Percy Pigs and Jelly Babies both get filed under cute gummy sweets, but one is a tightly guarded supermarket exclusive and the other has been a shared British staple for over a century.
An M&S exclusive vs a century-old staple
Percy Pigs launched in 1992 as an own-label line and has stayed exclusive to Marks & Spencer ever since, you will not find it on general confectionery shelves or in independent sweet shops. Jelly Babies, by contrast, have been sold widely across the UK for decades under brands like Bassett's, making it one of the few gummy sweets nearly every UK shopper grew up with.
Gummy pig vs soft baby: the texture gap
- Percy Pigs — a firmer, more elastic gum, with several variants finished in a fizzy or sour sugar coating for extra bite on top of the chew.
- Jelly Babies — a softer, less springy gum with a plain or lightly sugared surface and no fizzy element, designed to be gentler on the teeth.
From Peace Babies to Jelly Babies
Jelly Babies have a genuinely old history: Bassett's launched a baby-shaped gum called Peace Babies shortly after the end of the First World War in 1918, and the sweet was not renamed Jelly Babies until 1953. That puts well over seventy years between the two sweets, despite them looking like similar categories on a shelf today.
Which one to pick
If you are after the specific fruity-fizzy Percy Pigs flavour, M&S is the only place to get it. If you want the classic soft gummy baby shape with a long UK history, Jelly Babies are easy to find in any pick n mix selection.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy Percy Pigs outside of M&S?
No. Percy Pigs have been an M&S-exclusive product since they launched in 1992, and the brand has kept it that way as one of its signature own-label lines.
What is the texture difference between Percy Pigs and Jelly Babies?
Percy Pigs have a firmer, gummier chew, with some variants coated in a fizzy or sour sugar dusting. Jelly Babies are softer and less elastic, with a plain or lightly sugared finish and no fizzy coating.
Which is the older sweet, Percy Pigs or Jelly Babies?
Jelly Babies by a long way. They trace back to Bassett's Peace Babies, launched after the First World War in 1918, and were renamed Jelly Babies in 1953, more than 70 years before Percy Pigs existed.