Spicy snacks and seasonal sweets are trending in recent product launches.
Kellogg Co. has debuted Pringles Scorchin’ Wavy Loaded Nachos, a ridged crisp combining the flavors of queso, sour cream and corn tortilla with a slow-building heat, according to the company. The new flavor joins the Pringles Scorchin’ lineup that includes spicy barbecue, cheddar and chili and lime flavors.
"Pringles Scorchin' has been coming in hot since the line launched a year ago,” said Gareth Maguire, senior director of marketing for Pringles. “Our newest take, Pringles Scorchin' Wavy Loaded Nachos, sets a new standard for any heat-loving, spicy nacho fans with bold, zesty flavors bundled into just one bite.”
Applegate Farms, a subsidiary of Hormel Foods Corp., has made two additions to its Applegate Naturals Breaded Chicken line. New Applegate Naturals Spicy Breaded Chicken Tenders and Bites are available in resealable bags in the frozen aisle at select retailers including Whole Foods Market. The products are made with humanely raised meat, according to the company.
"From Nashville hot chicken to hot honey, Americans are craving the heat, and we're excited to put our own spin on it through our new bites and tenders," said Nicole Glenn, vice president of brand strategy and innovation at Applegate. "With a custom breadcrumb blend made with a variety of peppers, our crispy chicken tenders and bites leave a lasting kick that's sure to please."
Krave Jerky has partnered with Olympic snowboarder Shaun White to introduce a new limited-edition beef jerky flavor. Spicy Sesame Ginger Beef Jerky is made with grass-fed beef and is gluten-free with no artificial ingredients.
"Krave's a brand I enjoy collaborating with, and I'm honored to lend some of my creative energy to the launch of my own Spicy Sesame Ginger flavor,” Mr. White said. “With the upcoming Winter Olympics, I made sure this jerky — like the rest of Krave's lineup — would fit perfectly into my lifestyle, whether I'm training for a competition, on the slopes or on-the-go, traveling."
The new holiday collection debuting from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams includes White Chocolate Peppermint, Cognac with Gingerbread, Sugar Plum, Pistachio Macaron and Mexican Hot Chocolate. The products are available for nationwide shipping at jenis.com, at Jeni’s scoop shops across the country and in select grocery stores.
"This time of year I like to say we've done the work for you,” said Jeni Britton, founder of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. “We've spent months baking, roasting, chopping and churning the most delicious ingredients we can find into memorable flavors worth sharing. They're made with my style of entertaining in mind — low-lift, high-impact. As in, open a pint and serve the ice cream in a fancy coupe. That's it. A few, voluptuous bites are all you really need at the end of a big meal or holiday party."
Doughp, a brand of edible and bakeable cookie dough, has partnered with model and influencer Chrissy Teigen to develop a new holiday flavor. Chrissy Pie is a sweet potato streusel pie cookie dough mixed with candied pecans and cookie pie crust pieces. The product is available for a limited time online.
“Being asked to create Chrissy’s Sweet Potato Streusel Pie recipe in cookie dough form is one of the highlights of my cookie-dough-loving career,” said Kelsey Moreira, founder and chief executive officer of Doughp. “I’m so proud of the way the cookie dough flavor turned out, and equally proud to work with Chrissy Teigen and the Cravings team. The new Chrissy Pie cookie dough melds all the flavors of the season into one delicious spoonful.”
Dairy-free frozen dessert brand NadaMoo! is launching a limited-edition Peppermint Bark flavor, formulated with organic ingredients including coconut milk and agave nectar. Pints will be available online and on retail shelves through the end of December.
"Whether it taps into that feeling of the holidays or just satisfies the craving for chocolate and peppermint, our limited-edition Peppermint Bark is back by popular demand," said Daniel Nicholson, chief executive officer and president of NadaMoo! "We know just how many people are looking for delicious dairy free options in holiday flavors this season and we're excited to give our fans just that."
American Licorice Co. is launching an assortment of seasonal candy, including Red Vines Gingerbread Twists, Sour Punch Trees, Sour Punch Santa Straws and Sour Punch Arctic Straws.
“When selecting a new flavor for the holidays, we drew inspiration from childhood memories,” said Kristi Shafer, vice president of marketing for American Licorice Co. “We hope the Red Vines Gingerbread Twists inspire fans to gather around with family or friends, put on their candy contractor hat and build their own gingerbread house and of course use our holiday candies to help deck out their creation.”
Plant-based foods startup Actual Veggies is releasing the Actual Morning Burger, a breakfast twist on its signature vegetable-forward patties. The new item is formulated with acai, blue spirulina, blueberries, cauliflower, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, bananas, plantains, dates and cinnamon.
The latest retail launch from Impossible Foods is Impossible Meatballs Made From Plants, which are pre-formed and fully cooked, featuring a custom mix of Impossible Burger and Impossible Sausage as well as a savory homestyle meatball seasoning blend, according to the company. The product is launching at Walmart stores and will expand to additional retailers later in the year.
“We’re innovating faster than ever and developing our products with qualities that matter most to consumers, including everything from taste to convenience,” said Ravi Thakkar, Impossible Foods’ vice president of product and commercialization. “Impossible Meatballs are the latest example of that — giving people a simple, delicious, and sustainable alternative to a family classic."
