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.
Dipping pizza in ranch has been a popular practice for decades. A new partnership between DiGiorno and Hidden Valley Ranch is adding all the flavor, without the need for the ranch bottle.
The brands released two Hidden Valley Ranch-infused frozen pizzas including a “Spicy Rancheroni” thin crust with pepperoni, ranch and jalapenos. DiGiorno is also offering a chicken bacon ranch stuffed crust pizza, which it called a twist “on a fan favorite.”
“DiGiorno knows there is fan frenzy and a deep passion for the beloved combination of pizza and ranch,” Kimberly Holowiak, senior brand manager for DiGiorno, said in a statement. “With ranch being a top condiment choice to dip pizza in, we wanted to imagine new ways for fans to enjoy this pairing that was exclusive to the freezer aisle.”
America’s obsession with the creamy dressing has risen to new heights. In 2024, ranch sales totaled $1.3 billion, outselling ketchup and barbecue sauce, according to The Wall Street Journal. Clorox-owned Hidden Valley is increasingly pairing the dressing with other foods as it looks to drive new sales through commercial partnerships as part of a “Ranch With” campaign.
Last year, Hidden Valley teamed with Cheez-It on a cheesy ranch dressing in addition to a ranch-flavored cracker.The brand has also partnered on lip balms with Burt’s Bees and ice cream with Van Leeuwen.
— Sarah Zimmerman
Best known for its lightly salted cracker, Ritz is bringing a little heat to the iconic offering.
The Mondelēz-owned brand is getting into the so-called “swicy” trend with the launch of its newest flavor: Hot Honey.
The cracker has the familiar, flaky texture and a hot honey taste. It is paired with a touch of heat to help the product “stand out among the increasingly popular swicy (sweet + spicy) snack offerings.”
“We’re always looking for new ways to surprise and delight our fans, and Hot Honey delivers a flavor combination that’s both bold and delicious,” Steven Saenen, Ritz’s vice president of marketing, said in a statement. “The sweet heat profile brings a unique twist to our classic cracker.”
Hot Honey is the brand’s latest foray into spicy flavors. It recently debuted Ritz Bits Spicy Queso and, last year, Ritz Toasted Chips Sweet Habanero.
Ritz joins a growing number of brands entering the red-hot “swicy” trend. Tastewise estimated last November a 27.8% growth in conversations about “swicy” flavors in the previous
In just the last month, Blue Diamond Almonds also launched Hot Honey Almonds in collaboration with Mike’s Hot Honey, while Noosa Yoghurt debuted a hot honey yogurt.
— Christopher Doering
With summer only a few months away, a leading premium ice cream brand is betting consumers will indulge in fruity flavor blends as temperatures rise.
Häagen-Dazs added three new flavors to its sorbet lineup: Summer Blueberry & Lemon, Passion Fruit & Sweet Pear and Sweet Lemon & Coconut.
According to the press release, consumers are increasingly seeking dessert options that are “lighter, refreshing and upscale.”
Häagen-Dazs is promoting the products as part of its non-dairy dessert lineup. Compared to traditional ice cream or gelato, sorbet is typically made with fruit juice and does not contain dairy.
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Frozen sorbet products are growing faster than regular ice cream, with sales in the category rising 9.2% between 2023 and 2024, according to SPINS data cited by Food Navigator. Ice cream, by comparison, grew by 2.8% in that timeframe.
Best known for its extensive ice cream lineup, Häagen-Dazs has extended its reach into new product categories.
The brand, which operates in the U.S. under the Nestlé joint venture Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, entered the yogurt aisle in 2023 with Häagen-Dazs Cultured Crème. The product is slow crafted using a fermentation process that takes up to five times longer than traditional yogurt to mimic the texture of ice cream.
— Chris Casey
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the ownership structure of Häagen-Dazs. It’s been updated to clarify the brand is owned by Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream in the U.S.