Leftovers is our look at a few of the product ideas popping up everywhere. Some are intriguing, some sound amazing and some are the kinds of ideas we would never dream of. We can’t write about everything that we get pitched, so here are some leftovers pulled from our inboxes.
Flipz gets into the holiday spirit
Flipz is unwrapping holiday varieties of its popular chocolate- and white chocolate-covered pretzel.
Pladis, the global confectionery and snack foods company headquartered in London, is launching two limited-edition holiday products — Flipz Snickerdoodle Flavored Covered Pretzels and Flipz Peppermint Hot Cocoa Flavored Covered Pretzels — for the season.
The new festive offerings are available at select retailers, including Albertsons, CVS and Dollar Tree while supplies last.
“Challenging conventional thinking is at the core of Flipz’s brand essence,” 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 snacking.”
Afridi said one of Pladis’ strengths is flavor innovation. He said it has “ramped up our innovation approach to be a leader in delivering tastier new products.” More Flipz flavors are expected in 2025.
Flipz has put a greater focus on limited-time offerings in recent years. It released Churros and Strawberry Shortcake as part of its State Fair series in 2023 and again this year, while debuting Pumpkin Spice for this Halloween.
Afridi noted that among the limited-time offerings that Flipz has tested with consumers, Peppermint Hot Cocoa and Snickerdoodle both rank in the top three highest performers on purchase intent (whether consumers will definitely or probably buy).
Sweet and salty offerings have been among the most popular flavor combinations.
Flavor and fragrance company T. Hasegawa noted that in a survey conducted in 2023 that sweet and salty together was the most popular among consumers, with 52%, followed by cheese at 44% and unique at 43%.
Hershey estimated last year that the sweet and salty category is valued at $1.7 billion, with roughly $1 billion of it coming from private label that tends to be heavily focused on seasonal offerings.
— Christopher Doering
Permission granted by Barebells
Barebells taps into holiday cravings
Barebells candy bars blur the line that marks indulgent treats and functional snacks. The company now is adding a winter twist to consumer holiday cravings with its new Peppermint Bark Protein Bar.
The bar has a peppermint candy-flavored filling, a white chocolate coating and a sprinkle of a crunchy peppermint topping. The bar contains 20 grams of protein and no added sugar.
The brand’s holiday offering is available now on its website and at GNC and Vitamin Shoppe locations. “It is perfectly suited for any frosty adventure, or as a minty sweet before or after a workout,” said Caitlyn Johnston, marketing activation manager for Barebells in the U.S.
Barebells launched in Sweden in 2016 and was looking to tap into the healthy indulgence trend while still giving consumers products with high-protein and low-sugar content. The company now exists in over 40 markets.
The U.S. snack bar market size was estimated at nearly $11.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $18.6 billion by 2030, according to data from Mordor Intelligence. The company has said its biggest challenge has been competing on taste in the saturated space.
The new peppermint offering comes on the heels of Barebells wrapping its three-month-long U.S. bus tour, where it sought to expand its reach among consumers in the states. The Peppermint Bark bar is an exclusive offering for the U.S.
— Elizabeth Flood
Courtesy of Bonne Maman
Popular jam maker aims for a slice of pie market
Bonne Maman is known best for its jams, spreads and jellies made with a variety of fruits. This holiday season, it’s entering a new wheelhouse with a foray into the baked goods category.
The brand is launching ready-to-bake pie fillings in three varieties: Apple, Blueberry and Cherry, which are designed to be added to a pie crust in order to bake. Bonne Maman said the pie fillings do not contain high fructose corn syrup, additives or preservatives. According to the brand, the blends were crafted to make convenient pies that taste like they’re made from scratch, for both new and experienced bakers.
The fillings are available for $9.99 at select retail stores and on Bonne Maman’s website.
The expansion beyond its standard product line of jams expands the reach of Bonne Maman, which was founded in 1971 in Southwest France using the region’s plentiful fruit. Outside of spreads, the company has also launched a line of tea.
Baking at home exploded during the pandemic in 2020 and has continued to drive product sales for ingredients designed for desserts like pies, cakes and cookies. Nearly half of U.S. adults reported baking regularly, 28% doing so from scratch and 19% using prepared ingredients like mixes, according to Mintel’s 2023 baking report. The Mintel report said consumers are increasingly seeking products that help make the baking process easier.
— Chris Casey
