The Week in Consumer Packaged Goods: August 23, 2024 edition

Welcome to The Week in Consumer PackagedGoods, a weekly roundup for marketers from Quad Insights that covers the latest must-know news surrounding the CPG space.

Reese's collaborates with Angel Reese on limited-edition merch collection

Reese's just announced a collaboration with pro basketball player Angel Reese on a limited-edition merchandise drop called the Angel Reese x Reese's collection "that captures her unique style and your love for all things Reese's," per a brand statement. Among the items - all of which feature an adaptation of the Reese's logo - are a cropped tee, a cap, a hoodie and a basketball jersey featuring the WNBA star's No. 5. The merch is slated to be released in three waves, the first of which is now on sale at TheAngelReese.com.

More sports-focused CPG partnerships:

• "Just in Time for Football Season, Evan Williams Bourbon Partners With Top Collegiate Sports Programs Including Alabama and Ohio State"(Bottle Raiders)
• "Dr Pepper Takes 'Fansville' 'College Football Campaign 'Into The Great Unknown'"(MediaPost)
• "Krispy Kreme Is Releasing a New Collection of Doughnuts for Football Season - and Got Dr Pepper Involved"(Food & Wine)
• "Frances Tiafoe & Grey Goose toast to the Honey Deuce's enduring legacy at the US Open"(The Drum)

Heinz debuts "robotic snack dipper" for gamers

Based on internal survey researchthat revealed that90% of gamers say theystruggle with snacking while playing, and that most wish they could dip their snacks without pausing their game, Heinz has developed a solution forboth issues, per a brand statement. Called Hum-Hum, the whimsical device - a "robotic snack dipper" - consists of a mechanical hand, triggered by pedals, "that dips and feeds gamers while they play, satisfying their irrational love for Heinz." The ketchup brand debuted Hum-Hum at the Esports World Cupin Saudi Arabi this week, noting that it'sexploring future iterations that operateusing voice commands or facial recognition.

Previously:"Heinz partners with Kate Spade New York on capsule collection," from the June 28 edition of this column.

Sharpie sponsors live-art competition to promote its new Sharpie Creative Markers

OnSaturday(Aug. 24), Sharpie is sponsoring live-art competition Art Battleat Academy LA in Los Angeles to promote its new "paint-like"acrylic markers,Sharpie Creative Markers, per a Newell Brandsstatement. The event will feature three rounds of live art-makingin which artists will have 20 minutes to create using a range of Sharpie products and Art Battle paint. Artwork will be judged by the audience and judges, with $5,000 in prizes up for grabs, including a year's worth of Sharpie products. Attendees can also visit the Sharpie Bus, where they can learn about the 60-year-old brand's history and try Sharpie Creative Markers for themselves. Following Art Battle, the Sharpie Bus will travel across the country through the end of the year, stopping atcreative events and festivals as part of the brand's "The World Is Your Canvas" Tour.

Crayola partners with S'wellon limited-edition hydration collection

Crayola and hydration brand S'welljust announced a collaboration called the Crayola x S'wellcollection, a limited-edition line that merges S'well's proprietary temperature-regulating technology with Crayola-inspired colors for a bright and playful assortment of high-tech water bottles. Now available on Swell.comin the U.S., the BPA/BPS-free collection includes 10 different options.

More unique brand collabs:

• "Beyoncé Partners With Moët Hennessy on a New American Whisky"(Bloomberg)
• "Sally Hansen Teams with Warner Bros. for Beetlejuice Nail Polish Collection"(Happi)

Doritos releaseslimited-edition zero-gravity Cool Ranch variety

Doritosjust announced the release of Doritos Minis Zero Gravity Cool Ranch Tortilla Chipsdesigned for outer space. Purportedly formulated to keep them from floating away - "so astronauts can enjoy them in zero gravity," per a brand statement - the"made-for-space" Doritos are meantto be eaten in one bite. The limited-edition release is part of a partnership between the Frito-Laybrandandthe Polaris Dawn mission in a joint effortto raise funds forSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Fans who donate at StJude.org/DoritosInSpacewill have the chance to win a special glow-in-the-dark package of Doritos' Cool Ranch Zero Gravity chips, along with other branded merch and prizes.

Previously:"Doritos enters spirits aisle with Doritos-flavored liquor," from an earlier edition of this column.

Further reading

More CPG launches and collabs:

• "Unilever spices up Hellmann's with flavored mayo"(Food Dive)
• "Marvel actor and film producer partner on nostalgic canned cocktails"(Food Dive)
• "Café Valley expands soda-flavored mini cupcakes line"(Food Business News)
• "All-New Eggo Coffee Is Here To Give You A Breakfast Boost"(FoodBeast)
• "Mars Celebrates National Dog Day With Limited-Edition 'Mars Summer Treat Pack'"(Retail Wire)
• "Spindrift Launches Fuji Apple and Reintroduces Cranberry Raspberry"(Trend Hunters)
• "Tillamook Country Smoker Unveils Tajín Flavored Beef Jerky"(License Global)
• "Lindt & Sprüngli introduces four new premium Lindor flavors"(FoodBev Media)

More CPG campaigns and promotions:

• "Juicy Juice Partners With Mom Influencers On 'Pledge To Play Outside'"(MediaPost)
• "Wonderful Pistachios promotes on-the-go snacking with Uber, Lyft car wraps"(Marketing Dive)