Oreo Launches ‘Bold Taste-Test’ Challenge

Mondelēz’s Oreo brand is rolling out its “boldest taste-testing challenge to date,” with the launch of three new limited-edition flavors at once across the United States.

The cookie contenders are:

• Oreo Banana Pudding Cookies feature “layers of sweet banana and vanilla pudding in a deliciously delectable dual-layered creme, sandwiched between vanilla wafer cookies.”
• Oreo Deep Fried Cookies have “that iconic golden-fried, doughy flavor baked right into the cookie itself, with fried dough-flavored cookies wrapping layers of dark chocolate and fried dough flavored creme.”
• Oreo Chicken & Waffles Cookies bring a “first-of-its-kind innovation to the cookie aisle, featuring a signature waffle texture embossment and dual-layered creme, both infused with sweet and savory flavor notes to give that signature fried chicken and maple syrup flavor in each and every bite.”

The cookies will roll out to grocery and retail stores nationwide beginning on August 24 for a limited time, while supplies last. Fans can cast their vote and bring one flavor back in 2027.

Meanwhile, the Hershey Company this week unveiled its “largest Halloween portfolio to date,” with more than 20 innovations.

Some of the products include:

• Sweets Assortment Stand-Up Bag: “A variety-packed assortment featuring the introduction of Sour Strips to the Hershey seasonal portfolio, as well as Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies Minis, Jolly Rancher Gummies Minis and Twizzlers Twists in Strawberry flavor.”
• Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies Minis Snack Size: “Available in seasonal Halloween shapes and flavors including green apple, blue raspberry, cherry, grape and watermelon, Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies now come in convenient sachets.”
• Pirate's Booty Boos & Bites: “Halloween-themed Pirate's Booty puffs feature ghost and monster shapes with the brand's signature aged white cheddar flavor.”
• Reese's Sweet & Salty: “Snack-size packs of Reese's Dipped Animal Crackers, Reese's Dipped Pretzels and Reese's Filled Pretzels bring together Reese's chocolate and peanut butter with salty, crunchy formats.”
• LesserEvil Pumpkin Spice Popcorn: “A seasonal popcorn offering that brings warm cinnamon-and-spice fall flavor to everyday snacking.”

Bazooka Brands, the maker of Ring Pop, Juicy Drop, Push Pop and Baby Bottle Pop, recently launched The Great Candy Battle: MomTok Edition, a “creator-fueled showdown that recruits MomTok's breakout stars Jessi Draper and Mayci Neeley as rivals in a month-long competition to see who can rack up the most candy sales,” the brand said in a press release sent to NACS.

Bazooka said Jessi and Mayci each “campaign” for their assigned brands over the course of a month, inspiring fans to buy “their” candy. Jessi leads Team Ring Pop and Push Pop, while Mayci fronts Team Juicy Drop and Baby Bottle Pop. Whichever team sees the bigger sales lift in August will earn a donation to the charity of their choice. Bazooka Brands will also donate to both organizations regardless of who wins.

Throughout the month of August, fans can catch Jessi and Mayci campaigning across New York City, in select retail stores, and at the Great Candy Battle popup in Salt Lake City.

Trolli recently launched its new Spicy Crawlers, featuring a blend of flavors new to the Trolli lineup, including mango habanero, pineapple habanero and strawberry habanero. To celebrate the launch, the brand is dropping Lil Kicks, a limited-edition sneaker inspired by the candy's kick of heat. The sneakers are available exclusively in "little" men's and women's U.S. shoe sizes.

“Every detail of the sneaker was inspired by the new Trolli Spicy Crawlers gummi: a glossy black upper, a lime-green midsole fading into a strawberry pink outsole, a grinning gummi worm on the pineapple yellow tongue, and gummi-inspired laces. Inside, a heat-scale tag confirms the hint of habanero, and the insole is printed with the new Trolli Spicy Crawlers themselves,” Trolli said.