Leftovers is our look at a few of the product ideas popping up everywhere. Some are intriguing, some sound amazing and some are the kinds of ideas we would never dream of. We can’t write about everything that we get pitched, so here are some leftovers pulled from our inboxes.
Lay’s gives thanks for holiday flavors
Lay’s is getting into the Thanksgiving holiday spirit with new limited-edition flavors.
The PepsiCo-owned brand released its Holi-Lay’s lineup including limited-time seasonal offerings inspired by Thanksgiving favorites.
Lay’s Cheddar Scalloped-Style Potatoes and Lay’s Roasted Holiday Turkey will debut nationwide on Oct. 25. A maple bacon option will hit shelves on Nov. 8.
“With this year’s Holi-LAY’S lineup, we’re bringing fans flavors inspired by courses on the holiday table, so they can taste the joy of the holiday season before the table has been set and after it’s been cleared,” Denise Truelove, PepsiCo’s senior vice president of marketing, said in a statement.
PepsiCo said the lineup gives consumers a new way to experience the flavors of the season and is positioning the chips as a holiday snack or hosting gift. Citing figures collected by RepData, PepsiCo said 78% of consumers consider food a great holiday gift, and just over half prefer it over other types of gifts.
PepsiCo has turned to culturally-relevant flavors as a way to globalize its Lay’s brand. During the FIFA World Cut, Lay’s introduced a 40-flavor collection rolling out across North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Each flavor was inspired by the iconic cuisines of nations competing in the soccer tournament.
In addition to the Thanksgiving flavors, PepsiCo said Lay’s will embrace a little sweetness on Dec. 1 with the launch of Wavy Milk Chocolate and Lay’s Wavy Dubai-Style Dark Chocolate at select retailers. The chocolate offerings will be carried by other chains in 2027.
— Christopher Doering
Dogfish Head brews up ‘ancient’ beer
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Courtesy of Dogfish Head
Craft beer brand Dogfish Head is reviving a mead, wine- and beer-hybrid after five years off the shelves.
Midas Touch, which is brewed based on what an archeologist uncovered from a preserved drinking vessel from the King Midas of Turkey, returned to stores nationwide this month. The brew was developed in 1999 and quickly became one of the craft brewer’s most requested rare beers.
Midas Touch combines barley, honey, white Muscat grapes and saffron. It has a 9% alcohol by volume and Dogfish said its flavor profile makes it appealing to both beer and wine drinkers.
“Of all our rare beers, Midas Touch is by-far the most beloved by drinkers,” Sam Calagione, Dogfish head brewer and founder, said in a statement. “Since we last brewed Midas, we’ve received countless messages and comments … all begging us to bring this deliciously complex beer back.”
The brew is part of Dogfish Head’s “ancient ale” series, which includes beers inspired by ingredients from ancient times, including Chateau Jiahu, a recreation of a 9,000 year old beverage, and Ta Henket, a recreation of an ancient Egyptian beverage.
Despite Midas Touch’s ancient history, its flavor profile and high-alcohol content could make it appealing to drinkers today. Many craft beer fans seek out highly flavorful beers and beverages with high alcohol content.
A 2026 survey from The Brewers Association found about 66% of craft beer consumers seek high-alcohol products, up 6 percentage points from last year.
Mead tends to have higher ABVs and the drink’s popularity has soared in recent years as producers reframe the brew as a craft beverage. Mordor Intelligence estimates the mead market can grow at a 11% compound annual growth rate by 2031.
— Laurel Deppen
Tajín gets swicy with chamoy
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Courtesy of Tajín USA
Iconic chile and lime seasoning brand Tajín is giving consumers a way to put a spicy twist on sweets with a new chamoy sauce.
Tajín Twist Chamoy is the brand’s take on the beloved Mexican sauce, usually made from spices and fruit such as mango or apricot. Tajín said its version can be used to add some sweet heat to a variety of treats from candies to soft serve.
“Some of the best flavor discoveries start with a little curiosity, and Tajín Twist Chamoy gives everyone a delicious reason to experiment,” Javier Leyva, director of Tajín USA, said in a statement. “Whether you’re giving your favorite gummies a sweet-and-spicy makeover or adding a drizzle to a frozen treat, we want every bite to feel fun, surprising and unmistakably Tajín.”
Shoppers are seeking out global ingredients and unusual flavor combinations as Hispanic consumers make up a larger share of purchasing power. Hispanic consumers fueled 16% of total consumer packaged goods growth, according to a Circana report from 2024.
That growth has propelled Hispanic foods and flavors into the forefront. The $40 billion Hispanic foods market is one of the fastest-growing food categories, according to advisory firm Stout, with 39% of consumers preferring Mexican cuisine, second only to American food.
— Sarah Zimmerman
