Gourmet News

Not Extra Flamin’ Hot Milk – Can Brits Take the Heat? (Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink)

Published April 1, 2024

Forget your deep-fried Mars bar or peanut butter and jelly sandwich, the latest crazy culinary combo doing the rounds in the United Kingdom is milk and crisps.

The newest snack brand from PepsiCo, Extra Flamin’ Hot went on sale in the United Kingdom last week. Maybe. The hot new flavor, available across the Walkers MAX, Doritos and Wotsits Crunchy range, has been given “spicy” reviews by some snack lovers for whom the heat has proved too much.

To douse rising temperatures, bosses have decided to sell milk miniatures alongside the snacks … although readers should bear in mind that the news is being released on April Fools Day where members of the public, alongside organizations and brands, play pranks on the public.

The Not Extra Flamin’ Hot Milk will hit the shelves Monday April 1, and be on sale for “as long it takes for the British taste buds to mature to the spice”, said Dalila Fops Roy, head of brand innovation.

With its spice-neutralizing properties, milk was chosen as an antidote to the heat of Extra Flamin’ Hot crisps.

“Milk contains a protein called casein, which can break down capsaicin in the same way that soap cuts through grease,” said Dr. Paolo Salify, director of heat transference.

To accompany the April Fools prank, Extra Flamin’ Hot has undertaken (real) research to show the parts of the country that can handle the heat of the spicy new snack. It shows that those from Glasgow are the biggest lovers of spice in the United Kingdom, with two thirds (67 percent) claiming to either like or love spicy food. Meanwhile those in Belfast, Northern Ireland, like it the least – 41 percent have either a low, or no tolerance to spicy food.

“We have been considering a milk miniature to sell alongside Extra Flamin’ Hot Wotsits Crunchy, Doritos and Walkers MAX for some time,” Salify said. “With the arrival of this new data, we decided to expedite that decision and get it on the shelves as quickly as possible.”

Not Extra Flamin’ Hot Milk will go on sale initially in Belfast, and a nationwide roll out is expected to come in the coming days and weeks … or not!

Happy April Fools Day from your friends at Gourmet News.

McDonald’s to Add Krispy Kreme to Menus Nationwide

Published March 28, 2024

We know nothing hits the spot quite like a fresh, melt-in-your-mouth doughnut paired with your go-to McCafé order…and McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme have a sweet update for doughnut fans everywhere.

The Golden Arches and Krispy Kreme, one of the most beloved sweet treat brands in the world, are teaming up for a national expansion. Fans will begin spotting Krispy Kreme doughnuts in their local McDonald’s restaurants later this year as part of a phased market rollout across the country. Nationwide availability at participating restaurants is expected by the end of 2026.

Three of Krispy Kreme’s most popular doughnuts will be delivered fresh to McDonald’s restaurants every day. They’ll be available individually, or in boxes of six, starting at breakfast and lasting throughout the day – while supplies last:

The iconic Original Glazed Doughnut: A melt-in-your-mouth doughnut covered in Krispy Kreme’s signature glaze. The doughnut that started it all.
The Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles Doughnut: A chocolatey twist on the original, dipped in chocolate icing and covered in rainbow sprinkles.
The Chocolate Iced Kreme Filled Doughnut: Made with a light, fluffy dough and filled with a smooth Kreme™ filling then dipped in chocolate icing.

This follows a successful test at 160 McDonald’s restaurants in the Lexington and Louisville, Ky., areas where consumer excitement and demand exceeded expectations. These pilot restaurants will continue to serve Krispy Kreme doughnuts during the nationwide rollout.

“Since the launch of breakfast nearly 50 years ago, we’ve continued to offer new menu items, flavors and experiences that have made McDonald’s an irreplaceable part of fans’ morning routines,” said Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s USA’s chief marketing and customer experience officer. “This partnership is an exciting next step in that journey and a chance to unlock new business opportunities in the breakfast category and throughout the day. Our fans’ love for Krispy Kreme runs deep, and we can’t wait to make it even easier for them to satisfy their sweet tooth at McDonald’s restaurants across the country.”

