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.
Cheetos unveils Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle flavor
Cheetos is announcing a “dill”-icious twist to the cheesy snack with its newest flavor Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle.
The flavor was the No. 1 most requested by consumers, a spokesperson for the Frito-Lay brand said in an email to Food Dive. The Cheetos flavor is available at retailers nationwide.
“The new flavor blends the timeless tang of dill pickles with the hit of heat Flamin’ Hot fans know and love, bringing heat-seekers a pickled punchy spice unlike anything they’ve experienced before,” the company said.
Gen Z has propelled pickles to one of the top flavor trends, with #pickle amassing more than 3.7 billion views on TikTok. Other snacking brands have been quick to jump on the bandwagon, with Goldfish, Frank’s RedHot, Heinz Ketchup and more releasing their own versions of the flavor.
Flamin’ Hot products have exploded in popularity in recent years as younger consumers increasingly prefer spicier snacks. Last year, PepsiCo established the flavor as its own brand unit, citing its $3 billion in annual sales for products containing the seasoning.
—Sarah Zimmerman
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Courtesy of Blue Diamond
Blue Diamond brings sweet heat to almonds with Mike’s Hot Honey
A leading almond brand is collaborating with a viral condiment for its latest flavor.
Blue Diamond almonds announced the launch of Hot Honey Almonds in collaboration with Mike’s Hot Honey. The new flavor taps into consumer demand for “swicy,” or sweet and spicy.
“Consumers crave big, exciting flavors, and these almonds deliver a mouthwatering combination of crunch, sweetness and heat that only Blue Diamond and Mike’s Hot Honey can provide,” said Maya Erwin, the vice president of marketing and innovation at Blue Diamond, in a statement.
The Hot Honey Almonds are available on Amazon and at Walmart.
Mike’s Hot Honey was founded by Mike Kurtz in 2010 after he tasted a similar ingredient at a pizzeria while visiting Brazil. The brand has gained a cult following in recent years as consumers increasingly crave a spicier kick in their snacks and meals. Last year, the brand collaborated with Kellanova on a flavor of its Club Crisps crackers.
“Swicy” foods have grown their popularity in large part due to recipes on social media platforms like TikTok. PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay, which sells a variety of sweet and spicy snack flavors, even trademarked the term in 2023. Last November, Tastewise reported 27.8% growth in conversations about “swicy” flavors in the previous year.
—Chris Casey
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Permission granted by The Campbell’s Company
Noosa Yoghurt heats up for hot honey
Noosa Yoghurt is also entering the “swicy” trend with the launch of a hot honey yogurt.
The product blends the sweetness of its whole milk yogurt with the heat of chili-infused honey. It’s debuting this month at Whole Foods, with plans to expand to other retailers in 2025.
“At noosa, we’re all about crafting flavor experiences that not only taste delicious but also challenge expectations in the yogurt category,” Paula Benedetto, senior vice president and general manager at Noosa Yoghurt, told Food Dive in an email. “With our new hot honey flavor, we are excited to introduce a fiery new twist to the yogurt aisle.”
Benedetto said Noosa is exploring additional new innovations and flavors that focus on fruit, indulgence and meeting the preferences of today’s consumers. Noosa currently makes 20 flavors of yogurt, ranging from classics like Blueberry and Vanilla Bean to its top flavor, Lemon.
The hot honey trend has quickly infiltrated the food space. Kellanova, Utz and Bush’s Beans have partnered during the last year with Mike’s Hot Honey, the bestselling hot honey in the U.S. Kellanova cited a Datassential figure in 2024 that found “swicy” snacks and menu items increased 38% in the past year.
The Campbell’s Company announced last fall it is selling its Noosa yogurt business to Lakeview Farms, a manufacturer of fresh dips, desserts and specialty products.
Noosa generated net sales of $177 million for the last 12 months ending October 2024, according to Campbell’s. The transaction is expected to close before March.
—Christopher Doering
