Walmart adds exclusive candy from 181-year-old Lindt brand

Retailers increasingly lean on limited-time products and exclusives to pull shoppers into stores.

That works best when either the partner or the product has a built-in following. Target, for example, has driven crowds to its stores by offering limited-time Taylor Swift merchandise, while Burger King launched new meals themed to the new Star Wars movie, "The Mandalorian and Grogu" on May 4.

"Telling customers that products are only available while supplies last introduces the concept of scarcity into an online shopping experience. The scarcity principle says that humans place a higher value on items they believe to be rare and a lower value on things that seem abundant," according to Shopify's analysis.

Limited-time offers and exclusive drops drive traffic by creating urgency and scarcity.

That's a tactic retailers like Walmart have been using to differentiate their brands from their rivals. Walmart did that in April with an exclusive Mountain Dew flavor, and now, it's doing the same thing with an iconic candy.

Walmart adds a candy-aisle exclusive

When retailers offer something competitors can't sell, it creates a powerful reason for customers to visit.

"Retailers are increasingly turning to exclusive brands as a strategy to stand out in a highly competitive marketplace. With price and convenience no longer enough to secure loyalty, stores like Walmart, Target, and Amazon are focusing on offering products that shoppers cannot find anywhere else," International Supermarket News shared.

Now, Walmart has built on Tiramisu Milk Chocolate Truffles, the exclusive Lindt Lindor Truffle flavor it added for last Valentine's Day, by adding a new multi-flavor truffle pack that's also exclusive to the retailer.

Here are the details on the new Walmart-exclusive Lindor assortment:

• The 8.7-ounce bag of Lindt Lindor Dessert Assorted Chocolate Candy Truffles is selling online for $10.97 at Walmart.com.
• The three-flavor assortment features Tiramisu, Cheesecake, and Double Chocolate Candy.
• Bags contain 20 pieces.
• Each truffle has 75 calories, and Lindor recommends two truffles as a serving.

In addition to the Tiramisu Milk Chocolate flavor being a Walmart exclusive, the White Chocolate with Cheesecake flavor has only been sold at Lindt's brick-and-mortar and online stores.

ALSO READ: Walmart unveils exclusive, limited-edition Mountain Dew lineup

Lindor killed a popular candy line earlier this year

While LTOs are meant to be available for a short time, then disappear from shelves, permanent products are in steady production unless they get discontinued.

In February, Lindt killed a product line that was popular with vegan customers.

"Lindt is discontinuing its oat milk truffles at some point in the future (no official date yet), so if they're your favorite, now might be the time to stock up. The good news? The oat milk chocolate bars aren't going anywhere - they'll still be on shelves," Veg News reported.

Lindor did not share an official statement on the end of its Non-Dairy Oatmilk Candy Truffles, but its website does show them out of stock.

LTOs drive the candy business

If you visit a Walmart, a Target, or really any grocery chain, you may notice that on Dec. 26, they begin putting away the Christmas candy and replacing it with Valentine's Day products. My local Target actually started the swap on Valentine's Day, while also offering some discounted items for people who waited to shop on the actual holiday.

"It's a planned strategy to make the most of each season," according to Snackfood and Wholesale Bakery.

Candy companies rely on limited-time offers and seasonal products because scarcity and novelty drive impulse buying, while short production runs create repeated bursts of demand tied to holidays and promotions.

Seasonal sales account for 28% of annual candy category sales in food, drug, and mass merchandise stores, according to Circana.

And while consumers struggle with the challenging economy, candy can be an affordable indulgence for many.

"While consumers are facing budgetary pressures, candy and snacks remain an affordable way to bring joy to cultural celebrations with loved ones. Valentine's Day category sales increased approximately 3.5%, with Hershey gaining nearly 25 basis points of seasonal share. Easter consumer participation was in line with last year, and sell-through exceeded our expectations," Hershey CEO Kirk Tanner shared during the company's first-quarter 2026 earnings call.

Related: 81-year-old Foot Locker rival shutting down nearly 200 stores

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This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 5:37 PM.