“The top request we receive from consumers, every day, is, ‘please bring Krispy Kreme to my town.’ Partnering with McDonald’s on a national scale will provide our fans and doughnut lovers unprecedented daily access to fresh doughnuts and the joy that is Krispy Kreme,” said Krispy Kreme President and CEO Josh Charlesworth.

Krispy Kreme More Than Doubles Points of Access

“Significantly, by making Kreme Krispy accessible to fans nationwide through this partnership, we expect to more than double our points of access by the end of 2026. The partnership accelerates the development of our existing Delivered Fresh Daily channel, creating operating leverage through distribution density and production utilization,” said Charlesworth.

Krispy Kreme has been scaling its supply chain, building a support team, adding technology and new equipment, and enhancing field training to support its Delivered Fresh Daily expansion, which includes this phased rollout.

The companies will provide more details regarding the nationwide rollout in the coming months. So, get ready to sweeten up your day as these delicious treats make their way to your local McDonald’s restaurant soon!

For more news of interest to the foodservice industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

NatureSweet Named Official Snacking Vegetable of Little League

Published March 27, 2024

As local Little League programs around the world are gearing up and celebrating their Opening Days, NatureSweet is teaming up with Little League for an exciting season as “The Official Snacking Vegetable of Little League Baseball and Softball.”

“We are thrilled to work with our partners at NatureSweet as we continue to find new ways to provide all our families with a fun, healthy, and memorable Little League experience,” said Liz DiLullo Brown, Little League executive vice president and chief marketing and business relationship officer. “As a community-based program, we are excited to align with NatureSweet’s commitment to providing a positive social, environmental, and economic impact within its communities and look forward to partnering with them through 2025.”

As the No. 1 selling snacking tomato brand in the country and an industry leader in greenhouse-grown vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, NatureSweet is committed to supporting the thousands of local Little League programs across the United States. As part of its support, NatureSweet will include the Little League brand on its product packaging and is also launching a campaign this year called “Dugout Delights,” which provides families and local leagues with suggestions on iconic snacks they can add to their lineup this season.

In addition to year-round support at the local level, NatureSweet will also be a part of the unique experience within the World Series Fan Zone at the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in August.

“America’s favorite snacking tomato brand is the perfect tasty treat to enjoy while watching America’s favorite pastime,” says Sergio Trujillo, NatureSweet’s Brand Manager of Snacking Tomatoes. “Our fresh produce snacking line of bite-sized tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet peppers are healthy and convenient treats that nurture developing minds and bodies. We’re thrilled to announce our official sponsorship with Little League as ‘The Official Snacking Vegetable of Little League Baseball and Softball,’ and we are dedicated to aligning both our commitments to providing a positive impact within communities and supporting thousands of Little League programs across the nation.”

For more than 75 years, Little League has partnered with major corporations on a national level to help keep the costs for our local Little Leagues to a minimum, offer unparalleled benefits to those member leagues, support the social impact initiatives of the organization and its local communities, and provide the necessary funding and resources to support local leagues at the grassroots level. Sponsors help leagues operate smoothly, provide training resources for coaches, offset expenses for educational initiatives, offer grant programs for leagues in need, assist in supporting tournament costs, and provide opportunities and knowledge in fundraising, operations, nutrition, and safety. In short, sponsors provide access and opportunities so that local leagues may offer the best programs possible, helping ensure that players and volunteers can have a fun and rewarding Little League experience while supporting their community.

To learn more about what NatureSweet can offer to local leagues, as well as what all of Little League’s Official Sponsors can provide, visit LittleLeague.org/Sponsors. Additionally, to learn more about the 2024 Little League World Series events, visit LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries and download the World Series app in the Apple App Store or Google Play.

For more news of interest to the snacks industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.