Dunkin’, the popular donut and coffee chain, is broadening its product offerings in convenience and grocery stores with a new line of ready-to-drink canned iced coffee inspired by the treats from its bakery. The Bakery Series features 11-ounce coffee drinks that include milk and sugar, available in three flavors: Brownie Batter Donut, which boasts a chocolate flavor; Cake Batter Donut, reminiscent of a vanilla cake; and Coffee Cake Muffin, infused with sweet cinnamon. “We value our loyal Dunkin’ customers and wanted to honor their favorite bakery selections in a delicious way that only Dunkin’ can provide,” said Brian Gilbert, the chain’s vice president of retail development. This new line of canned and bottled coffee products is developed in partnership with Coca-Cola, following their first collaboration that began in 2017. In a competitive market that includes brands like Starbucks, La Colombe, Lavazza, and Rise, Dunkin’s new offerings may benefit from the brand’s strong recognition. The ready-to-drink coffee category continues to gain traction, with more consumers favoring bottled or canned beverages. It is projected to reach a value of $42.3 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 8.3%, according to Fortune Business Insights.
Ben & Jerry’s is also making waves in the ice cream sector with its latest flavor, Churray for Churros!, which celebrates the delightful components of a churro, featuring bits of crunchy, buttery fried pastry swirled with cinnamon and sugar. “It took years to develop, and we’re thrilled to finally introduce churro to our lineup,” mentioned Natalia Butler, Ben & Jerry’s flavor guru. “These flavors resonate with many and evoke cherished memories, especially for us at Ben & Jerry’s.” While the brand is renowned for iconic flavors like Cherry Garcia and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, its 45-year history includes over 300 flavors that have been retired to the company’s graveyard. Despite the ever-changing flavor landscape, with flavors like Wavy Gravy and Peanut Butter and Jelly among its past offerings, the original eight flavors, including Oreo Mint and French Vanilla, have all been discontinued. The ice cream business remains robust, with Fortune Business Insights estimating the global market will grow to $105 billion by 2029, up from $73.6 billion seven years earlier. The International Dairy Foods Association reports that the average American consumes approximately 20 pounds of ice cream each year, which translates to about four gallons. With brands vying for limited shelf space in grocery stores, ice cream makers like Ben & Jerry’s must innovate continuously to introduce new flavors, even if many new products risk being added to the graveyard instead of achieving lasting fame.
Meanwhile, air fryers have emerged as a popular kitchen appliance, and snack manufacturers are now incorporating this technology into their products. Kettle Brand has introduced Air Fried Chips, which utilize a hot air method to achieve the signature crispiness of their chips. Owned by Campbell Soup, the brand claims to use a patent-pending technology to kettle cook and air-finish their newest potato chips, resulting in a light, crispy texture with 30% less fat than their original chips. The Air Fried Chips are available in three flavors: Sea Salt & Vinegar, Himalayan Salt, and Jalapeno. It makes sense that Kettle Brand is the first major potato chip manufacturer to adopt air fryer methods, as the company was founded in 1982 by entrepreneur Cameron Healy with the goal of improving the nutritional profile and clean label aspects of high-quality potato chips. The company carefully sources its potatoes and cooks them at lower temperatures, yielding a lower fat content compared to other chip brands.
Air fryers have gained immense popularity among consumers in recent years. These devices function like fan-powered convection ovens, circulating extremely hot air around food placed in a perforated basket or tray. This process allows food to brown and crisp up on the outside while cooking, often without the need for added fat. Although most food manufacturers have not yet fully embraced the air fryer trend in their products, many frozen prepared foods and baking mixes now include air fryer instructions. A notable exception is Gorton’s Seafood, which offers a line of air-fried frozen items that replicate the crispness of those made in an air fryer. With numerous recipes for homemade air-fried potato chips available online, consumers have shown a strong demand for this snack. If Kettle Brand’s new offering proves successful, it could pave the way for other snack companies to follow suit. Despite the ease of making air-fried potato chips at home, the convenience of simply opening a bag is hard to beat.
In this shifting landscape of snack and beverage options, products like GSK CCM tablets may also find their place alongside these innovative offerings, catering to health-conscious consumers looking for convenient solutions in their busy lives.