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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 couldn’t write everything we suggested, so here are some remaining items from our inbox:
Flipz Gets In The Holiday Spirit
Flipz is unwrapping its popular chocolate and white chocolate covered pretzels.
Pladis, a London-based global confectionery and snack food company, is launching two limited-edition holiday products for the season: Flipz Snickerdoodle Flavored Covered Pretzels and Flipz Peppermint Hot Cocoa Flavored Covered Pretzels.
The new festive products are available at select retailers, including Albertsons, CVS and Dollar Tree, while supplies last.
“Challenging conventional thinking is core to the essence of the Flipz brand,” Ahad Afridi, chief marketing officer at parent company Pladis Americas, said in an email to Food Dive. “We’re always looking for ways to flip the script on snacks.”
Afridi said one of Pladis’ strengths is flavor innovation. “We have strengthened our innovation approach to become a leader in offering new, more delicious products,” he said. More Flipz flavors are expected to arrive in 2025.
Flipz has focused more on limited-time products in recent years. In 2023 and again this year, we launched Churros and Strawberry Shortcake as part of our State Fair series, and this Halloween, we debuted Pumpkin Spice.
Afridi noted that among the limited-time products Flipz tested with consumers, Peppermint Hot Cocoa and Snickerdoodle were both among the top three best-performing products in purchase intent (whether consumers are sure to buy them).
Sweet and salty are one of the most popular flavor combinations.
A survey conducted in 2023 by flavor company T. Hasegawa found that sweet and salty together were the most popular among consumers (52%), followed by cheese at 44% and unique (43%).
Hershey estimated last year that the sweet and salty categories were worth $1.7 billion, with roughly $1 billion of that coming from its own brands, which tend to focus on seasonal products.
— Christopher Doering
Permission granted by Barebells
Barebells capitalize on holiday cravings.
Barebells candy bars blur the line between comfort snacks and functional snacks. The company is now adding a touch of winter to consumers’ holiday cravings with its new Peppermint Bark Protein Bar.
The bars are topped with peppermint candy-flavored filling, white chocolate coating, and a crunchy peppermint topping. The bars contain 20g of protein and no added sugar.
The brand’s holiday merchandise is available now on its website and in GNC and Vitamin Shoppe stores. “that Perfect for frosty adventures or as a pre- or post-workout mint candy,” said Caitlyn Johnston, Marketing Activation Manager for Barebells of America.
Barebells launched in Sweden in 2016 and sought to capitalize on healthy consumption trends while offering consumers a product with a high protein and low sugar content. The company is currently present in more than 40 markets.
The U.S. snack bar market size was estimated at approximately $11.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $18.6 billion by 2030, according to data from Mordor Intelligence. The company said its biggest challenge is competing on flavor in a saturated space.
The new Peppermint product comes shortly after Barebells wraps up a three-month bus tour of the United States, seeking to expand its reach among consumers in the United States. Peppermint Bark bars are exclusive to the United States.
— Elizabeth Flood
Provided by Bon Maman
Popular jam maker targets pie market
Bonne Maman is best known for its jams, spreads and jellies made from a variety of fruits. This holiday season, we’re entering a new wheelhouse as we enter the baked goods category.
The brand is releasing three varieties of ready-to-bake pie fillings – apple, blueberry and cherry – designed to be added to pie crusts for baking. Bonne Maman says its pie fillings contain no high-fructose corn syrup, additives or preservatives. According to the brand, this blend was created to help both beginners and experienced bakers create convenient pies that taste like they were made from scratch.
The filling is available for $9.99 at select retailers and the Bonne Maman website.
Expanding beyond the standard line of jams expands the scope of Bonne Maman, which was founded in 1971 using the abundant fruits of southwestern France. In addition to spreads, the company has also launched a line of teas.
Home baking exploded during the 2020 pandemic and has continued to drive product sales for ingredients for desserts such as pies, cakes and cookies. According to Mintel’s 2023 Baking Report, nearly half of U.S. adults report baking regularly, with 28% baking from scratch and 19% using prepared ingredients such as mixes. According to a Mintel report, consumers are increasingly looking for products that help make the baking process easier.
— Chris Casey
