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.
Chomps chomps on chicken
Fast-growing meat stick company Chomps is getting in on a new protein: chicken.
The company is releasing a new lineup of chicken sticks it says mark a “major evolution” beyond its signature beef, venison and turkey snacks. The launch is aimed at deepening Chomps’ presence in the rapidly growing meat snack market.
Chomps said it took more than a decade to develop the new sticks to make sure they deliver the same snap and bold flavors the brand is known for. The sticks debuted in three flavors —original chicken, Nashville hot and savory breakfast — and have 12 grams of protein and 80 calories. They also have zero sugar and are made from antibiotic-free chicken.
The average American consumes 100 pounds of chicken annually, Chomps said, citing Numerator data. But the protein is still underrepresented in the meat snack space, accounting for 1% of the $8.2 billion meat snacks category, Chomps said.
“We saw a clear gap: America’s most consumed protein wasn’t meaningfully represented in a
category we’ve helped grow," Rashid Ali, the CEO and co-founder of Chomps, said in a statement. "Chicken isn’t just another product line; it's an opportunity to reshape an underdeveloped segment and continue to raise the bar for what consumers can expect.”
Chomps also highlighted the Savory Breakfast chicken stick as being a key innovation to help expand meat sticks from the day into the morning when consumers are short on time.
The meat stick segment has benefited from increased consumer demand for protein and portable snacks.
Sales of dried meat snacks, excluding jerky, rose 10.7% to $3.3 billion in 2024 from the prior year, according to data provided by Circana. Since 2020, the category has added nearly $1.2 billion in sales.
— Christopher Doering
Twizzlers sip on dirty soda
Hershey-owned Twizzlers is splashing into the dirty soda trend.
The candy is launching a dirty soda-inspired flavor of Twizzlers Straws. The confection, which has vanilla, lime and coconut notes, is designed to be used as an edible straw and gives consumers another option to customize their favorite drink.
Dirty sodas involve mixing creamers or syrups with soft drinks, creating an indulgent and customizable experience. Social media and reality television have propelled dirty sodas into the mainstream and they've gained a foothold among consumers as an alternative to a handmade coffee or latte.
Dirty soda "has become a fun, customizable ritual for fans," Rachel Starr, sweets innovation manager at Hershey, said in a statement. "Twizzlers Straws let people sip, snack and customize their drinks all at once, making the experience a little more playful and unmistakably Twizzlers."
While more restaurants incorporate the drink into their menus, food companies are also giving consumers more ways to experience the beverage at home. PepsiCo has launched a dirty Mountain Dew, while Dr Pepper brought back its creamy coconut flavor, citing the rise of dirty soda.
The Twizzlers flavor is available for a limited time nationwide on Hershey's website March 12 or on Gopuff in select cities including Boston, New York and Philadelphia. The innovation is the latest limited-edition offering from Hershey that plays into larger social media trends. The snacking and confections giant released a Dubai chocolate bar in December.
— Sarah Zimmerman
Stateside launches new sports-drink inspired cocktail
Surfside owner Stateside Brands is launching a canned cocktail inspired by classic sports drinks.
Super Lyte, a vodka-based ready-to-drink cocktail, will launch in four flavors: fruit punch, orange, lemon lime and Blue Chill. Each can has 4.5% alcohol-by-volume and 90 calories.
“We have been ideating and developing Super Lyte for over two years, after identifying a growing trend from consumers who enjoy mixing sports drinks with vodka,” Matt Quigley, president and co-founder of Stateside Brands, said in a statement.
Super Lyte will be available in variety packs in more than 20 states in the East Coast and Midwest. The drinks will be available online, as well as in liquor stores, retailers, bars, restaurants and music and sports venues.
The launch of Super Lyte comes as more beverage brands look to broaden their association with health, fitness and sports. Stateside previously expanded its Surfside flavors into “golf course friendly” varieties for spring, and Super Lyte appears positioned to continue this sports focus with a Philadelphia Phillies partnership.
The company has found a niche among young consumers looking for spirit-forward premixed cocktails without carbonation. Stateside said it sold 11.1 million cases in 2025, up more than 6 million cases from the prior year.
— Laurel Deppen
