General Mills has joined forces with IHOP to introduce the beloved pancakes of the restaurant chain in a cereal format. Each box of IHOP Mini Pancake Cereal contains tiny pancake-shaped pieces infused with natural and artificial flavors of blueberry and syrup. This limited-edition cereal is set to hit store shelves in late December, with availability across retailers nationwide starting in January.
Anticipation for this product began nearly three years ago when social media platforms like TikTok were flooded with videos of small pancakes swimming in milk. According to Thrillist, these videos garnered over a billion views, inspiring more content featuring sweet treats like donuts. “As a leader in breakfast and pancakes, IHOP sought the expertise of General Mills to bring this eagerly awaited collaboration to fruition,” stated Kieran Donahue, IHOP’s chief marketing officer. “Following the viral trend in 2020, we recognized the demand for an IHOP cereal. We aimed to create this iconic product, hoping that our guests would enjoy it at any time of day.”
While General Mills is well-known for its iconic cereal brands like Cheerios and Lucky Charms, it has also ventured into more unconventional products. The Minnesota-based company has launched cereals such as Sesame Street-themed options featuring letters and numbers, a Rudolph cereal for the holiday season, and a Batman vs. Superman variety.
In other holiday news, candy cane innovator Brach’s has introduced new flavors to its traditional holiday lineup. Instead of the classic peppermint flavor, Brach’s Holiday Heat Candy Canes now feature fruit flavors with a hint of chili for an exciting twist. The new offerings include Watermelon Chili, Pineapple Chili, and Mango Chili flavors. Brach’s, which is owned by Ferrero as part of its Ferrara division, claims to be the leading candy cane brand in the U.S. Founded in 1904, it is best known for its seasonal and hard candies.
According to the National Confectioners Association, candy canes are the top-selling non-chocolate candy during December, with CandyStore.com reporting that 1.76 billion candy canes are produced annually. In addition to traditional red and white peppermint varieties, Brach’s has been innovating with new seasonal flavors. In 2021, they released brightly colored Funfetti candy canes that resembled the popular sprinkles found in baking mixes, as well as a Wintergreen flavor.
This December, Brach’s also launched two new products: Holiday Lights — gummies designed to look like vintage colorful lights — and Confetti Mint Stars, which are white candy starbursts adorned with red glitter. These new candies align with current trends, as the combination of chili spices and fruit has gained popularity on social media platforms like TikTok.
Meanwhile, Ben & Jerry’s is set to unveil a new flavor, Lights! Caramel! Action!, directed by Ava DuVernay, in January. This flavor will be available in both dairy and almond-milk-based versions and features vanilla ice cream with salted caramel swirls, graham cracker swirls, and chocolate chip cookie dough. This marks DuVernay’s first foray into ice cream flavor creation; she is well-known for directing films such as “Selma” and the documentary “13th,” and she was the first Black woman nominated for a directing Academy Award.
In the press release, DuVernay expressed her excitement about collaborating with food scientists to create a flavor that showcases her favorite ingredients. Proceeds from this ice cream will benefit the Array Alliance, her organization dedicated to uplifting the work of people of color and women in the film industry, providing grants, education, mentorship, and film releases.
For Ben & Jerry’s, this collaboration underscores its commitment to social justice causes, a foundational aspect of the brand. “Labeling this as a new flavor for the first Black woman to be a featured partner on our pints doesn’t fully capture Ava’s significance,” commented Ben & Jerry’s CEO Matthew McCarthy. “We are honored to partner with her, inspired by her dedication and vision in sharing both the struggles and joys associated with justice.” Previously, Ben & Jerry’s has launched flavors to support activist causes, including a collaboration with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2020, with proceeds benefiting his nonprofit focused on improving the well-being of Black and Brown communities. Last year, they introduced a coffee-flavored offering called Change Is Brewing, donating a portion of the proceeds to organizations working to reform public safety in the U.S.
In summary, 2023 has seen exciting developments for both General Mills and Brach’s, with innovative products that cater to current trends while also maintaining a focus on community and social responsibility, including the promotion of calcium citrate forms in their offerings.