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.
Icee puts the chill on Ghostbusters
Frozen beverage maker Icee is turning to a movie classic for its latest release.
The brand’s new Mischievous Mini-Puft Icee flavor combines the sweet hint of vanilla found in a classic, fluffy marshmallow, with the offering’s signature carbonated frozen beverage. It is one of the brand’s newest limited-time flavors available nationwide at select Icee and Slush Puppie retailers through May.
“We are excited to bring the fun of Ghostbusters to life,” Kimmra Hingher, vice president of marketing for The Icee Company, said in a statement. “Mischievous Mini-Puft is a completely new flavor profile for us, so fans of all ages can let the kid out with this playful addition.”
The Ghostbusters lineup of Icee flavors also includes reimagined fan-favorite flavors Boo Raspberry and Red-1/Cherry-1, and tangy Slimer’s Back. The launch coincides with the latest film in the franchise, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, which opens in theaters this weekend.
Each year, Icee aims to release at least two limited-time flavors.
In addition to Mischievous Mini-Puft, Hingher told Food Dive in an email it also will soon introduce a Froot Loops flavor in collaboration with WK Kellogg Co. The fruity flavor will be available nationwide in time for summer and provide a new way to bring “two beloved brands together for a nostalgic flavor showcased in a refreshing new way.”
Limited-time flavors have proven to be an increasingly popular way for companies to conjure up interest and discussion in their products, particularly among younger consumers active on social media.
Since Icee was founded in 1967, there have been more than 150 flavors of the carbonated beverage. According to the brand, which is owned by Dippin’ Dots and SuperPretzel owner J&J Snack Foods, about 30 flavors are in rotation at any given time, with Blue Raspberry and Cherry as lineup staples.
— Christopher Doering
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Permission granted by Bob’s Red Mill
Bob’s Red Mill launches a shortcut to homemade bakes
Bob’s Red Mill’s key to growth since its founding has been through innovation, and the flour maker just launched a new bevy of baking mixes that help creative home bakers express themselves.
Bob’s Signature Blends Baking Mixes are made with a blend of Bob’s Red Mill’s premium flours, and aim to make homemade bakes closer to “perfection,” the company said.
“These mixes empower home bakers to easily create homemade-tasting baked goods without compromising on flavor, texture or quality,” said Blake Issac, Director of Innovation Marketing at Bob’s Red Mill.
The new blend offerings come in four varieties — Fudgy Brownie, Golden Cornbread, Classic Yellow, and Decadent Chocolate. They are designed to be able to be morphed into any type of cake, bread or cupcakes, the company said.
When Bob Moore and his wife Charlee founded the company back in 1978, their focus was on making wholesome whole-grain ingredients available to the masses. The company — which is 100% employee-owned — has leveraged a lot of its marketing on the personality of Moore, who recently died in his Milwaukie, Oregon home at the age of 94.
At the start of last year, the company hired Porter Long, a veteran of Chobani where he had a big influence in the “Flip program,” to lead research and development for the yogurt maker.
Bob’s Red Mill has recently benefited from the shift in consumer demand of whole ingredients over processed foods, especially grains.
The company has a gamut of product lines including pie crusts, soup mixes and mueslis. Some of its other most recent offerings include peanut butter granola and flavored instant oatmeal packets.
— Elizabeth Flood
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Courtesy of MariMed
MariMed combats thirst and focus using cannabis, electrolytes
As cannabis-infused beverages and hydration drinks gain steam, one company believes its drink mixes can deliver on the benefits of both.
MariMed has launched a new line of its Vibations drink mixes, which contain both electrolytes and cannabis for a “boost of focus and energy.”
This month, the brand rolled out a variety of new flavors with different functionality needs. Tropical Punch and Lemon Lime — the latter of which contains no sugar — are infused with THCV, an energizing cannabinoid, the brand said. The draw of THCV over THC is the lack of psychoactive effects when consumed in low doses, meaning it will not induce as much of a high.
Berry Chamomile Tea, which also has no sugar, contains cannabinoid CBN, which promotes restfulness for better sleep, Marimed said.
The new flavors join its existing lineup : Strawberry Lemonade, Peach Tangerine Tea, Iced Tea Lemonade and Pomegranate Blueberry Acai, the latter of which contains no sugar. These offerings also feature guarana, which contains caffeine for an energy boost; the newly launched flavors do not contain the ingredient.
“Our research indicated a fast-growing segment of cannabis consumers who are looking for an infused cannabis beverage product that combines all the benefits of the plant with hydrating electrolytes for added focus and energy,” said Jay O’Malley, MariMed’s vice president of marketing and R&D, in a statement.
In the press release, O’Malley said its new formulas contain a patented technology “enhances bioavailability,” which allows the effects to take hold 15 minutes after consumption.
Hydration mix companies — such as Liquid I.V. and Coca-Cola’s BodyArmour Flash I.V. — are seeing heightened success as more consumers seek to quench their thirst. And in the cannabis space, companies are finding new ways to infuse THC into drinks, like Curaleaf’s Zero Proof Squeeze beverage enhancer. The product launched last year and contains 2.5mg of THC per squeeze.
— Chris Casey
