{"title":"Shades by Niko","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout Shades by Niko\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShades by Niko is a British vegan sweet brand created by YouTuber and content creator Niko Omilana, launched in May 2025. The brand is named after Niko's signature children's sunglasses, which became part of his public persona during his 2021 London mayoral campaign. The sweets themselves are shaped like sunglasses in a deliberate visual nod to that campaign. The brand launched into Sainsbury's, Co-op, WH Smith Travel and Booker through wholesale partner Hancocks, and has since expanded into specialist sweet retail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNiko's audience skews predominantly Gen Z and male (around 90% male per The Grocer's launch coverage), and the brand has been built specifically to serve a sweet-buying demographic that's been underserved by traditional confectionery: viewers who keep Halal, who eat vegan, who avoid gluten, or who simply want a less-cynical sweet brand than the legacy options. The product has held its momentum well past the typical influencer-launch cycle, which is unusual for celebrity sweet brands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe four-way dietary credentials\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the strongest reason to buy Shades by Niko, and the reason the brand has built genuine staying power rather than just initial influencer-driven demand. The recipe is simultaneously:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHalal certified\u003c\/strong\u003e: no pork-derived ingredients, no alcohol, no animal-derived emulsifiers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVegan\u003c\/strong\u003e: no gelatine, no dairy, no honey, no insect-derived colours\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGluten-free\u003c\/strong\u003e: no wheat, barley or rye in the recipe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDairy-free\u003c\/strong\u003e: no milk-derived ingredients\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUK sweet brands that hit all four of these certifications at once are genuinely rare. Most \"vegan\" brands aren't formally Halal certified. Most Halal sweets contain dairy or aren't vegan. Most gluten-free sweets aren't vegan or Halal. Shades by Niko is one of the cleanest options in the category for shoppers who need to satisfy multiple dietary requirements at once, and the recipe achieves this without the artificial colours, flavours or emulsifiers that typically prop up dietary-restricted confectionery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor colour, the brand uses real fruit and plant concentrates: \u003cem\u003eblack carrot, radish, apple, sweet potato, blackcurrant and spirulina\u003c\/em\u003e. This is unusual at this price point and is part of what gives the sweets their distinctive bright-but-natural appearance compared to standard supermarket gummies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe four flavours we stock\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll four are 150g sealed bags at £1.99. Each pack contains sunglasses-shaped foam-jelly sweets, soft and chewy texture, made by the same factory partner across the range so the texture is consistent flavour-to-flavour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"el-table-wrap\"\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eFlavour\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eProfile\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eBest for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/shades-by-niko-the-originals\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Originals\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMixed fruit, the launch flavour. Bright fruity blend covering apple, blackcurrant, citrus and tropical notes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFirst-time buyers, anyone wanting to try the brand without committing to a single flavour\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/shades-by-niko-straight-up-strawberry\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStraight Up Strawberry\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSingle-flavour bag, all-strawberry, sweet rather than tart\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStrawberry candy fans and shoppers who pick the strawberry ones out of every mixed bag\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/shades-by-niko-tropical-blast\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTropical Blast\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTropical fruit blend including mango, pineapple and passion fruit notes. The most vibrant flavour profile in the range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAnyone bored of standard berry-and-citrus gummy mixes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/shades-by-niko-sour-ultimate-vibes\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSour Ultimate Vibes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSour-coated foam-jellies with an extra tang. The most recently launched flavour and the brand's tartest\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSour candy fans and Sour Patch Kids loyalists looking for a Halal-vegan equivalent\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eIngredients and allergens\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStandard ingredient list for The Originals 150g, taken from the back of the bag:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSugar, Glucose Syrup, Modified Starch, Dextrose, Acids (Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid), Potato Protein, Colouring Fruit and Plant Concentrates (Black Carrot, Radish, Apple, Sweet Potato, Blackcurrant), Natural Flavourings, Acidity Regulator (Calcium Carbonate), Colouring Spirulina Concentrate, Glazing Agent (Carnauba Wax).