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.
Philadelphia turns up the heat with Mike’s Hot Honey
Philadelphia is firing up the cream cheese category by teaming up with Mike's Hot Honey for its first sweet heat flavor in the U.S., part of a broader effort by the Kraft Heinz brand to invest in its portfolio.
Philadelphia Mike's Hot Honey Whipped Cream Cheese pairs the creaminess of Philadelphia Whipped with Mike's Hot Honey's signature honey infused with real chili peppers. It is available exclusively at Walmart and will expand to additional retailers in January.
Nearly half of consumers have tried hot honey, according to Datassential, led by millennials and Gen Z. Sweet-and-spicy flavors have surged nearly 230% on menus during the past four years.
Philadelphia is also boosting its portfolio with two more flavors: Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese and Salted Caramel Cream Cheese, inspired by consumers' continued desire for familiar, comforting flavors. Cranberry Orange is available for a limited time, while Salted Caramel is a permanent portfolio addition.
The launch comes as 85% of consumers say familiar flavors influence what they eat and drink, Innova Market Insights data showed. Kraft Heinz said both varieties tap into the comfort and familiarity people desire while bringing new products to cream cheese.
The spreads are designed for use on everything from cinnamon rolls and cookies to salty snacks such as pretzels, Kraft Heinz said. Most recently, Kraft Heinz introduced a lactose-free version of Philadelphia cream cheese, a few years after launching a plant-based spread for vegans.
"Philadelphia has set the cream cheese standard for over 150 years, and staying at the forefront means continuing to evolve with the way people eat and the flavors they crave," Maddy Zingle, vice president of marketing at Philadelphia Cream Cheese, said in a statement. Zingle added that these new products “are proof points in how we're accelerating flavor innovation, with 10 new flavors joining our lineup in the last two years.”
Kraft Heinz’s new CEO Steve Cahillane announced plans last month to increase spending on marketing, sales and research and development to $700 million. The food giant aims to improve “product superiority” in hopes of returning the company to growth.
— Christopher Doering
Old El Paso mixes up Taco Night with broths
Old El Paso is spicing up home cooked meals with new broths and soups.
The Tex-Mex brand is launching its first broths in two flavors: Birria Style Beef, seasoned with chilis, garlic and lime; and Chicken Tinga Style, featuring savory and smoky Tinga-style seasoning.
The 32-ounce broths can add a "punch of spice" to meals such as grains, pastas, ramen, soups, sauces and stews, according to a release. The offerings are gluten free and have no artificial flavors.
"We’re seeing consumers look for more ways to bring the Tex-Mex flavors they love to meals beyond taco night,” Ben Bienert, business unit Director for Old El Paso at General Mills, said in a statement. “That inspired us to think about how Old El Paso could show up in even more cooking occasions..”
Old El Paso is also releasing two soups inspired by tacos and burritos. The Chipotle Steak Burrito Style Soup combines beef, rice, tomatoes and corn, while the Cheesy Beef Taco Style Soup features beef patty crumbles, tomatoes, corn, jalapeño peppers and black beans with cheddar and cream cheese.
General Mills is investing heavily in innovation across its brands to improve the "remarkability" of its products, COO Dana McNabb said earlier this month at a Barclays conference, acknowledging that "our products were just not good enough relative to the competition."
General Mills is renovating many of its brands to expand consumption occasions and focus on trends, including bold flavors and demand for clean labels, executives said at the conference.
– Sarah Zimmerman
Shock Top gets spooked with candy corn beer
Shock Top is collaborating with retail giant Spirit Halloween on a spooky brew.
The Tilray-owned craft beer is adding candy corn flavor to its classic wheat ale. The limited-edition Candy Corn Wheat contains 5% alcohol by volume and is available in six packs.
The brew is positioning itself as the beverage companion to “costume parties, haunted gatherings and celebrating the spooky season.” The collaboration also includes a Spirit Halloween costume that allows fans to dress as the Shock Top logo, which displays a sliced orange with sunglasses and a mohawk.
Candy Corn Wheat will be available at retailers nationwide for between $9.99 and $12.99. The costume, which can be purchased at Spirit stores, retails for $69.99.
“Shock Top is known for celebrating bold flavor, spirited gatherings and moments that catch people by surprise, and there's no better occasion for that than Halloween," Jacob Neilson, senior brand manager at Shock Top, said in a statement. “Partnering with Spirit - the most iconic name in Halloween - gave us the chance to dream up something hauntingly good that celebrates everything fans love about the season.”
Fall is an active season for beer flavor innovation. Oktoberfest and pumpkin-flavored beers proliferate the season, including offerings from Samuel Adams, Schlafly and New Belgium Brewing. The candy corn offering from Shock Top plays into highly flavorful craft beer offerings that have defined the category.
— Laurel Deppen
