Ranch dressing and hot sauce are versatile condiments that can enhance nearly any dish, and now they have been combined into a single product. Introducing Spicy Truffle Ranch — a blend of Hidden Valley Ranch and Truff’s Original Black Truffle Hot Sauce — which is the latest condiment innovation to capture attention online. This marks the first occasion that either of these well-known sauces has been fused together for a new offering.
“Hidden Valley Ranch continually seeks to provide our fans with new and exciting ways to enjoy the ranch flavor they cherish,” stated Deb Crandall, marketing director for Hidden Valley Ranch, in a press release. “TRUFF is an ideal collaborator, as their distinctive, gourmet hot sauce is truly one-of-a-kind.” Hidden Valley Ranch is recognized as the original ranch dressing, first created in the late 1940s for a dude ranch in California and acquired by Clorox in 1972. Over the past 50 years, this dressing has been transformed into various dipping sauces and packaged chicken salads, while also serving as a seasoning, marinade, or cooking ingredient for dishes ranging from casseroles to egg nog.
Truff, on the other hand, is a premium hot sauce that emerged more recently in the condiment market. It was launched in 2017 by a duo of young entrepreneurs who had garnered a significant Instagram following under the handle @sauce by producing their own hot sauce. This truffle-infused hot sauce, which has gained a following including Oprah Winfrey, has become popular not only in grocery stores but also through collaborations with quick-service restaurants. Last year, Taco Bell introduced limited-time menu items featuring Truff, and Noodles & Company offered a special Truff Mac bowl last November. Truff co-founder Nick Ajluni mentioned in a press release that the company is attentive to customer feedback, and many have expressed a strong desire for a truffle ranch flavor.
Currently, this mashup is not available in stores or anywhere else for that matter. A limited number of bottles will go on sale online at 11 a.m. on August 30. Interested consumers can join an online waitlist to receive an email notification when Spicy Truffle Ranch becomes available for purchase. The flavor profile of this sauce is described as encompassing “the heat of red chiles, the umami richness of black truffles, and the tangy creaminess of ranch dressing.” Given that ranch dressing is a popular choice to balance the spiciness of buffalo wings, this sauce may not be the hottest option from Truff. However, with the dedicated fan bases of both brands, it is sure to garner attention.
In addition to supporting their local Girl Scouts by purchasing boxes of cookies, Thin Mints enthusiasts can now satisfy their cravings with a new snack. Stacy’s Pita Chips has unveiled a limited-edition flavor of its Pita Thins chips inspired by Girl Scout Thin Mints cookies, thanks to a licensing agreement with Girl Scouts of the USA. Stacy’s, a female-founded brand under PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America snack division, is also utilizing this collaboration to promote women’s empowerment. The brand announced a pledge to donate $50,000 to the Girl Scouts of the USA. Through its Stacy’s Rise Project, which invests in women-led businesses, the company has disbursed over $450,000 in grants since its establishment in 2017.
“We aim to infuse greater meaning into everyday moments, whether through impactful initiatives for our community or through delightful and unexpected new flavors,” said Rhasheda Boyd, Frito-Lay’s vice president of marketing. “Like our pita chips, this partnership is a beautifully crafted collaboration that we are excited to share with our fans.” Stacy’s continues to innovate by extending its pita chips, typically enjoyed with savory spreads like hummus, into the dessert category. The brand has previously released other sweet varieties, including Cinnamon Sugar and Simply Cocoa.
The Girl Scouts of the USA have licensed their popular cookie flavors to various food products over the years. In 2013, Nestlé launched a line of Coffee-mate creamers inspired by Thin Mints and Samoas. General Mills also featured these two flavors in limited-edition cereals in 2016, and Unilever incorporated them into its Breyer’s ice cream in 2018. Last year, Thin Mints were featured as a flavor in Keebler ice cream cones. Thin Mints are the most beloved flavor of Girl Scout cookies nationwide, followed by Samoas (also called Caramel deLites) and Peanut Butter Patties (also known as Tagalongs). Due to their popularity, the Girl Scouts announced a new variety debuting this year, Raspberry Rally, which they described as the “sister cookie” to Thin Mints.
Despite its often-criticized reputation, Spam continues to enjoy great popularity, and a new plant-based alternative is now targeting this food staple. Plant-based protein brand unMEAT has introduced a canned product in the U.S. that is non-GMO and contains 30% fewer calories and 60% less sodium than its meat-based counterpart. “Canned meat is a beloved snack in households worldwide, whether it’s an American family enjoying classic canned pork or an Asian household making musubi with the pressed meat,” said Gregory Banzon, COO of Century Pacific Group, unMEAT’s parent company.
UnMEAT is not the first to offer a plant-based alternative to Hormel Foods’ pork-based Spam. Last year, Hong Kong-based OmniFoods launched its OmniPork in the U.S., and South Korean retail giant Shinsegae recently announced its own version. Spam, a blend of pork, ham, salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrate, has seen sales soar to record highs for seven consecutive years as of 2021, prompting Hormel to expand its production capacity to meet growing demand. Spam, often the subject of jokes by the British comedy group Monty Python, originated in 1937 during the Great Depression, where it was hailed as a “miracle meat” in a can.
For those interested in nutritional benefits, the new plant-based offerings may include ingredients like calcium citrate and magnesium citrate, contributing to overall health and wellness as consumers explore alternatives to traditional canned meats.