\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAllergen warning: \u003cstrong\u003emay contain traces of milk\u003c\/strong\u003e due to shared facility production, although milk is not a direct ingredient. The recipe is otherwise free from the major UK allergens (no wheat, no eggs, no nuts, no soya, no sesame as direct ingredients). Always check the back of the individual bag for the most current allergen and dietary information.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNone of the colours used in the Shades by Niko recipe trigger the UK hyperactivity warning, because the brand uses real fruit and plant concentrates rather than the synthetic E102, E110 and E129 colours that appear in most American imported confectionery. This is a genuine clean-ingredient advantage compared to brands like \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/nerds\"\u003eNerds\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/sour-patch-kids\"\u003eSour Patch Kids\u003c\/a\u003e Extreme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho Shades by Niko is for\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHalal households needing vegan or vegetarian sweet options:\u003c\/strong\u003e the chewy candy aisle is a tricky place to shop if you need both Halal and vegan. Most Halal sweets contain dairy. Most vegan sweets aren't Halal certified. Shades is one of very few brands that hits both at once.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoeliac and gluten-avoidant shoppers:\u003c\/strong\u003e the recipe is gluten-free as a core formulation, and the natural ingredient base means there's no compromise on taste compared to standard supermarket gummies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNiko Omilana's audience:\u003c\/strong\u003e if you've watched Niko's content on YouTube and want to support the brand, this is the original product range. The brand has held genuine momentum past the initial launch cycle, which is unusual for influencer confectionery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eParents looking for cleaner-ingredient sweets:\u003c\/strong\u003e the colours come from real fruit and plant concentrates rather than the synthetic E-numbers that trigger UK hyperactivity warnings. For parents who actively avoid those colours, Shades is a meaningful upgrade on standard gummy options.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePick-and-mix builders:\u003c\/strong\u003e works alongside \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/sour-patch-kids\"\u003eSour Patch Kids\u003c\/a\u003e (also gelatine-free) and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/biscella\"\u003eBiscella mini biscuits\u003c\/a\u003e (Halal certified) for a genuinely vegan-and-Halal-friendly selection. Most of our other American imports contain gelatine or non-Halal ingredients, which the FAQ flags clearly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBuy Shades by Niko sweets online in the UK\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll four flavours are stocked in the standard 150g bag format at \u003cstrong\u003e£1.99 per bag\u003c\/strong\u003e. Build the basket past £20 across our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/snacks\"\u003esnacks range\u003c\/a\u003e for free UK delivery, ten bags is £19.90, so add anything else from the snacks collection to push the basket over and qualify. Orders placed before our daily cut-off ship the same working day. The brand has occasional supermarket distribution at Sainsbury's, Co-op and WH Smith Travel, but the Sour Ultimate Vibes flavour in particular is rarely on supermarket shelves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eShades by Niko UK: frequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 itemprop=\"name\"\u003eAre Shades by Niko sweets Halal?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cp itemprop=\"text\"\u003eYes. All four Shades by Niko flavours are Halal certified. The recipe contains no pork-derived ingredients, no alcohol, no gelatine and no animal-derived emulsifiers. The certification is reflected on the packaging. The brand was specifically designed to be Halal-friendly from launch, and Halal compliance is a core part of the product's positioning rather than a retroactive certification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 itemprop=\"name\"\u003eAre Shades by Niko sweets vegan?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cp itemprop=\"text\"\u003eYes. All four Shades by Niko flavours are 100% vegan. The recipe uses modified starch and potato protein for texture (no gelatine), real fruit and plant concentrates for colour (no carmine, no insect-derived colours), and contains no dairy, eggs, honey or any other animal-derived ingredients. The carnauba wax glazing agent is plant-derived, sourced from the leaves of the carnauba palm. The \"may contain traces of milk\" allergen warning relates to shared production facilities rather than the recipe itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 itemprop=\"name\"\u003eAre Shades by Niko sweets gluten-free?