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.
Newman’s Own brings ‘purpose’ to salad kits
Sauce and snacks maker Newman’s Own is adding packaged salad kits to its menu.
The philanthropic food brand, which says it gives its proceeds to children facing adversity, is partnering with Fresh Del Monte’s vegetable division to launch Newman’s Own Salad Kits. The offerings will be available in four varieties: King of Caesars, Rodeo Remix, Italiano Magnifico and Parmesan Powerhouse.
“Consumers have many choices in the salad kit aisle, and that’s why we are proud to bring something truly different with our Newman’s Own partnership,” Danny Dumas, senior vice president of sales, marketing and product management in North America for Fresh Del Monte, said in a statement. “By combining our high standards with Newman’s Own renowned dressings and philanthropic model, we’re setting a new benchmark in the category.”
Consumers are increasingly interested in purchasing foods with values that align with their own. These attributes include helping producers or the environment, improving working conditions for children and lowering food waste. In many cases, shoppers are willing to pay more for these offerings.
As brands look to differentiate themselves in the market, attaching to one or more of these causes provides them with a competitive advantage.
Newman’s Own already sells dressings, dried fruit and olive oil that can be added to salads. Now, the philanthropic brand has greens that consumers can purchase alongside these other products — keeping more consumers within the Newman’s Own family.
At the same time, Newman’s Own is better positioned to benefit from a jump in prepackaged salad sales as consumers look to eat healthier and are drawn to their convenience. The global packaged salad market was estimated at $12 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.7% through 2030, according to Grand View Research.
— Christopher Doering
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Courtesy of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Ocean Spray takes a dip into drink mixes
As consumers seek more on-the-go food and beverage options, Ocean Spray is adding to its portfolio with a line of drink mixes.
The brand said the drink mixes “mimic the flavors” of some of its most popular juices without added sugar.
The products arrive in three varieties: White Cran x Strawberry, Cran x Grape, and White Cran x Peach. In a statement, Ocean Spray said the products are a response to the growing demand for “zero sugar, convenient beverage options, without sacrificing flavor.”
The cranberry juice maker’s drink mixes are available on Amazon and will scale to other retailers in 2025. The mixes are part of a collaboration with Dyla Brands, which licenses products from C4, Dole, Hawaiian Punch and others.
Long considered a stagnant category, powdered drink mixes have reentered the fray in recent years amid the growth of better-for-you beverages and hydration drinks.
Notably, Unilever’s Liquid I.V. shot to popularity with its electrolyte mixes designed to nurse hangovers or help quench thirst after a workout. A variety of drink mixes cropped up to compete with the brand in the past two years, including Coca-Cola’s BodyArmor Flash I.V., PepsiCo’s Gatorade and Liquid Death’s Death Dust.
The powdered drink mix category is projected to be worth $103.5 billion by 2031, increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.5%, according to SkyQuest.
— Chris Casey
