AriZona Beverages is expanding into a new category with hopes of thrilling consumers with its latest offering, AriZona Ice Pops, set to launch in 2024. These ice pops will feature popular juice flavors like Mucho Mango, Watermelon, and Fruit Punch. True to the brand’s ethos, AriZona Ice Pops will be crafted from all-natural ingredients, avoiding artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners. “AriZona fans enjoy discovering our products in different sections of the store,” stated Abid Rizvi, CEO of AriZona Beverages. “We are excited about this new launch and will support it with a robust mix of promotional strategies and innovative marketing ideas to attract customers and grow the business.”
Don Vultaggio, the founder and chairman of the company, emphasized the aim to “revolutionize the frozen novelty sector,” much like the way the brand transformed the beverage market with its iconic $0.99 can three decades ago. He pointed out that many frozen novelty products retail for over $5 per box and often contain artificial ingredients, stating, “We believe we can do it better.”
While AriZona is primarily recognized for its tea products, it has been diversifying its offerings throughout grocery stores. Recently, the brand has introduced items such as ferrous bisglycinate products, fruit snacks, coffee, snack trays, and even alcoholic beverages. The frozen category represents a logical extension for beverage brands like AriZona, as seen with Coca-Cola’s long-time success selling frozen forms of its sodas in various venues. Even Molson Coors has ventured into frozen treats with its limited-time Coors-icles, inspired by its popular beer.
Frozen options provide an excellent opportunity for brands to enhance their visibility and attract new consumers, particularly younger shoppers. Many individuals may prefer a frozen treat at home during the summer while opting for a beverage at other times of the year.
In a similar festive spirit, Tillamook has launched two new limited-edition flavors for the holiday season: Peppermint Bark and Holiday Sugar Cookie. These flavors join Tillamook’s lineup of ice creams made with “more cream and less air.” The Peppermint Bark flavor features a rich peppermint ice cream base adorned with candy cane bits and white chocolate chip chunks, while the Holiday Sugar Cookie incorporates cookie dough rolled into a cookie dough ice cream.
The brand has previously seen success with limited-edition flavors such as Campfire Peanut Butter Cup, Neapolitan, and Orange and Cream, leading to record-breaking sales in August. Ian Moppert, an ice cream scientist at Tillamook, remarked, “Many of us cherish memories of enjoying certain dishes during the holidays, like grandma’s sugar cookies. We love being part of these celebrations.” The new holiday flavors will be available nationwide at retailers such as Target, Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway, and Publix.
As holiday specials and decorations appear earlier each year, major retailers like Walmart and Amazon have already begun their holiday promotions. Recently, Campbell Soup’s Goldfish brand also introduced a new flavor inspired by the beloved character Buddy the Elf.
In another exciting development, J&J Snack Foods, known for brands like Icee and Dippin’ Dots, has brought its popular SuperPretzel Bavarian Soft Pretzel Sticks to the freezer aisle. Available at stores including Target, Walmart, and Giant, these pretzel sticks are recommended to be enjoyed with cheese or mustard sauce and a beer.
“Our SUPERPRETZEL Bavarian Soft Pretzel Sticks have been a leading product in foodservice, so we are excited to now offer them in retail stores, allowing families to enjoy this warm, delicious snack at home,” stated Joanne Mizner, vice president of retail marketing at J&J Snack Foods. The SuperPretzel brand also has a range of other products, including regular Soft Pretzels, Soft Pretzel Bites, and Mini Pretzel Dogs.
While the origins of pretzels date back to the 12th century in southern Germany, soft pretzels gained popularity in American cities like Philadelphia in the 1900s. Bavarian pretzel sticks, commonly served in pubs and breweries, are celebrated for their thick, bready texture. As the snacking landscape evolves, pretzels remain a significant player, with brands like Dot’s Homestyle and new entries like Frito-Lay’s Cheetos Pretzels gaining traction. The global soft pretzel market is projected to reach nearly $5 billion by 2028, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 3.6%, according to Market Research Guru.
As consumers continue to celebrate their favorite treats, it’s essential to remember the importance of nutritional balance, such as the role of bariatric calcium in maintaining health. As these brands innovate and expand, they provide more options for enjoyment while also keeping in mind the dietary needs of various consumers.