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cp itemprop=\"text\"\u003eYes. All four Shades by Niko flavours are gluten-free as a core recipe formulation. The ingredient list contains no wheat, barley, rye or other gluten-bearing grains. The \"modified starch\" used as the texture agent is derived from non-gluten sources. If formal gluten-free certification is required for medical reasons, contact Shades by Niko directly to confirm batch-level compliance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 itemprop=\"name\"\u003eWho is Niko Omilana?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cp itemprop=\"text\"\u003eNiko Omilana is a British YouTuber and content creator with over 7 million subscribers, best known for prank videos, social experiments and the \"King of the Internet\" series. He stood as an independent candidate in the 2021 London mayoral election, finishing in fifth place with over 49,000 votes, during which he campaigned wearing children's sunglasses, a visual trademark that became the inspiration for the Shades by Niko sweet brand. He launched Shades in May 2025 as a Halal and vegan-certified British confectionery brand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 itemprop=\"name\"\u003eWhat flavours of Shades by Niko are there?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cp itemprop=\"text\"\u003eFour flavours are currently in the range: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/shades-by-niko-the-originals\"\u003eThe Originals\u003c\/a\u003e (mixed fruit, the launch flavour), \u003ca href=\"\/products\/shades-by-niko-straight-up-strawberry\"\u003eStraight Up Strawberry\u003c\/a\u003e (single-flavour strawberry), \u003ca href=\"\/products\/shades-by-niko-tropical-blast\"\u003eTropical Blast\u003c\/a\u003e (mango, pineapple, passion fruit notes), and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/shades-by-niko-sour-ultimate-vibes\"\u003eSour Ultimate Vibes\u003c\/a\u003e (sour-coated, the brand's tartest flavour and the most recent addition). All four are sold in 150g sealed bags and all four follow the same vegan, Halal, gluten-free, dairy-free recipe formulation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 itemprop=\"name\"\u003eWhere else can I buy Shades by Niko in the UK?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cp itemprop=\"text\"\u003eShades by Niko launched into Sainsbury's, Co-op, WH Smith Travel and Booker through wholesale partner Hancocks in May 2025, and has since expanded into other UK convenience and online retail. Stock varies by store and by flavour, the Sour Ultimate Vibes in particular is less consistently available on supermarket shelves than The Originals and the single-flavour bags. Online specialist sweet retailers tend to stock the full four-flavour range more reliably than supermarket distribution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"shades-by-niko","title":"Shades by Niko","description":"","brand":"Shades by Niko","offers":[{"title":"The Originals","offer_id":55540158169473,"sku":"SBNTO1TOB2C-C","price":1.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Straight Up Strawberry","offer_id":55540168720769,"sku":"SBNSUS1SUSB2C-C","price":1.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tropical Blast","offer_id":55540168753537,"sku":"SBNTB1TBB2C-C","price":1.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Sour Ultimate Vibes","offer_id":55540168786305,"sku":"SHNKOSUVB2C-C","price":1.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0573\/7123\/0302\/files\/Shades_The_Originals_150g.jpg?v=1776424038"},{"product_id":"shades-by-niko-sour-ultimate-vibes","title":"Shades by Niko Sour Ultimate Vibes","description":"","brand":"Shades by Niko","offers":[{"title":"Sour Ultimate Vibes","offer_id":55628448006529,"sku":"SHNKOSUVB2C-C","price":1.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0573\/7123\/0302\/files\/shades-by-niko-sour-ultimate-vibes.jpg?v=1777977866"},{"product_id":"shades-by-niko-straight-up-strawberry","title":"Shades by Niko Straight Up Strawberry","description":"","brand":"Shades by Niko","offers":[{"title":"Straight Up Strawberry","offer_id":55628448039297,"sku":"SBNSUS1SUSB2C-C","price":1.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0573\/7123\/0302\/files\/Shades_Straight_Up_Strawberry_150g_b6277235-1db7-4ec4-b7ac-684d51a92785.jpg?v=1777977868"},{"product_id":"shades-by-niko-the-originals","title":"Shades by Niko The Originals","description":"","brand":"Shades by Niko","offers":[{"title":"The Originals","offer_id":55628448072065,"sku":"SBNTO1TOB2C-C","price":1.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0573\/7123\/0302\/files\/Shades_The_Originals_150g_ef2d7520-fb17-4f8c-83aa-452dc13a52d6.jpg?v=1777977872"},{"product_id":"shades-by-niko-tropical-blast","title":"Shades by Niko Tropical Blast","description":"","brand":"Shades by Niko","offers":[{"title":"Tropical Blast","offer_id":55628448235905,"sku":"SBNTB1TBB2C-C","price":1.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0573\/7123\/0302\/files\/Shades_Tropical_Blast_150g_c2a6d9e1-cc3b-4bbc-9272-9c6c022ae527.jpg?v=1777977875"}],"url":"https:\/\/nicpouches.com\/collections\/shades-by-niko.oembed","provider":"Nic Pouches","version":"1.0","type":"link"}