Panda Fluff, the UK’s fastest-growing candy floss vending business, is championing the creation of a candy floss emoji, celebrating 120 years of the nostalgic sweet treat. The campaign seeks to gather public support ahead of International Candy Floss Day on 7 December and will culminate in an official emoji application to the Unicode Consortium, the global body that manages emojis for smartphones.
Currently, there are 3,790 emojis available on digital devices, yet none represent one of the world’s most iconic and beloved sweet snacks: candy floss. With an estimated 10 billion emojis shared daily, Panda Fluff’s campaign seeks to fill a sweet gap by introducing a candy floss icon that symbolises not only the treat itself but also the memories associated with funfairs, theme parks, days at the beach, school fetes, and childhood in general.
“Candy floss is more popular than ever, especially with the younger generation, thanks to new flavours, innovative designs, and advances in candy floss-making technology,” said Kelly Poon, founder of Panda Fluff. “With candy floss celebrating its 120th birthday, we think it’s high time for a candy floss emoji to be added. This will enable people to share their love of this iconic sweet treat and evoke nostalgic memories of fairs, family outings, and special occasions.”
The resurgence of candy floss is driven by inventive production techniques and the customisation trend. Modern machines can produce over 100 styles of candy floss, including heart shapes and floral patterns, as well as new fruit-inspired flavours and toppings.
As part of the campaign, Panda Fluff will unveil a shortlist of emoji designs in early 2025, allowing staff and social media followers to vote for their favourite. The winning design will then be submitted to Unicode alongside Panda Fluff’s case for why a candy floss emoji deserves a place in the official emoji library.
A Nostalgic Treat Entering the Digital Age
Machine-spun candy floss was first showcased at the 1904 World’s Fair by American dentist William Morrison and confectioner John C. Wharton, where it sold an astounding 68,655 boxes. Known initially as “Fairy Floss,” this iconic sweet has been enjoyed for generations and remains a beloved fairground classic in the UK, evoking fond memories for tens of thousands of Brits.
Since launching in 2023, Panda Fluff has secured 30 locations across the UK and Europe, including popular destinations such as Haven Holidays, Moto Services, and various theme parks. Customers can now enjoy fresh candy floss within 90 seconds at Panda Fluff vending machines, selecting from six natural fruit flavours and two toppings to create a personalised treat.
Follow Panda Fluff’s social media channels to stay updated on the candy floss emoji campaign:
- Instagram: @pandafluffcandy
- TikTok: @pandafluffcandy
For more information on Panda Fluff and its high-tech vending machines, visit www.pandafluff.com.