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Leftovers is a look at some of the product ideas that pop up everywhere. Some are interesting, some are surprising, and some are ideas we would never have imagined. We can't write about everything we're presented with, so here are a few leftover ideas that we pulled from our inbox.
Ferrero Rocher launches new chocolate bar
Ferrero Rocher, the popular globe-shaped cookie, is gaining popularity in the confectionery market.
The brand is launching Ferrero Rocher Dark Hazelnut and Crunchy Salted Caramel bars. The new products feature crunchy hazelnut pieces, lightly salted caramel, and a dark chocolate shell with 55% cocoa. Inspired by the original Ferrero Rocher praline, they are wrapped in the brand’s signature gold foil.
The bar will be available online and in retail stores nationwide starting this month.
The new product is part of Ferrero's effort to make Ferrero Rocher a billion-dollar brand in the United States.
“Innovation within our product portfolio is a consideration as we move towards that goal,” Ferrero told Food Dive in an email. “Our primary focus is to capture a greater share of everyday consumption.”
The Ferrero Rocher Dark Hazelnut & Crunchy Salted Caramel bar is being launched as part of a promotion encouraging people to take part in the four-week “Reading for Pleasure” challenge.
When readers complete this challenge (which features a curated autumn-themed reading theme served with Ferrero Rocher chocolates), they will receive a free chocolate bar.
Ferrero has aggressively expanded its U.S. presence over the past seven years through a series of deals to push deeper into new categories such as candy. ice cream and cookie.
But it hasn’t lost sight of its core brands, like Ferrro Rocher and Tic Tac. In May, Ferrero launched Tic Tac Chewy, a fruit candy with a crunchy exterior and chewy interior. This is Ferrero’s first product. There's a huge one just outside the chocolate or mint section.
— Christopher Dohring
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Courtesy of Tabasco
Tabasco Challenges Tex-Mex
A popular hot sauce is taking center stage in Mexican cuisine.
McIlhenney Company's Tabasco brand has launched Salsa Picante Hot Sauce, a thick, rich sauce designed to add a spicy kick to tacos, guacamole and burritos. Star Ingredients The heart of the sauce is the red jalapeño pepper.
“Innovation has always been a priority for us, and we’ve been experimenting with this style of sauce for quite some time,” Lee Susen, McIlhenney’s chief sales and marketing officer, said in a statement.
According to the company, the sauce has been thickened to make it easier to pour or dip into the bottle.
The product is now available in stores, and joins a line of unique hot sauces Tabasco has released in recent years, including Sriracha, Buffalo, and Sweet & Spicy.
Founded in 1868, Tabasco hails from Avery Island, Louisiana. The company's signature sauce has consistently ranked among the top five most popular hot sauces in the United States.
According to a survey sent to Food Dive by Datassential, Mexican flavors continue to dominate new food and beverage product launches, with Gen Z becoming the first generation to prefer Mexican cuisine over Italian. According to Technavio, the Mexican food segment is expected to grow to $113.8 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 6.65%.
Popular hot sauce brands have expanded their product lineups in recent years to meet demand, with McCormick & Co.'s Cholula expanding into salsas and frozen foods.
— Chris Casey
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Licensed by Good Culture.
Good Culture Falls Into Pumpkin
Snack brand Good Culture is the latest company to jump on the pumpkin spice bandwagon.
The company is launching its first-ever seasonal flavor, Organic Pumpkin & Spice Cottage Cheese, a limited edition product available only at Whole Foods Market locations nationwide.
“The new product combines the rich, creamy texture that fans love with the warm, comforting flavors of fall,” the company said in a press release.
“Our unique take on a fall classic features the healthy, simple ingredients we’re known for and the classic flavors of pumpkin and spice,” said Jesse Merrill, CEO and co-founder of Good Culture.
The company says the product uses ingredients like real pumpkin and live cultures from pasture-raised cattle.
According to the company, online searches for pumpkin spice are growing by 444,000 per month, and other food and beverage manufacturers have been increasingly quick to get on board with the craze.
Last week, Thomas' English Muffins, a brand of Bimbo Bakery, relaunched its pumpkin-flavored English muffins and bagels, and in early August, Hostess also joined the celebration with limited-edition fall and Halloween snacks.
Cottage cheese is a popular product category.
Cottage cheese has experienced something of a renaissance in recent years, as consumers become more conscious of their protein intake and it gains popularity on social media.
The #cottagecheese hashtag was viewed 500 million times on TikTok last year, with videos of people turning cottage cheese into pizza crust leading the way.
Good Culture has touted itself as the brand that revolutionized modern cottage cheese.
In addition to the new seasonal limited edition products, the company also sells strawberry chia cheese and pineapple cottage cheese.
— Elizabeth Flood
