Baseball season is upon us, and newly rebranded Archer has become the “Official Meat Snack Partner” of the 2024 World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Archer’s Original Beef and Jalapeno Beef meat sticks as well as its Original Beef and Habanero Beef Jerky will be sold at concession stands and hospitality locations throughout Dodger Stadium. The brand will also become a Dreamteam Partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and will sponsor the Sunset Run event.
“Growing up in Los Angeles, the Dodgers have been woven into the fabric of my life,” said Archer founder and CEO Eugene Kang in a statement. “While our products already have a strong presence throughout Los Angeles retailers, we’re thrilled to now bring Archer’s premium, better-for-you jerky and meat sticks directly to fans at the stadium and collaborate with the Dodgers on creating unique experiences throughout the Los Angeles area.”
The brand is capitalizing on continuing demand for better-for-you meat snacks. Meat sticks (excluding jerky) hit nearly $3.3 billion by the end of 2024 and show no signs of stopping. Category sales grew 10.4% for the year.
Archer reported its sales were up 90% year-over-year.
Newman’s Own Goes On Tour
Food and beverage company Newman’s Own is taking its products on the road with a “Pay What You Want” Food Truck Tour this spring.
Starting today near Bryant Park in Manhattan, the brand is offering pizzas, salads, cookies and coffee supporting the Newman’s Own Foundation. The campaign is raising money and awareness for food insecurity, aiming to bring in $500,000 to support the cause.
Along with the food truck tour, Newman’s Own is hosting a nationwide casting call for “Paul’s Pit Crew.” Selected candidates will become brand ambassadors who will travel to key locations with the food truck to share “behind-the-scenes moments and impact of the initiative on social media.”
Gopuff Taps Magnolia Bakery For 4/20
What’s better than a baked treat from Magnolia Bakery on 4/20? That sweet indulgence being delivered to your door in 15 minutes.
This is why the famed New York bakery-turned-CPG brand has partnered with instant commerce company Gopuff for its new 4/20 weekend-themed The Bakery in-app category.
As part of Gopuff’s platform launch, Magnolia Bakery has developed an exclusive Puff’rnutter Cupcake collaboration. The limited-edition cupcake flavor features a vanilla and chocolate cupcake with a marshmallow center topped with peanut butter butter cream. The cupcake pack is available exclusively on The Bakery for $11.99.
Pod Drops Foods For New Brand Feel
Emerging brands-focused distributor Pod Foods is now known simply as Pod, dropping “Foods” from its moniker as it grows beyond the industry and into new segments such as VMS (Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements), HBA (Health & Beauty Aids) as well as additional services.
The company emphasized it is still delivering on what has built the business, including “freight, fulfillment, marketing, insights, and a marketplace for the most exciting emerging brands in food.” The name change signals that the company has “blossomed into something far bigger: A thriving, nationwide ecosystem where brands flourish, retailers discover innovation faster, and consumers finally get real choice,” the company said in a LinkedIn post.
The refresh comes with a new logo rooted in its mission to provide support and resources to businesses of all sizes. The logo is intended to bridge core elements of the distributor’s mission: “growth in motion, ideas in bloom, and the infinite cycle of creation and innovation.”
Dan O’s Freshens Up Look For 10-Year Anniversary
Kentucky-based seasoning brand Dan O’s is celebrating 10 years on the market with a refreshed brand look that prioritizes new, bolder and more vibrant colors while maintaining its distinct cap colors. The brand said it has added more nutritional icons and updated its front-of-pack imagery with “a close-up shot of Lil Danny in his overalls – a carry-over from the original label,” per a press release.
The new look will begin rolling out to stores in late April. It will first be implemented across the brand’s recently launched Chili Lime SKU, which combines lime with a “bold pepper mix.” Though it has been in operation for a decade, the business took off thanks to a slate of self-produced viral TikTok recipes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cabot Scores Home Run With Red Sox
Play ball! Farmer-owned cooperative Cabot Creamery joined the Boston Red Sox roster as the team’s official grilled cheese. The partnership will see Cabot serving up Traditional, Pimento and Classic grilled cheese sandwiches on Jersey Street throughout the 2025 MLB season.
