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.
Pringles hits the grill with Miller Lite
Summer means the start of grilling season, and Pringles is teaming up with Miller Lite for its latest flavors meant to evoke cookout favorites.
The Kellanova brand announced the launch of Pringles x Miller Lite Grilled Beer Brat, which contains notes of black pepper, caramelized onion combined with a “hoppy, malt beer aroma,” according to a release.
The new flavor comes alongside the arrival of Pringles x Miller Lite Beer Can Chicken, which Kellanova teased in February as part of a Super Bowl themed launch. The beer can chicken offering tastes of roasted chicken, garlic, onion and, of course, Miller Lite beer.
Both flavors will be available at retailers nationwide in May for a limited time.
“Whether or not you’re a grill-master, who doesn’t enjoy a beer and crisps as a summer snack?” said Ann Legan, vice president of marketing at Miller Family of Brands, in a statement. “We know fans already infuse Miller Lite’s iconic flavor into grilled staples, so bringing those same flavors into an ultimate savory snack with Pringles felt like a seamless fit for fans to snack on at their backyard barbecues this summer.”
As alcoholic consumption declines, more companies are looking to offer consumers the taste and flavor of booze, but without the buzz. Molson Coors and its brands for years have teamed with food companies on novel collaborations including Miller High Life chocolates and Blue Moon-infused ice cream and bagels.
—Sarah Zimmerman
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Courtesy of Kraft Heinz
Kraft Mac & Cheese turns up the heat
Kraft Heinz’s Mac & Cheese is getting into the summer spirit with a new smoky barbecue flavor as it also prepares to unveil new innovations for its snackable cups.
The food giant said mac & cheese has long been a popular side to enjoy during a barbecue, whether it’s as part of a backyard cookout or at a restaurant. The offering reportedly fuses smoky and sweet barbecue spices with Kraft’s signature cheesy, buttery taste. The product will be available through mid-summer.
With Gen Z and other consumers snacking more, Kraft Heinz is prioritizing innovation in its snackable microwavable cups. Kraft is introducing Jalapeño and Ranch flavors in the portable format. It’s also bringing back its Everything Bagel flavor in the cup format at Walmart this summer.
The shelf-stable mac & cheese market is a massive category representing a $2.9 billion market.
The segment also is ripe for growth, with a near-term opportunity topping $100 million, Nestlé said in 2024. Consumers eat the venerable side dish an average of 22 times a year, the world’s largest food company noted.
—Christopher Doering
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Courtesy of Signature Wafer and Chocolate Co.
Skippy expands wafer bar collaboration
Hormel and Signature Wafer & Chocolate Co. are deepening their partnership to expand the opportunity for Skippy peanut butter-infused wafer bars.
The two companies announced additions to its lineup of Skippy Peanut Butter Wafer bars including Banana and Strawberry Jelly, which are topped with dried banana and strawberry, respectively. They join a reformulated version of the line’s original offering, Peanut Butter & Chocolate Fudge Wafer Bar, which contains chocolate chips.
The new flavors come as the bars roll out to Walmart in a “significant retail expansion,” according to a release. The line first debuted in 2023.
“We’ve seen strong performance in existing channels, and this move positions us for further growth with a product lineup that continues to resonate with today’s snack shopper,” said Russ Asaro, the executive vice president at Signature Wafer & Chocolate Co., in a statement.
Skippy has proven to be a valuable asset for Hormel since it purchased the peanut butter brand from Unilever for $700 million in 2013, with CEO Jim Snee noting the brand’s growth in dollar sales in an earnings call last fall.
Wafer bars continue to grow in popularity as consumers seek more value out of their snacks. Nature Valley first debuted its wafer bars in 2019, layering peanut butter and chocolate. Its lineup has expanded to include flavors like Lemon and Strawberry.
—Chris Casey
