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.
Cult favorites collide with Hidden Valley Ranch Cheez-Its
There’s no end in sight for ranch flavored food products popping up on shelves. Snack brand Cheez-It is the latest to take advantage of the condiment’s major mainstream moment with its own new flavor launch.
Kellanova latest collaborative product, Cheez-It x Hidden Valley Ranch crackers, will be available for a limited time starting next month. The crackers combine the crunchy cheddar taste of Cheez-It and the zesty kick of Hidden Valley, according to the press release.
The snacking giant saw the collaboration as a no-brainer given the cult following of both Cheez-It and the dressing, according to Cara Tragseiler, the cracker brand’s senior director.
“We’ve seen fans mixing up their own blend of ranch seasoning-dusted Cheez-It crackers on social media, so we knew creating the perfect blend of cheezy and zesty flavors together was essential to satisfying their cravings,” Tragseiler said in a statement.
The cracker collab follows the launch of Cheezy Ranch dressing, the condiment combining the flavor of Cheez-It with Hidden Valley Ranch, which made it onto grocery shelves earlier this year, designed to be paired with salty snacks.
Clorox-owned Hidden Valley Ranch — once seen used only as a salad dressing and vegetable dip — has seen its star rise over the last decade, thanks in part to the launch of eclectic collaborative products. These have included RanchNog egg nog for the holidays and ranch-flavored Burt’s Bees lip balm.
Kellanova, which split off into its own snacking company last fall, is pinning its growth strategy on its biggest snacking brands, including Cheez-It. The company has gotten creative with the brand in recent months, including a collaboration with Taco Bell on cheesy cracker Tostadas, and a regenerative agriculture pilot on farms used to source wheat for the snack.
— Chris Casey
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Courtesy of Crumbl
WK Kellogg Co. collabs with a sweet partner in new launch
WK Kellogg Co. is bringing the indulgent experience of a chocolate chip cookie to the cereal aisle.
The 118-year old storied company that recently split off to focus on cereal, is collaborating with popular dessert franchise Crumbl to debut its cereal offering.
Last October, after Kellogg split up its snacking and cereal operations into Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co.,the company said it was graced with newfound independence in a dwindling category.
“There’s a lot of different areas that we can go to, to enhance the category and enhance our business,” said CEO Gary Pilnick in an interview at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference in Florida. “We just think this is a pretty remarkable category.”
The inspiration behind this iconic partnership came from WK Kellogg Co’s commitment to providing consumers with innovative flavor experiences in the cereal aisle, the companies said.
“This partnership between Crumbl and Kellogg’s represents a fusion of two brands known for their dedication to delivering exceptional food experiences,” said Sawyer Hemsely, founder at Crumbl Cookies. “Whether enjoyed for breakfast, as a snack, or as an indulgent treat, Kellogg’s Crumbl Chocolately Chip Cereal aims to delight consumers with its irresistible flavor profile.”
The cereal was developed through a combined effort between Crumbl’s menu and R&D team alongside WK Kellogg Co’s product developers.
The cereal is expected to be introduced nationwide this summer, with availability varying across select retailers.
The cereal category has faced challenges in recent years, with more consumers looking to cut back on added sugars and carbohydrates, two attributes that the space has been associated with.
The company has also debuted new better-for-you offerings this year with the brand Eat Your Mouth Off, a vegan offering with 22 grams of protein and zero grams of sugar.
— Elizabeth Flood
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Courtesy of Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream
Drumstick hits a new beat with a Slurpee collaboration
Drumstick and 7-Eleven are shaking up the summer with a hot new treat.
The ice cream cone maker is partnering with the world’s largest convenience store chain to introduce a Drumstick Slurpee Blue Raspberry Vanilla Cone that packs a tart-flavored punch.
The Drumstick Slurpee Cone reportedly has the fan-favorite elements of the Drumstick King Size cone: a creamy and smooth signature vanilla ice cream, a crispy cone and a delicious chocolatey nugget. But the innovation, inspired by 7-Eleven’s Slurpee drink, takes it to the next level by including a vibrant blue raspberry layer topped with delicious blue razz sauce ripples and candy bits.
“We couldn’t be more excited to team up with 7-Eleven to introduce this one-of-a-kind and mouthwateringly delicious snack to our fans,” Kerry Hopkins, Drumstick’s marketing director, said in a statement. “Because, let’s face it, summer is all about embracing the unexpected, and what better way to do so than with a limited-edition collaboration that promises to delight and surprise with every bite?”
The Drumstick Slurpee Cone will be exclusively available at 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes stores nationwide.
The collaboration between Drumstick and 7-Eleven is the latest to infiltrate the growing ice cream category.
Last year, premium ice cream brand Van Leeuwen debuted a new savory-sweet flavor after partnering with ranch brand Hidden Valley. And in May, Molson Coors’ Blue Moon joined with Rawlings on Blue Moon Home Run Twist, a 2% alcohol by volume ice cream that combines the citrusy flavor of Blue Moon’s iconic Valencia Orange peel with Madagascar vanilla.
The new and novel flavors come as ice cream sales are heating up. Fortune Business Insights estimates the global ice cream market will climb to $132 billion by 2032 compared to $76 billion a year ago, a compound annual growth rate of 6.7% during the period.
— Christopher Doering
