Brands Turn Up The Heat With Spicy Product Launches

Hot and spicy flavor innovations continue to be a notable trend in the food space this year, particularly as consumer interest in international and experimental flavors grows, with 428 new spicy products hitting shelves in North America in 2021, according to Mintel.

As consumers look for new food experiences, spicy varieties give brands the opportunity to elevate traditional flavors and stand out on shelf, according to a Mintel Trending Flavors and Ingredients report published this year. These products, particularly in the snack category, can also help brands catch the eye of younger consumers who are increasingly looking for adventurous flavors, with a recent report from Harris Poll indicating that 69% of Millennials and 73% of Gen Z currently buy spicy snacks for themselves or their households.

From dips and sauces to meat snacks, recent product launches have seen brands bring the heat with spicy new offerings featuring everything from mild jalapeño and poblano peppers to the world’s hottest variety, Carolina Reaper. Check out the roundup for the latest spicy innovations from brands like New Primal, Daily Crunch and Maya Kaimal.

The New Primal

The New Primal added a new variety to its meat sticks line, debuting a Buffalo Chicken Stick this month, sold on the brand’s website for $38.95 per 20-count pack of 1 oz. sticks. The stick, made with free-range chicken and flavored with medium buffalo sauce, contains 9 grams of protein and no added sugar.

Daily Crunch

An ode to the Tennessee-based brand’s hometown, Daily Crunch’s new Nashville Hot Sprout Almonds are made with paprika and cayenne to give the snack a medium heat. The new flavor will hit Thrive Market in mid-November for a 30-day exclusive before its broad launch with over 900 retailers. It will debut in 5 oz. bags before expanding with 1.5 oz. grab-and-go bags in the first quarter of 2022.

Country Archer

Country Archer Provisions this month debuted a “deadly hot” meat snack variety, Death Reaper. The limited edition launch is made with Carolina Reaper Chilis, the world’s hottest pepper according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The new flavor is sold on the brand’s website for $5.99 per 1 oz. bag.

Maya Kaimal

Indian food maker Maya Kaimal Foods rolled out two new lines of Indian Marinades and Chili Sauces. Its Green Chili Sauce features serrano chili, spicy ginger and coconut cream, while the Red Chili Sauce uses red Kashmiri chilis and red jalapeño peppers along with tamarind and garam masala spices. Meanwhile, the marinades are available in Green Chili & Turmeric, Classic Tandoori, Tomato & Spooky Paprika and Creamy Malai & Herb varieties. The marinades are sold in 4 oz. pouches in 4-packs for $14.99 while the sauces are available in 9.5 oz. bottles in 2-packs for $14.99.

Momofuku

Momofuku grew its Chili Crunch chili oil line with two new limited edition flavors: Black Truffle and Extra Spicy. While the original Chili Crunch features three types of Mexican chilis, crunchy garlic and shallots, the new flavors add black truffle and dried habanero peppers to the mix. Consumers can sign up for first access to the new flavors on the company’s website.

Good Foods

Plant-based dips maker Good Foods added a Spicy Queso Blanco flavor this month, mixing its cauliflower and almond base with a kick from green chilies and jalapeño peppers. The dip is sold in 8 oz. and 12 oz. sizes at Target and Sprouts stores nationwide.

Opopop

Popcorn brand Opopop debuted an Extra Spicy version of its Maui Heat-flavored kernels. Combining sweet pineapple with cayenne and smoked paprika, the new flavor is sold on the brand’s website for $19.99 per 16 oz. bag.

Seemore Meat & Veggies

Sausage company Seemore Meats & Veggies launched a Chicken Chili Verde Sausage, with a subtle heat from poblano peppers, jalapeño and serrano peppers. The new sausage is sold for $8.99 per 4-pack, available in Whole Foods as well as for nationwide shipping through the brand’s website.

Truff

Sauce maker Truff upped the heat on its White Hot sauce with an even spicier variety, White Hotter. Combining white truffles, organic agave nectar and red chili peppers, White Hotter is about two to three times hotter than the brand’s original sauce, according to Truff. The sauce is sold on the brand’s website for $34.99 per 6 oz. bottle.