Leftovers is our look at a few of the product ideas popping up everywhere. Some are intriguing, some sound amazing and some are the kinds of ideas we would never dream of. We can’t write about everything that we get pitched, so here are some leftovers pulled from our inboxes.
Vital Proteins launches first RTD shake
Supplement brand Vital Proteins is introducing its first ready-to-drink protein shake to give consumers a more convenient way to fuel their wellness routines.
Collagen & Protein Shake expands the company’s reach beyond its popular collagen beverage mix-ins and bars to support hair, bone and joint health. The shake, which comes in a light chocolate flavor, contains 30 grams of protein plus 10 grams of collagen peptides.
“People want their wellness routines to work harder — not be harder,” Jill Abbott, vice president of marketing strategy and innovation at Vital Proteins, said in a statement. “The tag team of high-quality protein and our signature collagen peptides all in one convenient, great-tasting ready-to-drink beverage delivers on both function and format, and without compromise.”
Vital Proteins hopes the addition of collagen will help it stand out in what is becoming an increasingly crowded space. From 2020 to 2024, the number of high-protein drinks grew by 122%, according to data from Innova Market Insights.
Nestlé Health Science, which acquired Vital Proteins in 2020, said in an earnings report earlier this year that the brand has suffered from weaker performance “in a more competitive environment.”
Consumers are clamoring for more protein to help fuel health and wellness goals. Higher protein intake also is becoming more important for consumers relying on GLP-1 medications in order to prevent muscle mass loss.
— Sarah Zimmerman
Danone gives Activia a glow up for Gen Z
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Courtesy of Danone North America
Activia is looking to reach more consumers with a new offering and major brand refresh as Gen-Z clamors for probiotics and gut health.
The brand has been associated with its digestive properties since launching close to two decades ago. Activia’s ads, which boasted its role in keeping America “regular,” was at times the point of online ridicule.
But as probiotic drinks, such as Olipop, become trendy, Activia is hoping to shed its previous image with a major brand refresh and a new offering called Activia Proactive that also speaks to consumer demand for protein. Activia Proactive offers 10 grams of protein and 3 grams of prebiotic fiber for gut health.
Beyond the new launch, Danone is reformulating the Activia Low Fat line to contain 25% less sugar and is revamping recipes with “simpler ingredients,” according to a statement. The company is adding “sleek new and modern packaging” across the Activia portfolio.
Danone has reported surging yogurt sales as more consumers on GLP-1 medications rely on the product for a convenient source of nutrition.
As the company hopes to reach younger consumers, the brand will make a cameo in Disney’s new movie “Freakier Friday” in an homage to the original wellness queen and Activia brand ambassador Jamie Lee Curtis.
“As a premier probiotic yogurt brand that has been dedicated to educating and supporting consumers for more than two decades, we are energized by the growing awareness of gut health as a foundation for overall wellness,” Derek Neeley, vice president of marketing, gut health at Danone North America, said in a statement.
— Sarah Zimmerman
Bloody Mary brings a buzz to the ketchup aisle
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Courtesy of Zing Zang
The Bloody Mary cocktail is finding its way into the condiment section.
Zing Zang, a Chicago-based cocktail mix maker, is launching America’s first Bloody Mary Ketchup.
E.G. Fishburne, vice president of marketing at Zing Zang, said consumers wanted a spicy, flavorful ketchup, and the cocktail mix company knew it had a recipe to meet that demand.
“The idea actually started as an April Fool’s joke on social media,” Fishburne said in a statement. “Almost immediately, that post became our most viral ever, and fans weren’t joking — they wanted us to make it. That’s when we knew we were on to something.”
Zing Zang described its Bloody Mary Ketchup as “a flavorful twist on a classic” made from the same ingredients as its popular mix, including tomatoes, seven vegetable juices, Worcestershire, hot sauce and seasonings.
The new offering will debut on Amazon before expanding nationwide to grocery stores, bars and restaurants.
Bloody Mary Ketchup isn’t the first April Fool’s joke to become reality. In 2023, Kraft Heinz’s Claussen brand launched a pickle-flavored cocktail after teasing the concept as an April Fool’s joke one year earlier. In 2024, Hidden Valley Ranch and Burt’s Bees, both owned by consumer care products company Clorox, collaborated to create lip balm in four flavors.
— Christopher Doering
