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.
Kraft Heinz bottles leftover gravy
Heinz wants to make the day after Thanksgiving a little easier for consumers with a squeezable gravy bottle designed for refixing leftovers.
The brand is introducing a limited-edition Leftover Gravy condiment to enhance leftover sandwiches. Consumers can receive the gravy bottle when purchasing Heinz's turkey gravy on Walmart's website while supplies last.
The launch is inspired by the iconic Moist Maker sandwich from '90s sitcom “Friends.” In the episode, character Ross Geller turns Thanksgiving leftovers into a sandwich with a gravy soaked piece of bread as the star ingredient that provides moisture.
“While HEINZ Gravy has always been a fan favorite on the Thanksgiving table, we decided to focus our attention on the day after ritual—because we all know leftovers are the best part and our unmistakably rich and smooth gravy makes them that much better,” Jamie Mack, Associate Director of Brand Communications for Heinz U.S., said in a statement.
A Harris Poll found 94% of Americans craft Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches and nearly half agree that gravy is considered a must-have ingredient. Heinz, which is the market leader in gravy, said it is doubling down on the condiment and trying to appeal to a growing demographic of millennial hosts who are redefining holiday celebrations.
While food companies have fewer innovations tied to Thanksgiving compared to Halloween or Christmas, some are using the holiday as a way to stand out with wacky limited-time offerings. Japanese instant ramen maker Nissin Foods, for example, introduced a Thanksgiving ramen last month.
— Sarah Zimmerman
Tennis star Novak Djokovic serves up a sorghum-based snack
Novak Djokovic is moving from the tennis court to the snacking aisle.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion is investing in and becoming a co-founder of Cob Foods, a manufacturer of corn-free popcorn made from sorghum.
"Eating gluten-free shouldn't mean sacrificing taste, texture, or nutrition," said Djokovic. "That's why Cob resonates with me—it represents everything I value in performance and wellness: thoughtful ingredients, amazing flavor, and real accessibility."
The snack is environmentally friendly because it promotes soil biodiversity, regenerative agriculture and requires little to no water aside from rain, according to the company. It also contains antioxidants and prebiotic fiber that supports good bacteria and digestion.
In addition, Cob noted the snack is also ideally suited for GLP-1 medication users. Sorghum is a resistant starch, which can naturally boost the body's natural GLP-1s to keep you fuller longer.
Cob was founded in 2022 by Jessica Davidoff after her older son developed an allergy to corn.
“Popcorn was one of the hardest things to give up, so I started experimenting with alternatives and discovered sorghum, an ancient grain that pops beautifully and tastes even better," Davidoff said in a statement.
The snack is available in four flavors: Cacio e Pepe, Mediterranean Herb, Olive Oil & Pink Salt, and Seriously Cheesy.
— Christopher Doering
Athletic Brewing launches nonalcoholic pickle beer
Athletic Brewing has released a pickle-flavored nonalcoholic beer as it looks to push the boundaries – and consumer perceptions – of the category.
The pickle-flavored gose, called Dill Dreams, is the latest offering to incorporate the flavor popular on social media into one of its products. Pickle also has made its way into everything from cotton candy and Goldfish crackers, and has become popular in alcoholic beverages with more consumers leaning toward savory and umami flavored drinks.
“Our team wanted to tap into that enduring enthusiasm by delivering all the punchy, aromatic, tart, and briney flavors people have come to love from dill pickles — reimagined in the form of a refreshing NA brew,” Athletic said in a statement to Food Dive.
The Connecticut-based nonalcoholic brewer releases 50 different flavors a year, including year-round, limited-time offerings and a pilot program. When considering potential releases, Athletic said it monitors consumer trends and customer input.
Dill Dreams is the latest beer to be introduced by Athletic. It is also preparing to release Winter Wonder, a light amber brew with notes of spice, mulled apple and orange peel on Nov. 25.
The nonalcoholic beer market is surging as consumers cut back on their alcohol consumption. The segment is projected to be worth $5.5 billion by 2034, according to Future Market Insights.
Athletic Brewing, founded in 2017, is one of the largest nonalcoholic beer brands. Large beer brands such as Heineken and Peroni have gotten in on the trend, as well as celebrities such as John Mulaney, Charlie Sheen and Tom Holland.
Athletic views innovation as a chance to push the category forward by experimenting with nonalcoholic brews that haven’t been fully explored.
“Rather than treating non-alcoholic beer as a one-to-one substitute for full-strength offerings and trying to directly mimic the existing beer styles and flavors, our brewing team approaches every brew as a blank canvas,” Athletic said. “That means developing products that stand on their own — not just in flavor, but in concept — and setting new benchmarks for what’s possible in NA brewing.”
— Laurel Deppen
