Walk past a Kingsway pick 'n' mix section and the foam sweets are usually easy to spot — the mushrooms, the shrimps, the bananas, all sharing that same slightly matte, spongy look that no other sweet category has. Here's what's actually in them, and which ones we've got on the shelf right now.
What is a foam sweet?
Foam sweets are a category of gelatine-based confectionery built around aeration rather than a solid chew. The base mixture — sugar, glucose syrup and gelatine — is whipped before it sets, working air into the structure so the finished sweet comes out soft, light and slightly dry to the touch, rather than dense like a standard jelly or wine gum. It's a similar principle to a marshmallow, just formed into novelty shapes and flavoured to match: mushroom, shrimp and banana, rather than plain vanilla.
The category has been a pick 'n' mix fixture in the UK for decades, and it's stayed popular for a straightforward reason: the texture is genuinely distinct from anything else on the counter, and the shapes commit to the bit in a way most gummy sweets don't bother with.
Kingsway Foam Mushrooms
Our Kingsway Foam Mushrooms 2kg are the clearest example of the format: fruit-flavoured foam moulded into the familiar red-and-white-capped mushroom shape, made without artificial colours or flavours. They're supplied as a 2kg bulk bag, sold as a single bag or in a 2-pack and 3-pack with a small discount, and are well stocked at the time of writing. They're made in Spain and, like most sweets in this category, contain pork gelatine, so they're not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
Kingsway Foam Shrimps: Giant and Mini
The shrimp is the other classic foam shape, and we stock it in two sizes: Giant Foam Shrimps 2kg and Mini Foam Shrimps 2kg, both currently in stock. The Giant size is a special-order line for us — it typically takes around two weeks to bring in, at the same price as any other bulk bag — so it's worth ordering a little ahead of when you need it rather than expecting next-day availability. The Mini size is a regular stock item. Both use the same soft foam texture as the mushrooms, just shaped and sized differently.
What about Foam Bananas?
Foam Bananas are a genuine part of the Kingsway range, and searches for them run higher than for any other foam shape — but at the time of writing, both the Giant and Mini sizes are showing zero stock on our system, so we're not listing them as available to buy right now. They're a standard Kingsway line rather than a discontinued one, made in France with the same sugar-glucose-gelatine base as the mushrooms and shrimps, just flavoured and coloured for banana instead. It's a restocking gap rather than a permanent absence, so it's worth checking back.
Beyond mushrooms and shrimps: Foam Smileys
Kingsway's foam range doesn't stop at the three classic shapes. We also stock Foam Smileys 2kg and a sour-coated version, Sour Foam Smileys 2kg — the same soft, aerated texture as the mushrooms and shrimps, moulded into a smiley face instead. Both are in stock, and worth adding to a pick 'n' mix bag if you want the texture without committing to a specific animal or vegetable shape.
Are foam sweets vegetarian or vegan?
No — every foam sweet in this range, mushrooms, shrimps and bananas alike, is made with pork gelatine, which is what gives it that specific soft, aerated set. If you need a vegetarian or vegan alternative with a similar novelty shape, a gelatine-free jelly range is a better starting point than anything in the foam category — foam sweets specifically rely on gelatine for their texture in a way plain jellies don't have to.
Frequently asked questions
What are foam sweets made of?
Mainly sugar, glucose syrup and gelatine, whipped before setting to trap air and create a soft, spongy texture, then flavoured and coloured to match the shape — mushroom, shrimp or banana.
Are foam sweets vegetarian or vegan?
No. The foam texture in this range comes from pork gelatine, so none of the mushrooms, shrimps or bananas are suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
Why can't I buy Foam Bananas right now?
Both the Giant and Mini sizes are between deliveries at the time of writing. They're a standard part of the Kingsway range rather than discontinued, so it's worth checking back for restock.
What's the difference between Giant and Mini Foam Shrimps?
Size only — both use the same pink foam texture and shrimp shape, just scaled differently. The Giant size is a special-order line with a longer lead time; the Mini size is a regular stock item.
Are Foam Mushrooms and Foam Shrimps in stock?
Yes, both are in stock now, along with Foam Smileys and Sour Foam Smileys.
Browse the full range in Kingsway sweets.