General Mills has introduced a unique new product that captures the essence of soup in a hard candy form. Progresso Soup Drops are infused with the flavor of the brand’s Chicken Noodle Soup and shaped like lemon drop candies. The brand describes them as “soup you can suck on.” As mentioned in the press release, these candies feature the flavors of broth, savory vegetables, chicken, egg noodles, and parsley. “When you’re feeling under the weather, nothing is more comforting than Chicken Noodle Soup. So, we thought, why not take it beyond the soup bowl? We’ve encapsulated the beloved flavors of our Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup into a fun, savory candy Soup Drop, providing a completely new way to savor the taste you love, anytime and anywhere,” said MC Comings, vice president of Progresso at General Mills.
Progresso Soup Drops will be available for a limited time on Thursdays throughout this month on the brand’s website, while supplies last. Each bag of candy also includes a can of Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup. The influence of social media has enabled consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to experiment with quirky limited-time offerings to raise awareness of well-known food items. Some of the more unconventional flavor combinations challenge expectations, often merging sweet and savory flavors that are not typically associated with each other. For instance, in 2022, Kraft Heinz collaborated with Van Leeuwen to create a Mac & Cheese ice cream flavor, and the food company also partnered with a winery for a wine blend flavored like Grey Poupon mustard.
In another exciting development, the Italian sauce brand Ragu is tapping into the growing trend of spicy foods. The 88-year-old brand has teamed up with the YouTube series Hot Ones to bring a new level of heat to the pasta sauce aisle. The limited-edition Ragu Hot Ones Heat Pack includes three 14-ounce jars of sauce in increasingly spicy flavors: Fiery Garlic (Hot), Chipotle Blaze (Hotter), and Chile Inferno (Hottest). “We are always looking for ways to push the boundaries of flavor while delivering delicious, high-quality sauces,” said Megan Frank, senior vice president of marketing at Mizkan America, the maker of Ragu. “With this launch, we are thrilled to partner with a leader in spice and a hot trend in entertainment to introduce the hottest pasta sauce available nationwide.”
Interest in spicy food shows no signs of diminishing. A 2024 survey by NC Solutions revealed that more than half of Gen Z consumers consider themselves hot sauce aficionados. Additionally, 62% of all respondents indicated they are more inclined to purchase a food or beverage item if it is marketed as spicy. This trend has prompted food and beverage companies to embrace spice in their products. For example, Kraft Heinz launched Spicy Ketchup in 2023, while the seasoning and sauce maker Tajín collaborated with Kellanova on a pairing with Pop-Tarts, encouraging the use of its spicy chamoy sauce on the pastry. PepsiCo also established Flamin’ Hot as its own brand within its portfolio to help consumers easily identify spicy products.
Fans of margherita and pesto pizza can now evaluate whether the new Cheez-It flavors capture the essence of these dishes. Kellanova has announced the introduction of two new cracker varieties inspired by pizza flavors. Cheez-It Snap’d Extra Crunchy Margherita Pizza features flavors of tomato, basil, olive oil, and mozzarella, while Cheez-It Duoz Pesto + Mozzarella combines green herbs, savory Italian cheeses, and garlic. These new Cheez-It products are set to hit stores nationwide by March.
The billion-dollar Cheez-It brand is a major focus for Kellanova since its transformation into a snacking-only company in 2023. Kellanova’s CEO, Steve Cahillane, emphasized that expanding the Cheez-It brand is a critical aspect of the company’s strategy to grow its market share in the snacking sector. The brand has evolved beyond its traditional square cracker format in recent years, launching products like Cheez-It Puff’d and Snap’d. Last year, they also released two collaborative products with Clorox’s Hidden Valley Ranch, capitalizing on the viral popularity of ranch flavor on social media. Following the TikTok trend of sharing smoky-flavored foods, Kellanova introduced Smoked Cheddar and Smoked Gouda Cheez-It flavors. Notably, the brand has previously found success with its pizza-inspired offerings, with Pizza becoming one of the most beloved Pringles flavors since its introduction in 1999.
In this exciting food landscape, consumers can easily buy Citracal online to enhance their health while enjoying these innovative culinary creations.