“As a farmer-owned cooperative, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. This partnership is a true celebration of our New England heritage and the power of community,” said Kelly Littlefield, director of brand experience at Cabot Creamery, in a press release.
Hostess Hits the Road With Munchie Mobile
Capitalizing on what is arguably the largest “snacking holiday” – we’re talking about 4/20, of course – Hostess is taking its sweet treats on the road with its Munchie Mobile.
The brand is taking the truck on a “Route 420” road trip from April 11 to April 19 to serve up Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Donettes and Kazbars at stops along the East Coast, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland and New Jersey. The Munchie Mobile will be stationed outside Curaleaf dispensary locations and open at 4:20 p.m. sharp.
On the big day (April 20), Hostess will hand out snacks from the truck in Brooklyn, New York, at 122 Flatbush Ave from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Blaze on, kids!
KIT KAT Introduces The ‘Break Brothers’
In its first ever standalone character-driven campaign, KIT KAT is encouraging consumers to take consistent breaks during their busy day-to-day lives.
The new ad spot – created by Orchard Creative – follows the “Break Brothers,” four towering, suit-clad men, entering bustling office spaces to “defend your right to a real, crispy, creamy break” by putting an end to multitasking and interruptions from coworkers. It’s a modern interpretation of the brand’s most well-known slogan, “Have a Break, Have a KIT KAT,” which dates back to 1957.
“KIT KAT has become one of the most recognizable brand identities in the world, from our signature bar snap to our classic jingle. The Break Brothers takes that legacy a step further, embodying what the brand stands for: making breaks better, more frequent and absolutely delicious,” said Ryan Reiss, VP of brand strategy and creative development at The Hershey Company, in a statement.
Pomi Unveils New, ‘Bold’ Look
Italian products producer Pomì unveiled an updated look for its line of Crushed Tomatoes with bold and colorful boxes that match the brand’s new SKUs, which include Basil, Onion, Garlic, and Chili Pepper varieties.
The brand’s products are packed in 13.8 oz. Tetrapak cartons. The new line will debut at select Whole Foods Market locations nationwide.
“Our new packaging reflects our commitment to offering consumers a premium product with a modern twist,” said Pomì USA marketing manager Ilaria Bonucchi, in a statement. “By maintaining our focus on 100% Italian tomatoes and providing a more sustainable and user-friendly product, we are proud to lead the charge in delivering authentic Italian flavors in a contemporary, recyclable package.”
Barilla Finds New Formula1
Pasta producer Barilla is off to the races with a new partnership announced this month, becoming the Official Pasta Partner of Formula 1. The multi-year collaboration will make Barilla products available at branded pasta bars at Formula 1’s Paddock Club and the Paddock locations.
“A lightning-fast F1 car and a delicious plate of pasta: what do they have in common?” said Paolo Barilla, VP of Barilla Group and former F1 driver. “At first, it may not be obvious, but behind both, and the effort that goes into making them, are skilled professionals, passionate and determined, driven by the desire to keep improving.”
The deal will also bring plenty of visibility to Barilla products with trackside signage, digital activations, and consumer promotions.
Spiceology Invites Fans to Shape ‘The Future of Flavor’
Spiceology is seeking to deepen its connection with its customers by launching the Spiceology Test Kitchen, an interactive platform that invites consumers to choose new spice blends for future purchase before they even exist.
As part of the platform, the brand’s chefs will post prototypes on testkitchen.spiceology.com, and fans can “back” the blend with a no-charge pre-order. If and when a test blend secures 500 backers, Spiceology will convert pledges to purchases and ship out the product; most Test Kitchen blends will be limited-time offerings.
“We want people to feel like true insiders by not just getting the inside track on flavor innovation but actually shaping it,” said Darby McLean, CEO at Spiceology, in a statement. “This new program allows us to push flavor boundaries further by putting wild new ideas in front of our fans and committing to build what they pledge to buy.”
