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.
Ghirardelli small squares tap into big Dubai chocolate trend
Ghirardelli is taking a bite of the Dubai chocolate craze.
The chocolatier is launching small square chocolates filled with pistachio filling and crispy kataifi pastry, a shredded pastry dough used in Middle Eastern desserts. The treats are taller than a traditional Ghirardelli square to enable the confection to contain more filling.
“Consumers continue to be drawn to the rich pistachio filling and crispy kataifi texture that define Dubai-style chocolate," Bobby Oliver, vice president, head of Marketing at Ghirardelli. "With our new Dubai Style Chocolate SQUARES, we've brought that experience into Ghirardelli's iconic format while delivering the premium quality that consumers expect from our brand.”
Ghirardelli's Dubai Style Chocolate Squares are available at major retailers nationwide and on Ghirardelli.com. The chocolate squares come in a 4.4 ounce bag for a suggested retail price of $10.99.
Dubai chocolate traces its roots to 2021 when a chocolatier in its namesake city created the confection to satisfy a pregnancy craving. It quickly gained momentum after an influencer promoted it on TikTok three years later.
The trend’s popularity has since prompted Lidl, Hershey and Lindt, which is owned by the same company as Ghirardelli, to roll out their own Dubai-style offerings in 2025.
While Ghirardelli continues to innovate in its signature chocolate line with innovations like Dubai, the 174-year-old offering is bringing its premium brand into other sweet categories. Earlier this month it made its first foray into packaged cookies.
— Christopher Doering
PepsiCo’s Flamin’ Hot brings the heat to Pilgrim's chicken
PepsiCo’s Flamin’ Hot flavor is taking flight in chicken.
Poultry processor Pilgrim's Pride is teaming with the popular flavor brand to launch Pilgrim's Flamin’ Hot Chicken Tenders and Bites — – marking the first time PepsiCo's spicy line is entering the frozen aisle.
“Great partnerships create opportunities to reimagine how consumers experience the brands they love,” Janelle Rowe, senior vice president of foodservice for PepsiCo Away from Home, said in a statement. “This collaboration with Pilgrim's brings the signature FLAMIN' HOT experience to a new category, creating another way for consumers to enjoy the bold flavor.”
PepsiCo established Flamin’ Hot as its own brand within the beverage and snacking giant’s portfolio in 2024. At the time, the Doritos and Cheetos maker said the Flamin’ Hot brand, which generated more than $3 billion in retail sales, would make it easier for consumers to identify the offerings.
Flamin’ Hot is available in everything from Doritos and Cheetos chips to Jack Link’s jerky and Funyuns.
As consumer demand for hot and spicy foods grows, Flamin’ Hot has been a major beneficiary. A survey published by NC Solutions two years ago found 62% of consumers surveyed indicated they are more likely to buy a food or beverage item if it is advertised as spicy.
— Christopher Doering
California Pizza Kitchen debuts prepackaged salad
Restaurant chain California Pizza Kitchen will expand its CPG lineup with single-serve salads and kits in 2027.
The new line is made in partnership with FiveStar Gourmet Foods, one of the largest producers of fresh, single-serve food. The companies plan to grow distribution and innovation as the partnership continues.
The collection will include salads inspired by the restaurant's menu, including BBQ Chicken Chopped and Thai Crunch. The salads will also feature “elevated ingredients” and “bold California flavors” in a move to differentiate themselves from other premade salads in groceries.
“This category doesn’t need another ordinary salad,” Tal Shoshan, founder and CEO of FiveStar, said in a statement. “Retailers need products that give consumers a reason to come back with excitement and confidence. CPK brings something very different: a loved restaurant brand known for delicious, creative food.”
The two companies are additionally looking for more opportunities in prepared foods, including dressings and other categories, according to the statement.
California Pizza Kitchen already has a robust lineup of frozen pizza offerings. The chain is looking to expand its retail presence further into appetizers and entrees inspired by the restaurant as well.
The U.S. packaged salad market was valued at $5.8 billion last year, and it’s projected to grow to $7.1 billion by 2033, according to Grandview Research. However, the category is recovering after a Cyclospora outbreak over the summer led to a plunge in sales.
— Laurel Deppen