Blue Diamond is introducing Almond Breeze Extra Creamy Almondmilk, which incorporates almond oil to create a creamier texture. Many consumers find plant-based dairy alternatives to be too thin compared to conventional milk, according to the company.
“At Blue Diamond, our team is always determined to innovate new and delicious products for those looking to add plant-based alternatives into their lifestyle,” said Maya Erwin, vice president of innovation and research and development at Blue Diamond. “The debut of Almond Breeze Extra Creamy Almondmilk gives consumers the same texture and consistency they want from dairy milk, but with the almondmilk they know and love from Almond Breeze.”
Better-for-you granola brand Nana Joes is adding its first-ever holiday flavor. The new chocolate peppermint granola is grain-free, gluten-free, plant-based and lightly sweetened with maple syrup. The product features organic nuts and seeds, including almonds, pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and hemp seeds.
Perfect Day is introducing an animal-free whey protein powder. The company partnered with wellness company Natreve to create Mooless, which has the taste, texture and nutrition of whey protein with a lower environmental footprint, according to the companies. Flavors include vanilla bean cupcake, chocolate fudge brownie, cookies and cream, and strawberry shortcake.
“After highlighting the functionality of our protein in cream cheese, ice cream and baked goods, this new category brings its nutritional superiority to the forefront,” said Ryan Pandya, co-founder and chief executive officer of Perfect Day. “We developed this new product line for traditional whey protein and plant-based protein consumers alike, and above all, for anyone conscious about their health and the health of our planet. This is an incredibly exciting moment for Perfect Day, as our animal-free dairy ingredients find more commercially viable uses across new product categories and now new continents, as we enter three global markets in a critical step towards our vision of a more equitable, resilient, and diverse food system for all.”
DAH!, a maker of slow-cultured yogurts, has partnered with Indian-American television host, producer and culinary expert Padma Lakshmi to introduce a new flavor inspired by her children’s book Tomatoes for Neela. The new Tomato with Mixed Berries Lassi is a yogurt smoothie cooked at a lower temperature for a longer period of time, which yields a smooth, rich and flavorful product, according to the company.
“I think DAH!’s Lassi (yogurt smoothie) is special because it has more probiotics and less sugar than a lot of drinkable yogurts. I’m looking forward to sharing this with the American public because it may be something new for them,” said Padma Lakshmi. “It can play a vital role in gut health, nutrition, in getting enough protein, and in being a great addition to our diet that’s just plain delicious.”
Ferrara Candy Co., a related company of the Ferrero Group, is expanding its Brach’s candy cane lineup with two new offerings. Funfetti candy canes feature a birthday cake flavor and rainbow sprinkles. Wintergreen candy canes offer a twist on the traditional peppermint. The new products join returning classic red and white candy canes, cherry rainbow candy canes and Sweetarts candy canes.
"Candy canes are as synonymous with the holidays as sleigh bells and holly," said Katie Duffy, vice president and general manager, Seasonal, at Ferrara. "We love delivering fun and delicious twists on the red-and-white peppermint staple year after year. That's why I couldn't be more excited for candy cane fans of all ages to get their hands on our new Funfetti and Wintergreen options this holiday season."
Jarred sauce brand Rao’s Homemade is offering its Limited Edition Reserve holiday portfolio for a limited time. The products include a new Calabrian chili marinara, which combines Italian cherry tomatoes with chilis grown in the southern Italian region of Calabria. Among returning items are truffle marinara sauce, 30-year aged balsamic condiment, Ligurian olive oil, 6-year balsamic condiment, elite olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes and Mediterranean olives.
"For years, Rao's Homemade has created premium Italian foods that bring families and friends around the table to enjoy a delicious, wholesome meal together," said Risa Cretella, executive vice president, group general manager at Rao's Homemade. "Consumers are seeking new ways to elevate their meals at home, and we're excited to provide that with the launch of Rao's Homemade Limited Edition Reserve."
SNAX-Sational Brands, maker of Candy Pop and Cookie Pop, is debuting a pair of holiday snack offerings. Cookie Pop Popcorn Iced Gingerbread and Candy Pop Popcorn Peppermint Hot Chocolate are inspired by classic seasonal desserts and will be available for a limited time online and at Kroger stores.
Health and wellness brand So Good So You is expanding its line of juice shots with a blueberry clementine blend infused with mushrooms, probiotics and vitamins.
"Eastern medicine has long relied on mushrooms as all-star ingredients that bring the system into balance – now our culture is finally coming to a greater understanding of these inflammation-fighting superfoods," said Rita Katona, co-founder and executive chair of So Good So You. "We're so excited to introduce our first formulation with the immune-boosting power of mushroom-derived adaptogens."
Frozen food brand Veggies Made Great is launching a line of keto-friendly muffins formulated with zucchini and carrots or beets. Varieties include chocolate raspberry, cinnamon roll and mochaccino chip. The products are gluten-free and low in sugar.
Allergy-friendly brand 88 Acres is introducing dark chocolate peppermint sunflower seed butter for a limited time beginning in December at 88acres.com. The spread is free from the top nine allergens.
Innovative limited-edition menu items make their debut.
Beverage innovation is on the rise.