntie Anne’s Original Stix, drizzled with Hershey’s milk chocolate fudge, and topped with chopped Kit Kat pieces to create a classic sweet and salty treat. One order contains four Stix, and the average price is $3.49.

This limited-time menu offering is available in shopping centers, malls, and outlet centers in California, Louisiana, Texas, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Consumers can order Chocolate-Covered Stix through Friday, Nov. 4.

Carl Hornberger, director of menu management for Auntie Anne’s, says, “The Hershey Company and Auntie Anne’s, Inc. have been looking for opportunities to work together, and we’re excited to offer our guests a new chocolate treat in specific test markets.”

Chocolate is the flavor combination most requested by Auntie Anne’s pretzel lovers as a new product idea. According to Hornberger, the Chocolate-Covered Stix are being enthusiastically welcomed by consumers in the test markets. In fact, more than 80 percent of those who experienced the product gave Chocolate-Covered Stix high marks based on taste.

Menu Innovations, News, Auntie Anne's