Leftovers: Ragù, Cheez-It debut frozen pizzas | Kraft Heinz takes on Uncrustables with PB&J Lunchables

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Ragù grabs a slice

Sauce maker Ragù is entering a new section of the grocery store with a line of frozen pizzas.

The nearly 90-year-old sauce brand is joining with frozen pizza maker Palermo Villa to launch the offering in four varieties: cheese, pepperoni, supreme and combination, which includes mozzarella, Italian sausage and pepperoni. The pizzas will sell for between $4.99 and $6.99 depending on the location and market.

Ragù is “not a brand content to rest on its laurels,” Megan Frank, senior vice president of marketing for Mizkan America, the maker of the popular sauce, said in a statement. “We’re excited to launch our latest collaboration with one of the biggest pizza makers in the U.S., which will expand our brand into the freezer case.” 

Ragù was founded in 1937 by Assunta and Giovani Cantisano, with their sauce originally sold from their home in Rochester, New York. Assunta carried her family’s recipe from Italy when she immigrated to New York in 1914, according to its website.

The transition into pizzas is a logical extension for Ragù. It not only brings the brand into a new section of the grocery store, but it taps into the sauces that are traditionally associated with Italian food. Ragù also is no stranger to pizza, with a line of sauces for consumers to make the pies at home.

Not surprisingly, pizza remains an increasingly popular food in the U.S. Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza each day, or 350 slices per second, according to data from Idaho State University. The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service estimates about 11% of the population consumes pizza each day.

Ragù is the latest sauce brand to make its foray into the nearly $7 billion frozen pizza space. Rao’s, which is now owned by The Campbell’s Company, rolled out its own pizza in 2022 using its sauce.

—Christopher Doering

Kellanova brings Cheez-It crunch to pizza

A new addition to the freezer aisle brings a familiar snack into pizza.

Kellanova and Palermo Villa have announced a collaboration on Cheez-It Frozen Pizza. The product contains a crunchy Cheez-It flavored crust and is made with real cheese.

The pies come in three varieties: Pepperoni, Italian Four Cheese and Cheddar Jack Supreme.

“This starts with the crust which is like a large Cheez-It flavored cracker – crispy, cheesy, and square-shaped,” Nick Fallucca, the chief innovation officer at Palermo’s, said in a statement. “It’s then topped with customer-favorite toppings that perfectly complement the crust.”

The product launches this month in grocery stores such as Albertsons and Wegman’s.

After splitting the company in 2023 to focus on snacks,  CEO Steve Cahillane said Kellanova would prioritize new product innovations and strategic partnerships. Last year, the company collaborated on ice cream products based on Eggo waffles and Rice Krispies Treats.

The Cheez-It brand has expanded beyond its traditional square cracker into a variety of formulations, including Puff’d and Snap’d. The brand also has entered the popcorn category and debuted a dressing collaboration with Hidden Valley Ranch last year.

—Chris Casey

Kraft Heinz comes for Uncrustables with Lunchables PB&J

Lunchables is reinvigorating its lineup with a new PB&J offering as Kraft Heinz looks to turnaround the struggling brand.

Luncables PB&J is a no-thaw, crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwich that also includes a side of grape or strawberry flavored dip. While most ready-to-eat PB&Js are frozen, Lunchables' offering can be eaten straight from the refrigerator with no need to wait for it to thaw.

“The launch of Lunchables PB&J is a continuation in our mission to reinvent the refrigerated category by providing high quality, delicious, affordable and convenient solutions for snack time and beyond,”  Danni Levin, associate director of innovation at Lunchables, said in a statement. “We’re remixing a classic, delivering on parents’ desire for convenience and kids’ love of dipping and customizing.”

Ready-to-eat PB&Js have been surging in popularity, with J.M. Smucker's Uncrustables nearing $1 billion in sales in 2024. 

Kraft Heinz's product, available at select retailers nationwide, is part of a plan to drive $2 billion in incremental sales through innovation by 2027. The company has honed in on the Lunchables brand for innovation as it struggles following a Consumer Reports investigation that found the offering had contaminants including lead.