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.
Sweethearts cozies up to a tough economy
Valentine's Day staple Sweethearts is launching new phrases for its heart-shaped candies, acknowledging how inflation is taking a toll on modern romance.
To reflect the financial hardship facing many people, Sweethearts is adding "Love in This Economy" sayings to its iconic conversation hearts. Phrases such as "Split Rent," "Share Logn," and "Buy n bulk” will complement classic sayings like "Cutie Pie" and "Marry me" in boxes and bags of Sweethearts.
The candy brand said 75% of Americans are seeking more affordable options when it comes to dating this year, according to its own research, with 80% saying the economy is impacting their Valentine’s Day plans.
"Sweethearts has always evolved with the times by staying aware of current dating trends and relationships — and being practical is having a moment," Evan Brock, vice president of marketing for Sweethearts maker Spangler Candy Company, said in a statement. "That's why some of the messages on our Sweethearts candies aren't just about finding love the old-fashioned way this year."
Sweethearts has added new and topical sayings to its heart mixes in recent years in an effort to stay relevant to consumer trends in dating.
In 2024, it debuted Situationship Boxes filled with blurry, misprinted candies that it said were as hard to read as Generation-Z relationships. Most recently, the brand rolled out Ghosted Sweethearts for Halloween in specially designed boxes that contained all-white hearts with no messages at all.
The 122-year-old Sweethearts brand was acquired by Spangler in 2018 and re-released two years later. Since then, sales have “more than tripled,” the company said in 2024.
— Christopher Doering
Red Baron adds K-pop to pizza
Red Baron is heating up frozen pizza with Korean BBQ.
CJ Schwan’s, which also distributes Korean frozen food brand Bibigo in the U.S., is launching a limited-edition Red Baron & Bibigo Korean BBQ‑Style Classic Crust Pizza. The pie will be available in early February at Kroger.
The pizza includes "a dynamic mix of flavors and textures," including Korean BBQ-style sauce, marinated beef, carrots, plus caramelized and green onions.
"Our innovation teams were excited to merge these two beloved brands and create something truly unique for our customers," Fed Arreola Carrazco, CJ Schwan's vice president of marketing, said in a statement. "This collaboration brings together the delicious crunch of our Red Baron Classic Crust and the vibrant Korean BBQ‑style flavors consumers love from bibigo."
The frozen pizza space has been seen as ripe for innovation as consumers look to replicate the restaurant experience at home without breaking the bank. While brands like DiGiorgno have focused on elevating frozen pizzas with premium options, others have leaned into unique offerings that maximize flavors and textures. Tombstone, for example, released a Bar Snacks pizza with mozzarella sticks, fried pickles and nacho cheese sauce, calling it an “unapologetic, over-the-top bold flavor experience.”
Red Baron's latest launch also leans into the unexpected while going a step further by capitalizing on other trends such as globally-inspired flavors and unique collaborations.
— Sarah Zimmerman
Life Savers partners with Sparkling Ice on candy-flavored water
Sparkling Ice is teaming with Mars-owned Life Saver on a line of candy-inspired sparkling waters.
Sparkling Ice Life Savers combine the bright colors and flavors of the circular candies with sparkling water. The new offerings are sugar free and lack artificial colors. The beverages come in four flavors: wild cherry, pineapple, strawberry and a limited edition green apple.
Each drink comes in 17-ounce bottles wrapped in packaging meant to look similar to a Life Savers candy tube.
The green apple flavor, in particular, marks a milestone for the Sparkling Ice brand, according to Sparkling Ice parent Talking Rain. Green is difficult to create from natural sources and produce at a commercial scale.
“As a company, we’ve wanted to add green to our rainbow of Sparkling Ice flavors in the U.S. for years, but that tantalizing color remained out of reach – until now,” Emily Cruz, Talking Rain’s research and development manager, said in a statement. “I’m proud of how our team connects culinary creativity and science to deliver innovation.”
The company is also planning to launch a vibrant blue color later this year.
Sparkling Ice Life Savers is available at select retailers, including Kroger, Publix and Amazon. The drinks will debut at other retailers in the spring.
The collaboration and addition of green and blue colors reflect Sparkling Ice’s desire to push the sparkling water category forward, Talking Rain said. The success of its earlier collaboration with Starburst proved "just how much consumers are interested in seeing their favorite candy brands brought together with Sparkling Ice, the company said.
Flavored seltzer, sparking and mineral water have seen sales jump from $3.8 billion in 2020 to $5.5 billion in 2025, according to Circana data. The sparkling water category has benefited from consumers shifting away from sugary drinks.
— Laurel Deppen
