Airheads treats adults with Halloween trick

Trick-or-treating might be geared toward children, but the brand has come up with a way for adults to get in on the fun with Decoy Boy. Disguised as a kid in a costume, the robot gives grown-up candy consumers the perfect cover for going door-to-door to score candy. "Halloween should be fun for everyone, no matter your age or background," states Chris Borges, brand director for the non-chocolate portfolio at brand owner Perfetti Van Melle. "So we built the Decoy Boy to give anyone a way to embrace the spooky season and stock up on Airheads with a little extra flair and fun." The little animatronic tyke isn’t for sale, but interested folks can win it by entering the contest at AirheadsDecoyBoy.com before October 17 at noon EST.

 

Cheez-It goes clubbing

Courtesy of Kellanova

The Kellanova cracker brand has opened Studio Cheeze, a place where 21+ snackers can enjoy cocktails, apps, and (of course) the cheesy crackers. Situated in New York City, the nightlife spot offers an inventive menu of drinks and nibbles featuring the crackers, like the Cheez-Tini (a vodka libation featuring the signature Cheez-It Original flavor, blended with vermouth, splashed with garlic-olive juice, and garnished with a Cheez-It and bleu cheese olives), the Hot & Spicy Cheezarita (made with tequila, mezcal, fruit juices, and syrup infused with Cheez-It Hot & Spicy), the Cheez Dog Tower (composed of mini "grilled cheez" dogs served on a bed of crackers, fries tossed in Cheez-It Original or Hot & Spicy seasoning, and dipping sauces infused with Cheez-It seasonings). Cara Tragseiler, senior brand director for Cheez-It, says, "Studio Cheez is all about taking those cravings and turning them into the highlight of the night. We can't wait for fans to experience this next takeover inspired by our beloved snack, served up in an immersive, deliciously unforgettable way." Hit the club tonight and Saturday from 8 p.m.‒2 a.m. at 324 Grand St. in the East Village.

 

Hormel feeds the fight against hunger

The company behind Planters, Justin’s, and a slate of other food brands has announced that its annual Hunger Action Month effort to encourage its plants around the country to fight food insecurity in their communities has led to $332,000 in donations. The initiative involves providing $10,000 to each of its U.S. production facilities to help out hunger-relief organizations in their area. This September’s effort saw donations to 46 different programs benefit from the campaign. “We’re proud to support local organizations like Nevada Food at First and the Nevada Community Cupboard, whose ongoing efforts are making a real difference in the fight against hunger,” said Andrew Sieren, plant manager at Hormel subsidiary Burke Corp. “Their dedication is helping to strengthen our community and improve the lives of those in need.”

 

Chomps releases spooky treat packaging

The meat snack brand has come out with the Snack-O-Lantern, a 24-count carton (half Original Beef sticks, the other half Sea Salt Beef), with a design that keeps the seasonal fun going after the treats inside are gone. The pumpkins on the sides of the box can be colored and decorated by kids (or kid-like grownups), and cutouts in the container light up when a battery-powered candle (not included) is placed inside. Rashid Ali, CEO and co-founder of Chomps, states, “With the Snack-O-Lantern, we’re giving families a more balanced way to enjoy the holiday, with delicious protein snacks and a hint of Halloween magic.”

 

Life shares kids'-eye view of mornings

The Quaker-owned brand is sharing a fresh look at breakfast and mealtime chaos from a youngster's perspective with its new Mikey’d Up (a reference to the memorable TV ad star of yesteryear) campaign. A new documentary, made by award-winning director Ben Perry, follows the Johnson and Greene families as they go through their days and create the kinds of memories that get missed in the a.m. rush. Actress/singer/influencer Adrienne Bailon-Houghton is also showing her family’s experience on how crazy and special the early part of the day can be on her Instagram page. “The breakfast table has changed a lot over the years, but we’re proud Life Cereal continues to show up for families,” says Ciara Dilley, SVP of growth portfolio at PepsiCo. “We hope that through ‘Mikey’d Up,’ parents can let go of trying to be perfect and embrace those small moments of fun and joy in their mornings.”

Werther's Original launches sweet sweepstakes

The Storck-owned candy brand is celebrating the return of its seasonal Harvest Caramels with a cozy contest. By visiting werthersoclock.com today between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST and entering, consumers have a chance to win one of 100 limited-edition insulated mugs. Each of the mug designs is inspired by one of the caramel flavors (Pumpkin Spice, Caramel Apple, Maple Crème, or Cinnamon Crème) and comes with a coordinating bag of Werther’s and a keychain “sidecar” that holds a Werther’s caramel while the user enjoys the warm beverage of their choosing. The contest is free to enter, and no purchase is required.

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We could use some fun news! Please send any such fun snack, bakery, or candy news my way at spinnerj@bnpmedia.com. Happy Friday!