Leftovers: Heinz debuts ketchup for dipping potato chips | Claussen turns pickle juice into mixer – Latest Food News Update

Heinz launches ketchup dip for potato chips

If it’s made from a potato, it belongs in ketchup. That’s the proposition Kraft Heinz is looking to make with a test run of a ketchup meant for dipping potato chips into.

Heinz Chip Dip includes the brand’s ketchup packaging in a wide-mouth jar that’s “perfect for dipping potato chips,” according to a release. The launch was rolled out in conjunction with National Potato Chip Day on March 14.

Heinz says that while a vast majority of consumers dip their fries in ketchup, less than 10% do so with potato chips.

“Fries and ketchup have always been a beloved combination, but for some reason, the potato chip has long been overlooked,” Keenan White, Heinz senior brand communications manager, said in a statement. “Chip Dip is all about embracing fans’ irrational love for ketchup and giving them a new way to enjoy it.”

The dip will be available on Walmart’s website while supplies last. The limited-run launch is meant to serve as a test as the brand considers adding the jar to its permanent portfolio.

Heinz took a similar brand testing approach with its “dip & squeeze packets,” a single serve ketchup packet that allows consumers to dip or squeeze the condiment depending on their preference.

Kraft Heinz has relied on innovation to spice up one of its most well known brands, introducing new flavors and experimenting with different packaging. Previous ventures include spicy and pickle-flavored ketchup in addition to paper-based packaging for sustainability.

—Sarah Zimmerman

Claussen’s pickle juice pick-me-up

With many people celebrating St. Patrick’s this weekend, Claussen is offering a little help to consumers who party too much.

The pickle brand is launching 8-ounce bottles of Just The Brine, which the Kraft Heinz maker touts as perfect for adding a tangy kick as a mixer at night and a refreshing electrolyte boost to aid recovery the following morning.

The food giant said Just The Brine came after a social media video last fall mixing diet cola with pickle juice. Claussen teased the idea as a product if it got enough support from consumers. 

“After seeing the overwhelming response from fans, … we knew we had to make this product a reality,” Caroline Sheehey, brand manager Claussen, said in a statement. “Whether you’re mixing up a tangy cocktail or reaching for a next-day refresh, Just The Brine is here to bring the same flavor and experience you already know and love from our delicious pickles – now in liquid form.”

Just The Brine six-packs will be available via GoPuff in New York, Chicago and Boston. Claussen reminded consumers that it’s “no big ‘dill’ if you aren’t in those cities,” and that the pickle juice is also available online. 

Kraft Heinz processes approximately 60 million cucumbers annually to make roughly 42 million jars of Claussen, the country’s top-selling refrigerated pickle brand. While Just The Brine is unlikely to ever rival sales of the more than 150-year-old pickle brand, it promotes the popular brand’s versatility with the pickle as a snack and the brine with its ties to alcohol.

—Christopher Doering

Guinness infuses beer with pretzels for pub-style snack

Diageo’s most famous Irish stout is launching a snack perfect for the pub.

Guinness debuted Pretzel Pieces, sourdough pretzel bites with the taste of the stout along with savory seasonings. It arrives in four flavors: Original Pub Style, Pub Style Cheese, Caramelized Onion and Dry Stout Barbeque.

The product was made in collaboration with Farmer Companies, a private equity firm that licenses products featuring the likeness of recognizable food and beverage brands.
“Guinness has a long history of inspiring amazing food pairings, and these pretzel bites bring that iconic flavor to new heights in a fun, on-the-go snack,” said Bill Hooker, president of Farmer Companies.

The product is available online and at stores like Publix.