Leftovers is our look at a few of the product ideas popping up everywhere. Some are intriguing, some sound amazing and some are the kinds of ideas we would never dream of. We can’t write about everything that we get pitched, so here are some leftovers pulled from our inboxes.
Doritos pours on the ketchup and mustard
As classic condiments go, it’s hard to beat ketchup and mustard. Frito-Lay is taking advantage of the toppings’ widespread popularity with two limited-time-only Doritos flavors, sold exclusively through its Snacks.com DTC site.
Doritos Ketchup offers the tangy and subtly sweet taste of the tomato-based topping. The flavor is making its U.S. debut after a similar variety became a bestseller in Canada. And Doritos Spicy Mustard takes its flavor cues from Chinese hot mustard for a bold and spicy effect.
As flavors go, ketchup and mustard may seem a little tame by Doritos standards. The tortilla chip snack has launched more than 100 varieties, including limited-time flavors like Mountain Dew and Late-Night Cheeseburger. The brand is also no stranger to condiments, having launched flavors inspired by Tapatio hot sauce and even a shrimp mayonnaise variety offered as an LTO in Japan.
But ketchup is a safe bet, with the vast majority of U.S. households likely having a bottle in the fridge or kitchen cabinet. Other snack makers has tapped it as a potato chip flavor, including Lay’s and Herr’s. Doritos is a bit more of an outlier with its use of Chinese hot mustard, although it has briefly appeared as a flavor for snacks like potato chips and wonton chips.
Next, Frito-Lay might want to explore the potential of a mayonnaise-flavored Dorito for the U.S. market. Sales of the egg-based condiment dwarf those of ketchup in this country, according to Statista. Or if that’s too rich for American tastes, perhaps a flavor inspired by the mayo-ketchup blends popping up on shelves from manufacturers such as Kraft Heinz could do the trick?
— Samantha Oller
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Courtesy of Krispy Kreme
Unilever melts for Popsicle-inspired doughnut flavors
Unilever has found a way to keep your popsicle from melting in the summer heat thanks to the help of an unlikely ally: the doughnut.
The CPG company is teaming up with Krispy Kreme to make three limited-time doughnuts inspired by its Popsicle and Good Humor brands. The Popsicle Firecracker is an original Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut with icing inspired by the popsicle, dipped in blue raspberry sugar, then topped with dollops of flavored Kreme.
The Vanilla King Cone is filled with vanilla custard Kreme, dipped in chocolate icing and topped with a blend of sugar cone pieces and chopped peanuts with a drizzle of chocolate icing. And the Creamsicle is filled with vanilla custard Kreme, with icing inspired by Creamsicle and topped with a drizzle of white icing and mini sprinkles.
“Should a doughnut really taste like a Creamsicle? Yes. Yes it should,” Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme’s global chief brand officer, said in a statement. “And we didn’t stop there as we doughnutized some of America’s favorite frozen treats this summer.”
A frozen beverage inspired by the Creamsicle also will be available.
Krispy Kreme is no stranger to new and novel doughnut offerings that tap into the recognition of another brand. Earlier this year, the company partnered with Mars Wrigley’s Twix and General Mills’ Cinnamon Toast Crunch for treats inspired by the popular candy and cereal.
For Popsicle, already one of the most popular frozen novelty brands in the U.S, the doughnuts are another way for Unilever to drive customer awareness to the treat outside of the frozen aisle. During the 12 weeks ending Feb. 21, 2021, the Popsicle was the fourth-biggest frozen novelty brand behind private label, generating $42 million in sales, according to data from Statista.
— Christopher Doering
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Courtesy of MariMed
I scream, you scream, we all scream for cannabis
While many edible cannabis consumers are used to getting their fix through treats like candies or baked goods, two companies are bringing it to a popular frozen dessert.
Cannabis producer MariMed and Boston-based ice cream brand Emack & Bolio’s have launched a line of ice cream infused with THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana. The ice cream contains 20 milligrams of THC per 8-ounce container, made with MariMed’s full-spectrum oils. The first two flavors available, Cup O’ Coffee Chip and Chocolate Sunny Days, are vegan and are currently available at a MariMed dispensary in Middleborough, Massachusetts.
The treats will not be exclusively vegan, however. MariMed said that dairy offerings will also be sold at a later date, and it is planning additional flavors and availability beyond Massachusetts in the coming months. While the first two flavors are available in 8-ounce containers, the companies plan to debut a 16-ounce size, according to Dairy Reporter.
“Working on this collaborative project of perfecting our vegan and dairy ice creams with cannabis has been so much fun. Lots of testing and of course tasting,” said Bob Rook, CEO of Emack & Bolio, in a statement. “Finally, a clean ingredient, great tasting product that’s chill.”
While relatively novel, MariMed and Emack & Bolio’s treats are not the first to fuse cannabis and creamy desserts. Chicago-based brand Jane and Mary’s sells ice cream containing either 150 milligrams of THC or 50 milligrams of CBD per 8 ounces. Cloud Creamery, based in Massachusetts, sells ice cream flavors like Tanzanian Vanilla and Orange Whip that contain 5 milligrams of THC.
Despite the murky federal regulatory status, cannabis’ footprint in the food and beverage space has continued to expand. Consumers have been able to indulge in THC- or CBD-infused products like coffee and beef jerky, among countless others. The cannabis-infused foods market is expected to reach $6 billion by 2025, according to data from cannabis research firm BDSA.
— Chris Casey
