Chomps revs up students for back-to-school season

The team behind the better-for-you meat snack brand knows it takes a lot of energy to switch gears from having summer fun to prepping for another year of education. To help get students back on the road, the company set up its Protein Pit Stop in Austin, TX—set up in a retro-style gas station, the pit crew welcomed consumers to step into an immersive activation to help them refuel, reset, and return to classrooms with car cleaning services, fun activities, and tasty snacks. “Back-to-school can be a stressful time,” says Rashid Ali, CEO of Chomps. “Whether it’s stocking up on high-quality snacks or getting your car ready for the kids, we want to make this season a little easier. The Protein Pit Stop is our way of supporting families with real protein and zero compromises.”

Spangler candy hearts enter spooky season

Courtesy of Spangler Candy Co.

Seasonal confections don’t often jump from one holiday to another, but it’s fun when they do—one example is Cadbury bringing its popular Crème Egg to Halloween and renaming it Screme Egg (a favorite trick-or-treat sweet of our Senior Art Director Sarah Zagacki). This year, the candy producer is taking its message hearts from the lovey-dovey season of Valentine’s Day and giving the product a bittersweet twist with Ghosted Sweethearts. Available online while supplies last, these tiny treats are white hearts instead of brightly colored; also, instead of the romantic messages typically found on the candies, these are completely blank to evoke the cowardly tactic of ending a relationship by simply disappearing, or “ghosting” your partner.

Selena Gomez announces pretty hot collab

Courtesy of Rare Beauty

Fans of the actress/singer/entrepreneur/renaissance woman looking to spice up their beauty routine might appreciate her latest product collaboration. While her recent partnership with Oreo was on the sweet side, this one’s hot: The limited-edition Rare Beauty x Tajín Cheek & Lip Set pairs Gomez’s personal care line with shares that evoke Tajín’s signature flavors. Available online via Sephora.com and RareBeauty.com (while supplies last), the set includes Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Chamoy, and Positive Light Luminizing Lip Gloss in Clásico. Proceeds benefit two charities close to her heart: The Rare Impact Fund (expanding access to youth mental health services) and the Escuela Nacional de Cerámica (preserving and elevating Mexican artistry). Gomez says, “This collab is a celebration of what makes us unique—our culture, our energy, and the moments that bring us together. Just like Tajín, these shades bring boldness, warmth, and a spark of joy to every occasion.”

Auntie Anne’s brews up craft beer partnership

Beer and pretzels are a popular pairing—now Shock Top, a widely known craft beer brand, has joined forces with the pretzel franchise for Beer Kneads Pretzels, which includes a sweepstakes, promotional discounts, limited-edition schwag, and (naturally) beer and pretzels. The brewery’s Twisted Pretzel Wheat is a highly ranked libation and one of the highest-rated craft beer releases of 2024. Then, the chain’s soft pretzels are a mainstay of malls, ballparks, airports, and college campuses (including the location recently opened near Loyola University). Consumers looking to get twisted can follow @auntieannespretzels or @shocktop on Instagram for details.

Snickers gets saucy with Bills baller

Courtesy of Mars

The Mars candy brand has joined forces with the Buffalo Bills star (and Hailee Steinfeld hubby) to come up with a trio of dipping sauces aimed at sweet gametime snacking: Caramel Buffalo, Peanut Teriyaki, and Chocolate Barbecue. Starting Sunday, September 7, people can visit snickers.com/sauces to get the limited-edition sauces and a pack of Snickers Minis with Allen’s likeness on the pouch. "The city of Buffalo knows a thing or two about sauces, and Snickers is the MVP when it comes to game-day snacking," says Allen. "So, it felt very right to partner with Snickers to help craft this lineup of sauce flavors that I know the fans are going to love."

Wheaties boxes MVP Jalen Hurts

Courtesy of General Mills

Super Bowl rings and Most Valuable Player honors are definitely high-water marks for a pro footballer, but landing on the front of one of the cereal’s iconic orange boxes is up there, too. This season (which starts this weekend) the General Mills has added Philadelphia Eagle Jalen Hurts to its boxes—according to the company, the front-and-center placement is as much due to Hurts’s actions off the field as on. “Jalen is the true embodiment of a Wheaties Champion—paying forward the lessons he learned from mentors who guided his journey to uplift the next generation,” said Emilie Knox, Vice President and business unit director for Wheaties. “That spirit of resilience and giving back is exactly why we’re so proud to feature him on the cover of this limited-edition box.”  

Casey’s drafts the “Official Pizza of Noon Kickoffs”

Courtesy of Casey's

Die-hard fans of football often spend entire weekends watching and cheering for their teams, which requires fueling up to keep up—especially if tailgating (which can start when the sun is barely up) is involved. Casey’s has enlisted NFL star Cooper DeJean to spread the word that its Breakfast Pizza deserves a place at the party. “Growing up in Iowa, a slice of Casey’s pizza was my favorite after-practice snack,” DeJean declares. “Whether you’re headed to the stadium or rallying from home, it’s the No. 1 tailgate food worth getting up for.” In addition to the Breakfast Pizza (melted cheese, scrambled eggs, and choice of bacon, sausage, or veggies), the lineup includes single-topping and specialty pizzas (including the LTO Jalapeno Popper).

If you've got off-the-beaten-path news involving snacks, baked goods, or candy, send them my way: spinnerj@bnpmedia.com.