Pillsbury Halloween offerings go to the dogs

Many brands under the General Mills umbrella have been having fun with their spooky seasonal offerings this year, and the one associated with the jolly Doughboy is no exception. Pillsbury is taking its popular party treat, Crescent Mummy Dogs—Crescent Roll Dough wrapped around Oscar Mayer hot dogs and American cheese, with mustard “mummy eyes”—and turning it into an eerily adorable wiener dog costume, sold online. “With our beloved Crescent Mummy Dogs being such a Halloween staple, it only made sense to lean into the growing desire for more wiener dog costumes,” says Michelle Odland, VP and business unit director for Pillsbury. “It’s the sweetest, spookiest look for your pup, and with our costume, Crescent Mummy Dogs DoorDash delivery and a live event, we’re giving fans even more ways to add Pillsbury magic to Halloween.”

Bob’s Red Mill celebrates “Moregetherness”

The bakery brand has released results from a survey that shows sharing food with neighbors can help folks feel less lonely—and offered some helpful, delicious ways to spread the togetherness. Among the findings: Seattle is the most neighborly among big U.S. cities, followed by Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York. To promote the sharing of food in both big ‘burgs and tiny towns, the company has launched its “Moregetherness Movement” campaign, which, according to Chief Growth Officer Allyson Borozan, is “our way to help bring more people together, more often, with food as a bridge to foster that connection.” The company is partnering with HGTV stars Erin and Ben Napier to share inspiration, celebrating Good Neighbor Day on Sept. 28 with shareable recipes, and more. 

Ring Pop bags a high-fashion collab

Courtesy of Bazooka Brands

Betsey Johnson, a designer known for her fun and whimsical couture, has joined forces with the Bazooka candy brand on a line of playful handbag designs inspired by the confections. The line includes crystal-encrusted bags resembling giant versions of the pop, colorful clutches, and crossbodies in vibrant hues inspired by flavors like Blue Raspberry and Strawberry. To top it off, the line features a mini wallet adorned with Ring Pop Charms. “I've always believed fashion should be fun, fearless, and a little bit outrageous. That’s exactly what Ring Pop is all about,” notes Johnson. “Wear the bag. Eat the candy. Break the rules. Treat yourself!” The bags are offered on BetseyJohnson.com. 

Bazooka Joe gives sports legends the comic treatment

Courtesy of Bazooka Brands

Another Bazooka brand recently unveiled a limited-edition comic series starring a dozen icons from different pro sports, marking the first time it has included new printed comics inside its bubble gum wrappers in nearly three decades. The lineup includes:

• Adam Henrique of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers
• Anders Lee of the NHL’s NY Islanders
• CC Sabathia, a former NY Yankees baseballer
• CJ McCollum of the NBA’s Washington Wizards
• Dak Prescott with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys
• Deja Kelly, formerly with the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces
• Derrick White of the NBA’s Boston Celtics
• DK Metcalf with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers
• Flau’jae Johnson from the LSU Tigers basketball team
• Freddie Freeman of the MLB’s LA Dodgers
• Jason Kelce, formerly a Philadelphia Eagles footballer
• Karl Anthony Towns of the NBA’s NY Knicks

The athletes will be memorialized with classic comic panels, “Talk Like a Pro” panels educating about sports terms, and player portraits.

PEZ gets pumped up

Courtesy of VMI

Flipping back the heads atop the candy brand’s famous dispensers to get at the treats might give your thumb a wee workout, but a collaboration with sports nutrition company VMI Sports is amping things up a bit. The partnership is bringing a collection of products for athletes to fuel up before a workout, each made with some of the candy’s signature flavors:

• KXR Stacked Performance Pre-Workout, with caffeine for an added boost; available in Grape and Sour Blue Raspberry flavors
• Pump N’ Flow, designed to be used alone or mixed with other pre-workout products; available in Sour Green Apple or Cherry

• KXR Sport Everyday Pre-Workout, designed to deliver sustained energy and amplified performance; available in Sour Green Apple and Grape

 The items can be found at vmisports.com, Amazon, gyms, and other retailers.

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