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 York sports meet plant-based beef under Beyond Meat partnership
Home to the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and the Arena Concert Series, Madison Square Garden has been an iconic venue for decades.
Now, the namesake arena will be serving up Beyond Meat plant-based products through a first-of-its-kind partnership, the company announced Thursday.
Featured items at the MSG kiosk will include the Beyond Burger-Broadway Edition, OG Bratwurst Sausage, Spicy “Showtime” Sausage, Empire State of Nachos, Garden State Tacos and Chilli and the City — whose creative names pay homage to many New Jersey and New York native fans.
In fact, select Beyond Meat products will be available at multiple concession stands throughout The Garden, including at Garden Market, making them accessible to the venue’s millions of visitors.
“Beyond Meat’s environmentally-friendly, nutritious products are a perfect match for Madison Square Garden as we continuously strive to deliver a wide array of food and beverage options for our fans – with a focus on sustainability,” said David Hopkinson, president and COO of MSG Sports.
This union could also give Beyond Meat exposure to more consumers, with the company receiving significant brand promotion during Knicks and Rangers games at The Garden, according to the terms of the partnership. Beyond will also partner with the Knicks and Rangers digital teams on two custom original content series.
Though this is the first partnership between the plant-based meat giant and a large venue, Beyond Meat is no stranger to high profile partnerships. It has used backings from high profile celebrities like Kim Kardashian, and designer Sean Wotherspoon to tout the quality of its products.
Quick service restaurants like Bareburger, Peet’s Coffee, and TGI Friday’s regularly feature Beyond products.
Last quarter, Beyond Meat’s revenue was down by almost a third, but the company’s “This Changes Everything” Campaign which launched Oct. 5, according to a statement sent to Food Dive, will “double down on its marketing efforts to educate consumers on the benefits of its products.”
— Elizabeth Flood
Optional Caption
Courtesy of Alter Brewing
When it rains salt it pours Morton craft beer
As brewers in the crowded craft beer industry look for new and novel ways to stand out, one is turning to an ingredient several thousand years old.
Morton Salt is partnering with Alter Brewing to introduce Pure Joy, a limited-edition beer named in honor of Morton Salt’s founder, Joy Morton. Matt McCowan, Alter Brewing’s head brewer, described the new beer as a hazy IPA/Gose blend featuring a sweet and citrusy aroma, a smooth, flavorful and juicy flavor profile, and a noticeable punch of salt.
“We’re very excited to collaborate with Alter Brewing to offer a delicious, refreshing one-of-a-kind beer to toast with our customers,” Kristin Edstrom, senior brand licensing manager for Morton Salt, said in a statement. “Alter Brewing, known for its highly creative and tasteful craft brew selections, has done a great job honoring our rich heritage through their thoughtful creation and brewing of Pure Joy.”
The limited-edition beer is being made to celebrate Morton’s 175th anniversary.
Today, there are more than 9,500 craft breweries across the U.S, nearly double the total from 2015, according to data from the Brewers Association. Craft was responsible for about 25% of the $115 billion beer market in 2022.
The craft beer industry is no stranger to unique and creative partnerships in order to help the popular alcoholic beverage stand out.
Wicked Weed, which is owned by beer giant AB InBev, has partnered with Sheetz to create a limited-edition craft beer using the convenience store chains popular Shweetz Glazed Vanilla Donut Holes.
Oskar Blues partnered with French’s Mustard to create French’s Mustard Beer, brewed with the classic yellow condiment. And Evil Genius Beer partnered last year with fast-food hamburger chain White Castle on a brew celebrating the chain’s hundredth birthday.
— Christopher Doering
Optional Caption
Courtesy of Quaker Chewy Granola
PepsiCo brings granola bars to breakfast with Quaker Chewy cereal
Food and beverage companies like General Mills and Kellanova have brought the flavors of popular snacks into cereal in the past. Now, PepsiCo is delivering an offering inspired by one of the best-selling granola bars in the U.S, according to Statista data.
The CPG giant announced the launch of Quaker Chewy Granola cereal, based on its line of granola bars aimed at children.
The cereal consists of crispy clusters of granola and puffed rice crisps, Quaker Oats said in the press release. The brand touted better-for-you elements the cereal contains, such as 100% whole grains, 5 grams of protein per serving and no artificial flavors. The cereal arrives in two flavors: Strawberry and Chocolate.
“Quaker Chewy has been the go-to snack for parents for decades,” said Katie Scupham, vice president of meal occasions at PepsiCo, in a statement. “With the introduction of Quaker Chewy Granola, we’re thrilled to offer families a new delicious and nutritious option to enjoy at breakfast time.”
It’s not the first Quaker Oats cold cereal product. The brand owns Life cereal, Puffed Granola, Simply Granola and Oatmeal Squares.
The continued success of Quaker Oats products explains PepsiCo’s decision to launch a cereal product as part of the oat snacks brand.
As consumers increasingly look for more nutritional options and dairy alternatives, oat milk and oat flour continue to gain prominence in the food and beverage space. Breakfast staple oatmeal also continues to grow in popularity, thanks to trendy varieties like overnight oats. The oatmeal market was worth is projected to grow to $12.2 billion at a compound annual growth rate of 7% by 2030, according to SkyQuest data.
— Chris Casey
