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.
Snoop Loopz: cereal doggystyle
Rap icon and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg promises his newest food offering is “the best tasting cereal in the game.”
The rapper announced plans to debut Snoop Loopz cereal on social media this week. While Snoop Dogg shared few details on the product, pictures of the packaging show a cereal similar in appearance to Kellogg’s Froot Loops, with claims that it is gluten-free and contains vitamin D, whole grains and fiber. In an Instagram post, Snoop Dogg described the cereal, which does not have a launch date, as “Berry delicious Fo Shizzle!”
Snoop Loopz also claims to contain “More Marshmallows,” which elicited a puzzled response on social media. Musician Jack White took to Instagram to ponder what it could mean, asking “More than what? if this is in fact a brand new cereal, it can’t be more marshmallows than “before.”
The cereal is the latest product from Broadus Foods — Snoop Dogg’s joint venture with fellow rapper Master P — named after Snoop himself, whose real name is Calvin Broadus. According to its website, Broadus Foods aims to support charities like A Door Of Hope that work to feed people experiencing homelessness. The brand also said Snoop Loopz helps to support more diversity in the breakfast foods space. Other products in Broadus Foods’ portfolio include Momma Snoop’s pancake mixes, maple syrup, grits and oatmeal.
While many celebrities make occasional contributions to the food space, Snoop Dogg has made it a top priority. In 2020, he launched Indoggo gin, made with celebrity spirits brand Trusted Spirits, that features seven premium botanicals. He also collaborated with Treasury Wine Estates’ 19 Crimes on a line of wines. And he hosts a cooking competition show with best friend Martha Stewart, which has aired three seasons on VH1.
Snoop Dogg’s star power can bring a recognizable name and fresh entrant to the cereal space, which is still dominated by large CPGs like Kellogg, General Mills and Post. The category has evolved in recent years as cereal gains popularity as a snack food.
— Chris Casey
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Courtesy of Molson Coors
Miller High Life puts the beloved dive bar on ice
Miller High Life is raising a toast to the dive bar through ice cream.
The Molson Coors-owned brand is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the ice cream bar by partnering with Tipsy Scoop to create a treat with many of the best parts of the venue.
Each Ice Cream Dive Bar is infused with High Life, a peanut swirl to bring the saltiness of the quintessential dive bar snack, a hint of tobacco smoke flavor reminiscent of that “unforgettable dive bar scent” and gooey caramel swirl to incorporate the distinct sticky floor feeling.
In addition, the ice cream has a carbonated candy to provide the iconic Champagne of Beers bubbles in every bite and a dark chocolate coating to evoke the dark wood and dim lighting ambiance. The treats are available online, with a six-pack costing $36.
“We loved putting our own unique twist on this classic treat,” Bob Vydra, media manager at Molson Coors, said in an email. “These Ice Cream Dive Bars are a great incentive to try Miller High Life, whether that’s in ice cream form, or straight up as the Champagne of Beers.”
The frozen offering comes after what appears to be a strong period for the nearly 120-year-old brand. The beer posted record sales during the month of June, its CEO told analysts earlier this month.
The Miller High Life dive bar is not the only example of a CPG taking its food or beverage item into the frozen space.
Kraft Heinz has partnered on Kraft Macaroni & Cheese ice cream, as well as Grey Poupon ice cream, while McCormick & Co. worked on a similar offering with its French’s mustard. Even Ace Hardware got in on the act earlier this summer with ice cream pints inspired by Benjamin Moore paint cans to celebrate National Ice Cream Day.
— Christopher Doering
Courtesy of Dave’s Gourmet
Dave’s Gourmet makes a TikTok trend pretty and pink
A new partnership is making a viral TikTok trend tickled pink.
Sauce maker Dave’s Gourmet is making a commercial version of TikTok influencer Chef Pii’s Pink Sauce. The bright pink condiment, which Pii — who goes by her screen name, but has been identified in some media stories as Carly Pii — has slathered on chicken fingers, tacos, pasta and vegetables, became a viral trend. Videos watched by hundreds of thousands of people showed Pii covering various food items in the sauce, then eating them.
On her social media feeds, the Florida-based private chef gave no indication of what the sauce tasted like, and its ingredient mix is somewhat of a mystery — though one post indicates it’s made with dragon fruit, sunflower seed oil, garlic, honey and chili.
But the Internet was curious, so some followers bought the sauce when Pii started selling it on a website — made without an inspected food manufacturing facility, quality-controlled ingredients or industry-standard packaging procedures. The Nutrition Facts panel was full of typos and errors. And once the sauce started shipping, it blew up — literally. The online conversation turned from people wondering what Pink Sauce could be made of to people warning against buying the condiment.
Dave’s Gourmet, which has been in the condiments business for more than three decades, saw an opening. In a release, the company said that Pii’s “lack of commercial food production knowledge led to significant obstacles, and she had to pause the production leaving throngs of customers waiting for their product with no immediate solution to satisfy the overwhelming demand for this unique product.”
Company President David Neuman said in a statement that in less than a week, the company was able to reformulate Pii’s Pink Sauce to match the original color and flavor profile, as well as become less complicated, dairy free, and with no artificial colors or flavors. Its Pink Sauce is a shelf-stable version of what Pii made at home and showed off on social media, and it will be available in restaurants and stores in the near future, the company said.
TikTok’s short videos can make a huge impact on what people eat and drink. As of last September, the video app had more than 1 billion users worldwide. Estimates indicate there are more than 138 million users in the U.S. alone. And videos showing food and recipes — from last year’s viral baked feta pasta to this summer’s cloud bread — garner a lot of attention.
Pii’s Pink Sauce has some qualities to attract viral attention on the app. It looks unconventional. Pii’s videos show her enthusiastically enjoying it. And it’s rather mysterious. What does it taste like? When Dave’s Gourmet’s version hits shelves and menus, consumers will know. Until then, everyone will have to just use their imagination to think pink.
— Megan Poinski
