It's a party in the USA for America's 250th birthday, and major food and beverage brands are getting patriotic to celebrate.
From General Mills to Campbell's, companies are rolling out new takes on American classics and giving brands their stars and stripes to celebrate the nation's semiquincentennial. Some brands, including Kraft Heinz, are also official sponsors of America250, the bipartisan organization created to celebrate the milestone.
Brands are hoping that the semiquincentennial, which falls on Saturday, will bring a much needed boost to sales. This year's Fourth of July is also occurring during the World Cup, which is raising expectations that this year's celebrations could bring a red, white and blue boom in sales.
While many brands rolled out commemorative packaging to mark the 250th anniversary of the country's founding, some companies went further with limited-time offerings featuring patriotic flavors, shapes and colors.
Take a look at some of the top innovations from companies in celebration of America's 250th.
General Mills bakes America a birthday cake
Betty Crocker and Cheerios are breaking out the birthday candles in honor of America's 250th.
The General Mills brands are rolling out limited-edition offerings, including a Cheerios birthday cake flavor and Betty Crocker America’s Birthday Cake cookie and cake mix. The offerings are part of 79 limited-edition products introduced by General Mills for the semiquincentennial.
"For 160 years, General Mills has been a cornerstone of American pantries, with our brands in over 90% of households across the country," Courtney Hamacher, vice president and interim chief creative and marketing excellence officer at General Mills. "As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we’re incredibly proud to help families add joy to the table, celebrating the moments, big and small, that matter most."
Other brands, including Pillsbury, Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit by the Foot, are also getting patriotic upgrades. Fruit Roll-Ups launched a Star-Spangled Cherry flavor, while Fruit by the Foot Splitz rolled out a Star-Spangled Strawberry and Berry Blast offering.
Pillsbury has multiple new patriotic-themed products to celebrate the milestone, including a Stars and Stripes Toaster Strudel with blueberry icing and star-shaped sprinkles consumers can add themselves. The brand also rolled out ready-to-bake apple pie dough plus a red, white and blue-colored cookie dough.
Kraft Heinz breaks out the stars and stripes
Kraft Heinz is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States by honoring the summer cookout, with a lineup of new product innovations across its portfolio.
The campaign, dubbed “The United Tastes of America,” features Velveeta noodles with “America shapes” including stars and the outline of the U.S. It also includes star-shaped Ore-Ida Tater Tots and Jet-Puffed star-shaped marshmallows.
Kraft Heinz will also add special red, white and blue packaging to its Kraft singles, mayo and mac & cheese. The patriotic packaging will also be on Cool Whip and Heinz-branded ketchup and mustard.
“From coast to coast, no matter what the cookout looks like, Kraft Heinz brands show up at the table – they’re part of the recipes, traditions and memories that define summer,” Whitney Shaw, head of portfolio marketing for Kraft Heinz in North America, said in a statement. “As the country approaches this milestone anniversary, we’re celebrating the foods that have brought people together for generations – and continue to do so today.”
Sam Adams bids a patriotic nod to its namesake
The craft beer company named for Founding Father Samuel Adams is celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary with a collection that harkens back to the founding era.
Boston Beer’s Samuel Adams re-released its brewery patriot collection, which includes ingredients inspired by the 1770s such as molasses and licorice root. The beers additionally have a subtle, smokey character to mimic how malts were dried during the time period.
The limited-edition variety pack includes a porter, hard root beer, dark wheat ale and honey ginger ale. Each brew is also named for and inspired by a Founding Father, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
“It is pretty fun to go back and think about what ingredients would have been included in beers from that time and bring those back, even though they’re probably not what you would typically find in a beer on the shelf today,” Master Cicerone Shelley Smith previously told Food Dive.
The four pack retails for $17.76.
Campbell's celebrates with nostalgic favorites
The Campbell’s Company is going full Americana to commemorate its 250th anniversary.
Pepperidge Farm is rolling out a new apple pie-flavored cookie named after the founder of the brand Margaret Rudkin. The limited-edition product, called Maggie's Apple Pie, features apple and cinnamon flavors with a lattice design on top to resemble the classic dessert.
Campbell's Snack Factory is also adding some fireworks to Pretzel Crisps. Fireworks Berry Crème Pretzel Crisps features a special berry cream coating and popping candy to mimic firecrackers.
“Summer is when people gather, share and look for snacks that feel celebratory, especially in a year filled with patriotic moments,” Matt Venturella, senior brand manager at Snack Factory, said in a statement.
Campbell’s is also creating special packaging to commemorate the anniversary for brands including Cape Cod, Goldfish, Lance and Snyder’s of Hanover.
Chobani rings the Liberty Bell
Chobani is commemorating the U.S.’s 250th anniversary with a special creamer and a new blend of La Colombe ground coffee.
La Colombe, which the yogurt giant bought in 2023, is introducing Liberty Blend Premium Ground Coffee, which plays up the brand's Philadelphia roots. The brew is a medium roast, and contains tasting notes of milk chocolate, nuts and brownie.
The coffee comes in a commemorative tin denoting the 250th anniversary with a photo of the Liberty Bell and the year 1776. It retails for $15 online and in select retail locations.
The company is additionally adding special 250th anniversary packaging to some of its other products, including multiserve cold brew bottles.
To go along with the coffee, Chobani is also launching an American Blueberry coffee creamer dedicated to U.S. farmers. The limited-edition flavor pays homage to the 250th anniversary with blueberries and cream sourced from American farms, according to a LinkedIn post. It comes in a 24-ounce carton.
