Dunkin' brings Barbie DreamHouse to NYC

Dunkin’ is bringing Barbie to Manhattan in a big way. As of June 10, the Dunkin Barbie DreamHouse has taken over a two-story NYC store (265 W. 37th St.), transforming it into a fully immersive, Barbie-pink experience, from themed menu boards and pink-frosted doughnuts to a life-size Barbie box photo moment and more. Whether you’re stopping in for coffee or making a plan with friends, the space is open to the public for a limited time throughout June. 

Speaking of NYC: Tom Brady x Ferrero

Courtesy of Ferrero

Former football star Tom Brady is teaming up with Ferrero North America for this summer's global soccer tournament. Consumers can buy any two Ferrero products for a chance to win $1 million and hundreds of daily and weekly prizes including a Super Fan Trip to a competing nation, a Fan Cave Upgrade, an Ultimate Gaming Setup, and branded soccer merch. Additionally, on June 9, Brady was on-site in NYC to personally sign limited-edition Ferrero GOAT Treat Vaults—a curated box of his 10 favorite Ferrero treats, spanning Nutella, Kinder Bueno, Butterfinger, Crunch, and Ferrero Rocher. A select group of lucky consumers walked away with a signed vault and a one-on-one moment with Brady, and the company's entire lineup of treats were on display for sampling before the signing session.

M&M's couples up with Love Island USA

Courtesy of M&M's

Reality TV is no longer a passive viewing experience: it’s a highly engaged, multi-screen social event. M&M's announced it is tapping into that cultural behavior as the exclusive confectionary partner for season 8 of Love Island USA. The partnership moves beyond standard broadcast sponsorships to introducing brand new ways for consumers to immerse themselves in the show’s most iconic moments. The centerpiece of the campaign is the launch of limited-edition M&M’s Play Along Packs, a D2C offering designed to gamify the viewing experience. Sold exclusively on MMS.com, the Play Along Packs ($15.99) include game boards and custom M&M’s printed with predictable, iconic show phrases (e.g., "bombshell arrives"). Viewers can eat the corresponding candies as the moments happen on screen, seamlessly tying the snacking occasion to the show's cultural tropes.

Wilton celebrates America's 250th

Courtesy of Wilton

Wilton has been part of every chapter of American baking since 1929, it says. In the '70s, the energy crisis sent people back to their kitchens—and Wilton met them there with its Yearbook, reportedly the creative bible of the American home baker. The '80s brought licensed character pans and the 1M tip, still Wilton's most popular today, it notes. The '90s mainstreamed fondant and launched Wilton.com. The 2000s made cake decorating prime-time entertainment, with the Wilton School drawing students from over 100 countries. And when the pandemic hit in the 2020s, flour sold out overnight and a wave of nostalgia pulled everyone back to buttercream roses and handmade cakes. This summer, as America turns 250, Wilton is celebrating that full arc with a curated collection of recipes from across those decades.

Even more NYC: Oreo Cakesters hits the town

Courtesy of Oreo

This summer, Oreo Cakesters is inviting consumers to experience its "The Soft Life" Pop-Up brand experience and nationwide tour. Designed to bring the treat to life through the senses, the free, public pop-up experience aims to completely immerse Oreo cookie patrons in the pillowy world of the brand's softest recipe yet, it says. Consumers will be able to see, touch, and even taste what it means to embody Oreo Cakesters signature softness, starting in NYC's Meatpacking District on June 12–13 and kicking off a nationwide tour. The pop-up will include a soft-baked bakery counter, an interactive giveaway experience featuring merch, a cloud pillow pit iwth an overhead mirror for photo opps, a scent discovery station, and a custom-branded Airstream camper parked outside. First launched in 2007 and brought back in 2022 due to overwhelming demand, the brand announced in April that it would reformulate its signature Cakesters recipe to be even softer. and more delicious, it says.