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Nestlé makes a game plan for snacks

CPG giant Nestlé aims to score with its latest version of a game-time snack.

The company debuted the Toll House Cookie Nachos kit. Consumers can enter their creations to win (win what?) for a limited time starting Wednesday, November 6th. The product includes chocolate chip cookie dough, three kinds of chip pieces, cookie-shaped cookies shaped like chips, and a $25 gift card to purchase other toppings, such as maraschino cherries.

“Cookie nachos” gained popularity when it became a viral TikTok dessert recipe in recent years. The dish includes a plate of chocolate cookies with toppings that mimic a plate of tortilla chips.

To coincide with the launch, the brand unveiled an advertising partnership with former NFL star Peyton Manning, who viewed the product as a treat to enjoy during a big game.

“Connecting people over a shared plate of warm, freshly baked cookies has always been at the heart of our business,” said Melanie Knoke, Toll House Senior Marketing Manager. “Our collaboration with Peyton Manning is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays and football season, made even sweeter with the ultimate shareable snack – Cookie Nachos!”

Ruth Wakefield of the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Mass., first invented the chocolate chip cookie over 80 years ago after adding a cut-up Nestlé Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar to her cookie dough. After reaching an agreement with the chef to adopt her recipe, Nestlé began selling chocolate chips under the Toll House brand in 1939. Nestlé debuted edible cookie dough 2019 and has launched a variety of other Toll House products including a Triple Chip blend of three types of chocolate chips earlier this year.

—Chris Casey

Godiva is sweet in American confectionery

Godiva doubles down on its premium glory with the launch of a new box of gourmet chocolates.

The brand’s limited-edition Belgian Heritage Collection features a dozen chocolates and confections not previously sold in the United States. The parts were manufactured in Brussels, where the brand was founded almost 100 years ago.

Carlos Canals, CEO of Pladis Americas, which oversees the Godiva brand, said he traveled to Belgium to assemble the new box. After sorting through hundreds of chocolates and confections, Canals and his team settled on the 12 pieces that make up the collection.

The range includes: G-Macadamia, a milk chocolate shell filled with Godiva’s signature hazelnut praline, caramelised macadamia nuts and buttery biscuit chips; Ruby G, the brand’s first venture into ruby ​​chocolate; and Paris Brest, a dark chocolate almond praline ganache mixed with a crunchy hazelnut mousse set in a dark chocolate shell topped with a caramel crumble.

“This gift from GODIVA brings the delicious and complex flavors of Brussels to American consumers,” Steve Lesnard, Godiva’s president, said in a statement. “We offer (consumers) the ultimate chocolate experience and a glimpse into the future of GODIVA – a relevant brand steeped in masterful tradition and grounded in craftsmanship, creativity and cultural relevance.”

Pladis, the London-headquartered global confectionery and snack company, also owns the 108-year-old confectionery brand Turtles as well as Flipz, a sweet and salty chocolate or fudge-covered pretzel.

The company has identified innovation, different pack sizes, store displays and seasonal offers as key to growing the confection. Sales for its three brands totaled nearly $400 million by 2023.

—Christopher Doering

Daiya rises in its plant-based cheese

Leading alternative dairy brand Daiya comes up with a new recipe for its vegan pizzas.

The company recently launched a refreshed product line designed to elevate the plant-based pizza experience by addressing common challenges in the category, including inconsistent taste and texture, it said.

The reformulated offerings come in five offerings: Cheese, Meatless Pepperoni, Supreme, Fire Roasted Veggie, Meatless BBQ Chick’n and Meatless Meat Lovers Pizza.

The product line has a new recipe for its crust, the star ingredient of which is Daiya’s trademarked Oat Cream blend, which contains a fluffier and lighter texture, according to the company.

“Most dairy-free cheeses don’t melt properly and especially for pizza, this significantly makes or breaks the consumer experience when the cheese doesn’t fully melt,” said Melanie Domer, commercial director at Daiya in an email to Food Dyka.