Retro treat reimagined with Drumstick cheesecake launch

Drumstick cake
Food Manufacture speaks to the English Cheesecake Company about its latest collaborative launch with Swizzels. (English Cheesecake Company)

The English Cheesecake Company has partnered with Swizzels to launch a Squashies flavoured cheesecake, tapping into ‘new-nostalgia’ trend.

This is the latest addition to the business’ ‘Collaboration Collection’ following the success of the English Cheesecake Company’s Biscoff Cheesecake.

The limited-edition cake (Sainsbury’s, RRP £3.75) features fruity layers of cheesecake in a Raspberry & Milk Drumstick flavour, topped with a white chocolate drizzle and pink sprinkles, on the crunchy biscuit base the English Cheesecake Company is known for.

The collaboration between Swizzels and the English Cheesecake Company started around a year ago, when the business was approached by Blonde Sheep which manages Swizzels’ license agreements.

“They were interested in creating a collaborative cheesecake, initially to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Refreshers. However, after a few discussions, we all came to the agreement that a Squashies cheesecake would be the right fit for both parties. With both English Cheesecake Company and Swizzels being aligned as British brands, it was an opportunity to create a noteworthy product with a brand consumers know and love,” explained Nic Cooke, sales and marketing director at English Cheesecake Company.

Nostalgia perfect match for sweet category

So called ‘new-nostalgia’ has been a key trend in food and drink; and as our 2025 trends feature highlighted, it’s particularly prevalent in the sweet category.

According to a Trendhub study, 76% of UK consumers are drawn to treats that evoke childhood memories.

Cooke agrees: “While Squashies are popular with children, they have an undoubtably nostalgic flavour that make them equally popular with adults. The classic Raspberry & Milk Drumstick flavour is instantly recognisable. We are tapping into this key factor of emotion when snacking, as well as the growing trend for brands to create cross-category innovations in confectionary.”

Limited edition: testing the waters

Whilst this is a limited-edition cake, Cooke reveals there’s always potential for it to become a permanent fixture.

“We want to constantly bring in innovation to the category, using our Collaboration Collection really helps us achieve this through partnering with a wide range of brands,” he said.

“Our best-selling Biscoff Cheesecake also began as a limited edition, and 10 years later it’s the No.1 selling brand cheesecake in the UK! This is why limited edition SKUs are always a great starting point for collaborative products, you never know where it could lead. It’s also a great opportunity to offer exciting seasonal flavours and ensure NPD is always at the heart of our brand.”