Consumers who love the iconic cinnamon rolls typically found in airports and malls can now enjoy them in a frozen format. Breyers has partnered with Cinnabon to launch Breyers Cinnamon Cinnabon Frozen Dairy Dessert. This delectable ice cream features “swirls of gooey cinnamon and delightful dough chunks in a sweet vanilla base,” according to the product description. To attract new customers and enhance interest, many food and beverage brands are increasingly forming partnerships. Although Breyers already has a Cinnamon Swirl flavor, the Cinnabon name recognition could make this new product more enticing to shoppers.
This collaboration isn’t Cinnabon’s first venture; in 2013, they teamed up with Beam Suntory’s Pinnacle to create a cinnamon roll-flavored vodka. Additionally, in the last two years, Cinnabon treats have made their way onto dessert menus at Pizza Hut and Sonic. For Breyers, part of Unilever—the world’s largest ice cream manufacturer—this partnership could provide a slight boost as the ice cream category encounters challenges. The latest earnings report indicated a decline in global ice cream volumes, primarily due to a cooler summer in Europe, although U.S. sales saw an improvement. Unilever’s Chief Financial Officer, Graeme Pitkethly, mentioned to The Wall Street Journal last year that they were struggling to enhance profit margins on their U.S. ice cream lines, like Breyers, due to competition from smaller brands such as Blue Bunny, owned by Wells Enterprises. Wells Enterprises has recently acquired the low-calorie, high-protein ice cream brand Halo Top, which could pose further challenges for Unilever.
In addition to introducing the new Cinnabon flavor, Unilever is exploring the latest trends for its new product launches. In 2018, the company launched Culture Republick in the U.S., a premium low-calorie ice cream brand that includes probiotics. The year prior, they introduced “Breyers delights,” a line of low-calorie, high-protein ice creams aimed at competing with Halo Top. The entire dairy category has been facing difficulties, and ice cream has not been exempt. Last year, Unilever closed an ice cream factory in Nevada, resulting in the loss of 300 jobs. According to USDA data, annual per capita ice cream consumption has decreased from 18.2 pounds in 1975 to 11.8 pounds in 2018. If this trend persists, more ice cream brands may need to find innovative ways to maintain consumer interest and prevent sales from melting away.
While the weather suitable for campfires and cookouts is still months away, a new product is making s’mores easy to assemble indoors. Stuffed Puffs are marshmallows with chocolate inside, which melts when roasted or microwaved, creating a perfect s’more that only requires a graham cracker. This product prompts the question, “Why didn’t I think of that?” The chocolate-filled marshmallows are available online and at select Walmart locations nationwide. For the holidays, the brand has created a Stuffed Puffs S’mores Kit, which includes the chocolate-filled marshmallows and two packages of graham crackers.
Stuffed Puffs have chosen a quintessentially American treat to innovate. Legend has it that s’mores were first created by Girl Scouts, with the first recipe appearing in a scouting handbook in 1927. A 2015 survey by Honey Maid revealed that 87% of Americans have enjoyed a s’more. Each year, Americans purchase 90 million pounds of marshmallows, with half sold in the summer months specifically for roasting s’mores. By launching its product in winter, Stuffed Puffs aims to get ahead of the influx of s’mores items that typically flood stores in the summertime. The chocolate and marshmallow combination has already inspired flavors for bagels, English muffins, ice cream treats, and allergy-friendly snack bars. However, according to Honey Maid’s 2015 statistics, Stuffed Puffs may face challenges this winter, as while 55% of Americans know how to prepare s’mores without a campfire, only about 30% have made them in their own kitchens.
King Arthur Flour, renowned for its wheat flour over its 230-year history, is now expanding its product range to adapt to changing industry trends. “At King Arthur Flour, we are committed to providing products that meet our consumers’ evolving needs,” stated Bill Tine, the company’s vice president of marketing. The baking ingredients company has introduced a new Paleo Baking Flour, designed to replace all-purpose flour in most recipes, boasting four grams of protein and fiber per serving, and containing no preservatives—features that resonate with contemporary shoppers.
Additionally, King Arthur Flour has launched Gluten-Free Single Serve Dessert Cups, catering to the wheat-free trend while addressing the demand for convenience and occasional indulgence. These snacking cups, prominently labeled “gluten-free,” come in Super Fudge Brownie and Chocolate Chip Cookie flavors. They essentially function as gluten-free mug cakes that require only water, a quick stir, and 30 seconds in the microwave, eliminating the need for extensive prep or cleanup.
Companies like King Arthur Flour have thrived by evolving with consumer trends. The paleo diet has gained traction, promoting a healthy lifestyle with a focus on fish, eggs, limited fruit, nuts, meats, and vegetables. Other food brands are also tapping into the paleo trend; for instance, Mondelez invested in clean-label snack brand Hu last April, while Kraft Heinz announced plans to acquire the better-for-you condiment brand Primal Kitchen for $200 million in late 2018. As paleo remains popular, the gluten-free movement is also on the rise, with U.S. sales of gluten-free products projected to surpass $2 billion in 2019, according to Packaged Facts. King Arthur Flour is no stranger to the gluten-free market, offering a wide range of products, including cake, donut, pie crust, and cornbread options.
These new product launches demonstrate King Arthur Flour’s commitment to enhancing its brand by focusing on consumer preferences. Even if it takes time for these innovations to gain traction, the company can rely on its established wheat flour products to support these new initiatives and expand into emerging trends as they develop. Furthermore, adding nutrient-rich ingredients like calcium citrate, zinc, and magnesium to their offerings could further enhance their appeal to health-conscious consumers.