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.
Mountain Dew and Trolli ‘dew the worm’
Sour gummy worm brand Trolli is linking up with Mountain Dew in a collaboration that spans food and beverage.
The Ferrara and PepsiCo-owned brands are launching two limited-edition products that combine the taste of both products: Trolli x Mountain Dew Sour Brite Crawlers gummy candy and Mountain Dew Zero Sugar x Trolli Cherry Lemon soda.
“When you combine the signature citrus kick of Mountain Dew with our soft, chewy sour gummy candy texture, you get something truly next-level tasty,” Chad Womack, brand director at Trolli, said in a statement. “These Trolli crawlers deliver that unmistakable Mountain Dew taste in a completely new way that's going to surprise and delight fans of both brands.”
The gummy worm collaboration, which is set to release Aug. 25 at select retailers nationwide, includes three flavor pairings that all deliver “the signature Mountain Dew citrus taste that fans love,” according to the press release. Flavors include original citrus either on its own or combined with cherry or blue raspberry.
Meanwhile, the beverage is described as sweet and sour, combining the “citrus kick of Mountain Dew with the tangy Trolli Cherry Lemon Sour Brite Crawlers,” per the release. The drink will be available exclusively at Walmart starting Aug. 25, with a national rollout on Sept. 8.
Companies normally considered competitors increasingly are working together on collaborations that involve big-name brands that consumers would not expect. Mondelēz International and Hershey teamed up on Reese’s Oreo cups and cookies, while Pringles launched a chip flavored with Miller Lite beer.
— Sarah Zimmerman
Twinings splashes into refreshers
Tea brand Twinings is giving consumers a way to replicate the café experience at home with new refreshers.
Twinings Refreshers is an instant tea designed to dissolve in cold water. The drinks are formulated with Honeybush herbal tea extract and real fruit pieces, with the company using a proprietary drying method to maintain the taste, texture and aroma of real fruit.
“For more than 300 years, Twinings’ Master Blenders and expert Herbalists have brought the most exciting blends to tea lovers all over the world,” Stephanie Berez, vice president of marketing, North America, said in a statement. “With Twinings Refreshers, we’re bringing that same quality and craft to a new kind of herbal tea experience, one that satisfies cravings with the premium ingredients customers expect from Twinings.”
Twinings Refreshers will launch nationwide this month in Strawberry Raspberry and Peach Mango flavors.
First introduced by Starbucks in 2012, refreshers have exploded in popularity, particularly among Gen Z. More places, including McDonald’s and Taco Bell, are incorporating these drinks into their menus to drive sales.
Refreshers’ bright colors are ideal for social media, while the fruit-forward ingredients speak to the demand for functional beverages.
— Sarah Zimmerman
Guinness ice cream goes on tap
Guinness is cooling down for summer with a new ice cream in partnership with Van Leeuwen.
The Diageo-owned brand is teaming with the ice cream maker on a Guinness flavor inspired by the popular stout. The frozen novelty, which includes rich chocolate chunks, is available in 14-ounce pints at Van Leeuwen Scoop Shops for $11.15, or online with shipping for $12 while supplies last.
The limited-time flavor is packaged in a custom carton, drawing design cues from this summer’s limited-edition Guinness Draught Stout four-pack that reimagined the historic Guinness toucan with a modern American twist.
“We’re always looking for ways to bring the bold flavor of Guinness to life in new formats, offering a modern twist to a timeless classic,” Karissa Downer, Guinness’ director, said in a statement.
Van Leeuwen is no stranger to rolling out limited-time flavors with some of the country’s most popular food brands and entertainers.
During the last few years, Van Leeuwen has collaborated on ice cream flavors with Hidden Valley Ranch and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, additionally releasing Bigface Coffee Affognneato in partnership with NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler and Espresso ice cream with pop star Sabrina Carpenter.
Guinness’ “bold, smooth flavor is a perfect match for our rich French-style ice cream, and this collab felt like the kind of lovely-day indulgence that summer calls for,” said CEO and co-founder Ben Van Leeuwen. “It’s unexpected in the best way — and we think people are going to be surprised by how naturally Guinness and ice cream go together.”
— Christopher Doering
