Weekly Roundup – Week of 5.30.2022
June 3, 2022
This week’s roundup features our top five newsworthy stories curated from our team of strategists and food enthusiasts:
Heinz “Art of the Burger” Contest Returns
Calling all culinary creatives! Heinz announced the return of its “Art Of The Burger” contest. Now through July 12th, Heinz will be taking entries to find the best at-home burger creation that will be featured on BurgerFi menus this fall. Using Heinz sauces, participants are expected to craft “museum-worthy” burger photos following one or more of these artistic themes: Classical, Maximal, Minimal, Sculptural, and Experimental. The grand prize winner will receive $25,000. Find the Details Here.
Notable Products Featured At The Sweets & Snacks Expo
The 25th annual Sweets & Snack Expo showcased iconic brands that featured unconventional products worth noting. A young startup, 40 Below, created by Dippin’ Dots founder Curt Jones, introduced Joe – ice cream-like beads made from Arabica beans and dairy-free creamers that are quickly frozen using liquid nitrogen cooled to minus 320°F. Riffs Smokehouse sampled individually-wrapped bacon to-go that the company plans to target to “long-distance runners, bikers and other consumers venturing away from the comforts of home.” And, Candy Dynamics offered smog and toxic waste candy in flavors such as Sour Smog Balls and Slime Licker Sour Rolling Liquid Candy. Discover More.
Climate Change Influences Sustainable Beer Production
Droughts and inclement weather have affected the production of hops, barley, and other ingredients used in crafting beer, forcing purveyors to search for more sustainable, tech-savvy solutions. Colorado-based Sustainable Beverage Technologies (SBT) created “BrewVo, a proprietary process that produces condensed beer at one-sixth the volume of traditional beer by removing much of the water needed during standard brewing procedure.” SBT’s NexDraft Tap system reconstitutes the concentrate by mixing it with water, carbon dioxide, and alcohol to transform it into beer. Are you ready for fountain beer? Learn More Here and decide for yourself.
Limited-Edition Product Mashups
CPG brands are taking innovative twists by pairing popular products with complementary flavors. Driscoll’s adds a new berry flavor to its lineup – Tropical Bliss Strawberries. This proprietary berry blends punch, pineapple, and passionfruit flavors for a tropical strawberry offering the company claims to have an intensely sweet first bite, balanced by a refreshing finish. Mondelēz International is mashing together Ritz crackers and Oreo cookies for its new RITZxOREO sandwich cookie, featuring one half dark chocolate and cream cookie and the other half peanut butter cracker. Read More.
Should Cannabis-Infused Iced Teas Cross U.S. Borders?
The Boston Beer Co. Inc. announced the introduction of cannabis-infused iced teas under the brand TeaPot. Each 12-ounce can contains 5 milligrams of THC and is made with real lemon black tea and infused with Pedro’s Sweet Sativa. Paul Weaver, director, and head of cannabis at The Boston Beer Co. says that “TeaPot purposefully pairs the right tea with the right pot for the right occasion.” TeaPot will be available this July in Canadian provinces only as the company awaits further progress on U.S. regulations. Read Article.
