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.
New truffles from Entenmann’s take the cake
Entenmann’s is hoping to make a big splash by thinking small.
The Bimbo Bakeries-owned sweet baked goods brand launched Entenmann’s Cake Truffles, which it describes as “the ultimate lavish taste experience to elevate everyday moments.” Part cake, part confection, these treats are essentially candy-coated bite-sized cakes made to give consumers a bit of sweet indulgence in their day.
The cakes come in Chocolate Delight and Cookies & Crème varieties. The Chocolate Delight variety features chocolate cake with a chocolate coating, while Cookies & Crème is chocolate cake with white chocolate morsels with a chocolate coating. They are available at some retailers.
Entenmann’s, known for its crumb cakes, donuts and pastries, is positioning the Cake Truffles as a big indulgence in a small package.
“We know our fans deserve to take a break from the mundane and treat themselves with these irresistibly indulgent treasures,” Catherine Danielowich, senior brand manager, said in a statement.
Entenmann’s has long been a name consumers turn to for indulgences. The company got its start in New York City in 1898. It was a popular city bakery before pivoting to become a nationwide grocery store favorite. According to The Business of Business, even Frank Sinatra was a fan, buying a crumb cake every week.
But while the company has stayed true to its roots and worked hard to achieve consistency for all its products, it’s also worked hard to innovate. The company has made snack-sized versions of its treats including donuts, pies and muffins that are both portable and easy to enjoy at different times of the day. The bakery’s Minis Sprinkled Iced Brownies won the 2022 People’s Food Award for “Best Snack Cakes.”
Cake Truffles are aimed at a much different audience. They’re like cake pops — the viral 2010s baked treat on a stick — but without a stick. They’re also more fun than a chocolate truffle. In addition, Entenmann’s truffles are wrapped in pairs, making them easy to carry so consumers can indulge anywhere.
—Megan Poinski
Optional Caption
Courtesy of Kellogg
Kellogg unwraps a chilly surprise with Elf on the Shelf cereal
Kellogg is sending the cereal aisle into a deep freeze with its latest seasonal launch.
The CPG giant is unwrapping Elf on the Shelf North Pole Snow Creme Cereal, its first-ever breakfast offering that Kellogg claims cools a person’s mouth as it’s consumed.
The cereal, which mixes frosted star pieces and mini marshmallows, includes a “special, slow-release flavor ingredient that awakens the senses” and creates a “unique experience like you just took a bite out of a fresh made snowball.” The limited-edition item is available exclusively at Walmart for a suggested retail price of $5.29 for a 12.2-ounce box.
“With this new cooling cereal, we’ve dreamt up one more way families can bring the wonder of the season home, this time with a cereal that’s just as delicious as it is magical,” Sadie Garcia, director of brand marketing at Kellogg, said in a statement.
Kellogg is no stranger to the holiday magic of Elf of the Shelf, a franchise that started out as a children’s book 17 years ago. The Michigan-based company has previously released Elf on the Shelf Hot Cocoa and Sugar Cookie cereals, as well as a range of snacks.
The holidays are a lucrative time for food manufacturers, and it’s no surprise nearly all of them go to great lengths to capitalize on it through new product launches or by simply refreshing a classic treat, like Hershey with its Reese’s holiday trees or Mondelēz International’s Oreos decorated with snowflakes or mittens.
For kids infatuated by the Elf on the Shelf and a bowl of sugary cereal in the morning, Kellogg’s latest offering just might be a great gift to unwrap this year.
— Christopher Doering
Optional Caption
Courtesy of Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada puts hops in the deep freeze
Sierra Nevada has got the chills with its latest beer.
The brewer said its Cryo Fresh Torpedo beer uses hops exposed to an all-new cryogenic preserving technique soon after they are harvested. Stored at subzero temperatures, the hops provide field freshness anytime. Wet hops are the most intense right when they’re picked.
The process, the brand said, ensures the “most powerful hop flavor is always within reach” beyond the fall season when the crop is harvested.
“This is the closest you can get to walking the fields, picking a hop, and rubbing it in your hands and smelling it,” said Sean Lavery with Sierra Nevada Technical Innovation & Brewing.
Cryo Fresh Torpedo beer is rich in flavor, delivering extreme notes of passion fruit, citrus and harvest magic, Sierra Nevada noted. The limited-edition IPA is available as part of a Hoppy Sampler Pack from Sierra Nevada for a suggested retail price of $18.99.
The use of cryogenics — exposing items to super-cold temperatures of around minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit through materials including liquid nitrogen — is not uncommon in the food space due largely to Dippin’ Dots. Curt Jones, who founded the ice cream brand, has since used the technique for coffee at a new company called 40 Below.
— Christopher Doering
