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.
Cup Noodles slurps up Thanksgiving ramen
Japanese instant ramen maker Nissin Foods is delivering the full Thanksgiving experience in a cup of noodles.
Cup Noodles is launching two limited-edition flavors inspired by the holiday.Turkey Dinner features herb-seasoned turkey broth with sweet corn, cranberry bursts, green beans and tender noodles. Pumpkin Pie blends pumpkin flavor with caramelized brown sugar and pie spices.
"With Cup Noodles Turkey Dinner and Pumpkin Pie, we're delivering the full Thanksgiving experience – from main course to dessert – in minutes with the moist, slurpable goodness our fans crave," Priscila Stanton, senior vice president of marketing at Nissin Foods USA, said in a statement.
Both offerings are available exclusively at Walmart and add to several unique, limited-time launches. Cup Noodles released dill pickle ramen over the summer and last year offered a Campfire S'mores flavor.
Food companies have leaned into bold and sometimes outlandish flavors in limited-time products to capture attention on social media and convince younger consumers to try a brand. Progresso, for example, released a candy soup while cheesemaker Crystal Farms launched a dill pickle shredded cheese.
– Sarah Zimmerman
Ore-Ida CrouTots bring spuds to the salad bowl
Ore-Ida is bringing the beloved tater to a new eating occasion.
The Kraft Heinz brand is launching CrouTots, a crunchy potato topping meant to be sprinkled on a salad. The product was inspired by consumer interest on social media where people add a side of fries to any salad order.
“When we saw fans swapping croutons for Tater Tots on social media, we knew we had to make it official,” Casey Turro, director of marketing for Ore-Ida, said in a statement."With CrouTots, we’re taking that idea to the next level, giving salads a craveable potato crunch only Ore-Ida can deliver."
The limited-time offering became available on Sept. 30. It is available exclusively through Gopuff in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Pittsburgh while supplies last.
Social media has rapidly grown into a source of inspiration for food companies.
Last year, for example, Kellanova capitalized on the viral popularity of Clorox’s Hidden Valley Ranch to launch crackers and dressing with the popular dressing flavor. The snack giant also has leaned into the TikTok trend of consumers sharing foods with smoky tastes, launching Smoked Cheddar and Smoked Gouda Cheez-It flavors.
– Christopher Doering
Haribo soda gummies get sour
Haribo is boosting its soda candy offerings with an assortment of sour gummies.
The candy maker is releasing three new soda-shaped gummies with a soft center and a slightly crunchy coating. The sour bite-sized candies will be available in Cherry-Cola, Lemon-Strawberry and Peach-Blue Raspberry.
“HARIBO Sour Sodas give fans exactly what they’ve been asking for: bold sour flavors in exciting combinations that make every bite an experience,” Abigail Bennie, director of brand management at Haribo, said in a statement.
The product will make its debut for trick-or-treaters on Halloween night in Houston during a special pop-up event. Haribo said the Texas city is the “Sourest City,” for having the highest number of sour gummies fans, according to Circana data.
The sour soda candies will rollout to major retailers in November.
Gummy candy is set to be one of the top treats this Halloween season, according to data from the National Confectioners Association. The sour candy market is forecast to be especially robust through 2030, reaching $2.7 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.3%, according to IndustryARC.
– Laurel Deppen
