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The Leftovers is a look at some of the product ideas that are popping up everywhere. Some are interesting, some sound amazing, and some are the kinds of ideas we would never dream of. We can’t write everything we suggest, so here are some leftover items from our inbox:
Dr Pepper adds carbonation to sausages
Dr Pepper is switching from cans to sausage meat.
The Keurig Dr Pepper-owned brand is teaming up with Johnsonville to launch sausages “inspired” by the soda giant’s original 23-flavor blend. The meat will be available in both fully cooked and raw versions and will also be sold at other retailers, including Walmart, Kroger, and 7-Eleven.
“Our signature 23 flavors have been a part of home kitchens and backyard barbecues for years,” Derek Dabrowski, senior vice president of brand marketing at Dr Pepper, said in a statement. “So turning that iconic flavor into sausage was both unexpected and completely natural.”
Dr Pepper and Johnsonville acknowledged that the new sausage is somewhat unique and could be polarizing among consumers. Even for those looking for something new and unique. However, they noted that this combination brings together two brands synonymous with community hangouts. This is something consumers are doing less of these days.
Johnsonville said a Harris Poll survey found that 73% of Americans are socializing less than they used to. At the same time, nine out of ten Americans agree that good food makes hanging out together more enjoyable.
It’s no stranger for the 141-year-old Dr Pepper to appear in other foods, too. Recently it has been added to jelly beans, Tic Tacs, meat sticks and even popcorn.
Conagra Brands also plans to launch Dr Pepper flavored snack packs later this year. Dr Pepper sales were up 9% in the 52 weeks ending Dec. 21 compared with the previous year, the snack maker said, citing Circana data.
Once a distant player in the soda space, Dr Pepper has used marketing, innovation, and unusual distribution to tie with Pepsi as the second most popular soda brand in 2024.
— Christopher Doering
Founders Launches TikTok-Inspired RTD Cocktails
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Water hazard provided
Founders Brewing is making its first foray into the ready-to-drink vodka cocktail market with Water Hazard, inspired by a popular TikTok recipe.
Water Hazard is made with vodka, blue sports drink, lemonade, and lemon lime soda. It’s based on TikTok’s “golf course” drink trend, and Founders says it’s one of the first drinks with the same recipe to be commercialized in the United States.
Water Hazard will initially launch in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Florida, with plans to expand this fall. It has an alcohol content of 5% by volume and is sold in 12-ounce cans.
Vodka Cocktails marks an expansion of Founders, a brewing company known for its craft beers, including a variety of IPA styles. It also makes other RTD products under the Devil Spiked brand name, including hard lemonade and ginger beer.
The RTD product was launched as craft beer sales declined and more consumers preferred premixed, canned cocktails. Drinks containing real spirits mixed with lemonade or iced tea are becoming especially popular, including Boston Beer’s Sun Cruiser or Stateside Vodka’s Surfside.
In addition to canned cocktails, Founders will unveil two new low-alcohol beers in March that will likely meet consumers’ growing preference for moderate portions.
Product offerings include Easy Drinking, a golden ale sold nationally; Founders also features a Low Profile IPA, with 86 calories and 3% ABV, well below the 7-10% average of typical IPAs.
The drinks are lower in calories and alcohol, with “health-conscious” drinkers in mind, the company said. Available in Michigan, New York, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia, and Massachusetts.
—Laurel Deppen
Glen Powell is entering the salty snack wars.
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Provided by Smash Kitchen
Smash Kitchen, the healthy condiment brand co-founded by actor Glen Powell, is heading to snack stores.
The brand launched Kettle Chips at Walmart and will launch tortilla chips and microwave popcorn later this month. Kettle chip flavors include Rosemary, American Style BBQ, Classic Sea Salt, and Hot Honey BBQ.
Like its condiment products, Smash Kitchen said the snacks are intended to give families better options at lower prices.
“From the beginning, our mission has been to earn families’ trust in the food they purchase each week,” Sameer Mehta, CEO of Smash Kitchen, said in a statement. “We started in the kitchen. Expanding into snacks allows us to offer consumers the integrity of those same ingredients in more everyday, shareable moments without having to pay a premium.”
Smash Kitchen launched a line of shelf-stable condiments, including ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise, exclusively at Walmart last April. At the time, co-founder Sean Kane said the brand planned to expand to “transform the entire pantry” with organic, clean-label options.
Snack food manufacturers are struggling with declining sales as consumers spend less due to affordability issues. Smash Kitchen hopes that its focus on value and better ingredients will help it stand out.
“Snacks are a real part of life,” Powell said. “It’s something you have on the table on game day, something you pack for a road trip, something you can hold in your hands between meals. We wanted to create snacks that people felt good about buying and that they genuinely wanted to eat.”
— Sarah Zimmerman
