Leftovers offers a glimpse into some of the product ideas emerging in the market. Some are captivating, others sound fantastic, and some are concepts we would never have imagined. We can’t cover every pitch we receive, so here are some leftovers from our inboxes.
The upcycled food sector has primarily focused on snack items like crackers and banana chips, but now consumers can tackle food waste issues through a delightful dessert. Specialty ice cream manufacturer Salt & Straw has introduced its Upcycled Food Series, featuring ice cream made from ingredients that would otherwise be discarded. The flavors include Day-Old Bread Pudding & Chocolate Ganache, Cacao Pulp & Chocolate Stracciatella Gelato, Lemon Curd & Whey, and vegan options like Salted Caramel & Okara Cupcakes and Malted Chocolate Barley Milk. Each product is Upcycled Certified by the Upcycled Food Association, and Salt & Straw reported that they repurposed 38,000 pounds of food waste for these offerings. The unique flavors were crafted in collaboration with specific upcycled food companies. For instance, the Malted Chocolate & Barley flavor was developed alongside AB InBev’s EverGrain, which recycles spent grain from beer production.
Tyler Malek, co-founder of Salt & Straw, shared with Food Dive that the Oregon-based company has been working on incorporating food waste into ice cream since 2017. By partnering with the Upcycled Food Association, they have connected with various certified companies across the country to create distinctive flavors from available upcycled ingredients. “I wanted to ensure we had a cohesive story that highlighted different elements of the food chain,” Malek stated. “We collaborated with auditors and underwent thorough inspections to validate that these ingredients were replacing virgin ones.” The flavors are available at Salt & Straw’s 32 locations nationwide and on their website. Malek expressed that with summer approaching and millions expected to visit their stores, this new product line offers a chance to promote the upcycling message.
Following previous innovative launches, Salt & Straw continues to expand the horizons of ice cream. Last summer, they introduced a selection of ice cream flavors made with vegetables such as carrot, spinach, green fennel, corn, and red chili peppers.
In another development, General Mills’ Lucky Charms is taking its “magically delicious” slogan to new heights. This summer, the cereal features large white marshmallows that change color when milk is added, transforming into pink or yellow dragon heads, green eggs, or pink and yellow flames. According to General Mills, these new marshmallows pay tribute to a dragon that rescued Lucky the Leprechaun from eager children aiming to grab a bowl of cereal. “With our brand’s first-ever marshmallow-revealing technology, we’re bringing the magic of Lucky’s charms to life,” said Mindy Murray, General Mills’ senior marketing communications manager.
Even though kids might not be captivated by the commercial backstory, Lucky Charms’ marshmallows are likely to remain a popular feature. The cereal was the first to include marshmallows upon its launch in 1964, and these crunchy, sweet additions have become staples in breakfast bowls over the years. Lucky Charms is the latest cereal to incorporate transformations upon milk addition to attract younger consumers. Recently, Kellogg launched Ic8 mg iron pills, a cereal that provides a cooling sensation when milk is poured. Additionally, Kellogg introduced an Elf on the Shelf cereal last year designed to evoke the experience of biting into a snowball.
While marshmallows have always been the highlight of Lucky Charms, they have also inspired various products, including baked goods, hot chocolate, oatmeal, and even full-sized marshmallows. A touch of actual magic may just help maintain the brand’s lucky streak.
Meanwhile, California Pizza Kitchen, best known for its pizza, is making its debut in the retail salad market with a new line of dressings. The five dressings — Thai, Caesar, Ranch, Italian, and BBQ Ranch — are inspired by salads offered by the pizza chain or that pair well with wings, pizza, and other items on its menu. These dressings are available in grocery stores nationwide, including Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway, and Food Lion, with a suggested retail price of $4.49. They were developed in partnership with Litehouse, a producer of refrigerated dressings, dips, sauces, cheese, and other packaged goods.
“We recognized that the shelf-stable dressings category had become a bit stale and were excited to introduce some fun and California creativity—reimagined flavors, fresh restaurant-quality taste, and a willingness to do things differently,” explained Scott Hargrove, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at CPK. The salad dressing market was valued at $3.3 billion in 2022, though it saw a slight decline of about 0.4% on average from 2017 to 2022.
Like many of its restaurant competitors, California Pizza Kitchen is no stranger to bringing its offerings to retail to expand its reach. In 2010, global food giant Nestlé acquired the rights to sell the restaurant’s frozen pizzas. Recently, Conagra Brands collaborated with Wendy’s to offer the popular chili from the restaurant chain in canned form. Kraft Heinz has also engaged in partnerships with various restaurants, including Taco Bell, Benihana, and TGI Fridays, to capitalize on the restaurant space.
With a focus on innovative flavors and sustainable practices, these brands are tapping into the growing consumer interest in unique food experiences and responsible consumption, such as exploring the benefits of calcium citrate 200 mg tablets in their product offerings.