Leftovers: Cheez-It joins forces with Hidden Valley Ranch | Kellogg, Crumbl bring cookies to cereal

Cult favorites collide with Hidden Valley Ranch Cheez-Its

There’s no end in sight for ranch flavored food products popping up on shelves. Snack brand Cheez-It is the latest to take advantage of the condiment’s major mainstream moment with its own new flavor launch.

Kellanova latest collaborative product, Cheez-It x Hidden Valley Ranch crackers, will be available for a limited time starting next month. The crackers combine the crunchy cheddar taste of Cheez-It and the zesty kick of Hidden Valley, according to the press release.

The snacking giant saw the collaboration as a no-brainer given the cult following of both Cheez-It and the dressing, according to Cara Tragseiler, the cracker brand’s senior director.

“We’ve seen fans mixing up their own blend of ranch seasoning-dusted Cheez-It crackers on social media, so we knew creating the perfect blend of cheezy and zesty flavors together was essential to satisfying their cravings,” Tragseiler said in a statement.

The cracker collab follows the launch of Cheezy Ranch dressing, the condiment combining the flavor of Cheez-It with Hidden Valley Ranch, which made it onto grocery shelves earlier this year, designed to be paired with salty snacks.

Clorox-owned Hidden Valley Ranch — once seen used only as a salad dressing and vegetable dip — has seen its star rise over the last decade, thanks in part to the launch of eclectic collaborative products. These have included RanchNog egg nog for the holidays and ranch-flavored Burt’s Bees lip balm.

Kellanova, which split off into its own snacking company last fall, is pinning its growth strategy on its biggest snacking brands, including Cheez-It. The company has gotten creative with the brand in recent months, including a collaboration with Taco Bell on cheesy cracker Tostadas, and a regenerative agriculture pilot on farms used to source wheat for the snack.

— Chris Casey

WK Kellogg Co. collabs with a sweet partner in new launch

WK Kellogg Co. is bringing the indulgent experience of a chocolate chip cookie to the cereal aisle.

The 118-year old storied company that recently split off to focus on cereal, is collaborating with popular dessert franchise Crumbl to debut its cereal offering.

Last October, after Kellogg split up its snacking and cereal operations into Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co.,the company said it was graced with newfound independence in a dwindling category.

“There’s a lot of different areas that we can go to, to enhance the category and enhance our business,” said CEO Gary Pilnick in an interview at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference in Florida. “We just think this is a pretty remarkable category.”

The inspiration behind this iconic partnership came from WK Kellogg Co’s commitment to providing consumers with innovative flavor experiences in the cereal aisle, the companies said.

“This partnership between Crumbl and Kellogg’s represents a fusion of two brands known for their dedication to delivering exceptional food experiences,” said Sawyer Hemsely, founder at Crumbl Cookies. “Whether enjoyed for breakfast, as a snack, or as an indulgent treat, Kellogg’s Crumbl Chocolately Chip Cereal aims to delight consumers with its irresistible flavor profile.”

The cereal was developed through a combined effort between Crumbl’s menu and R&D team alongside WK Kellogg Co’s product developers.

The cereal is expected to be introduced nationwide this summer, with availability varying across select retailers.

The cereal category has faced challenges in recent years, with more consumers looking to cut back on added sugars and carbohydrates, two attributes that the space has been associated with.

The company has also debuted new better-for-you offerings this year with the brand Eat Your Mouth Off, a vegan offering with 22 grams of protein and zero grams of sugar. 

— Elizabeth Flood

Drumstick hits a new beat with a Slurpee collaboration

Drumstick and 7-Eleven are shaking up the summer with a hot new treat.

The ice cream cone maker is partnering with the world’s largest convenience store chain to introduce a Drumstick Slurpee Blue Raspberry Vanilla Cone that packs a tart-flavored punch.