Trendspotting in 2022: From the cheesiest hotel room with Kellogg’s to the easiest home baking with British Bakels

Trendspotting-in-2022-From-the-cheesiest-hotel-room-with-Kellogg-s-to-the-easiest-home-baking-with-British-Bakels.jpg
Pic: GettyImages/HelloAfrica
Home baking black boy HelloAfrica
Home baking black boy HelloAfrica
Kellogg's Cheez-It
Kellogg's Cheez-It

The sponsor of college football – four years of Cheez-It Bowl and the new Cheez-It Citrus Bowl – is giving players and fans even more reasons to wake up feeling cheesy in the exclusive ‘Feelin' the Cheeziest’ hotel rooms.

The four hotel rooms at the official team hotels look and feel straight out of a Cheez-It box.

Cheez-It is inking its first-ever Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) deal with four of Cheez-It players getting the chance to check into the bizarrely cheesy hotel rooms the night before their respective showdowns.

The selected ACC and Big 12 (Cheez-It Bowl) and SEC and Big Ten (Cheez-It Citrus Bowl) conference athletes will spend the night in decked-out hotel rooms with Cheez-It box bedside table lamps, orange and yellow mood lighting, unbe-cheez-able plush pillows and yes, a luxurious Cheez-It bed.

“For years we've created absurdly satisfying game day experiences for fans, but this year we're bringing the over-the-top excitement only Cheez-It can give directly to players,” said Erin Storm, brand senior director for Cheez-It.

“By offering the ‘cheeziest’ players the full Cheez-It experience via our first-ever NIL deal, we hope to take team spirit to the next level and give them a one-of-a-kind stay before a one-of-a-kind matchup.”

The absurd action does not stop there – with one lucky fan getting the chance to spend a cheesy night before the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl on 29 December in a cheesy suite at the Camping World Stadium.

“We are excited to offer select fans the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the night in Camping World Stadium before game day, a place that has hosted so many meaningful Cheez-It moments,” said Storm.

“Lucky fans will experience the Cheez-It Bowl magic from the moment they wake up – ensuring they're ready to bring next-level game day energy right from the endzone.”

Cheryl's Cookies and Harry & David
Cheryl's Cookies and Harry & David

The two US cookie brands are gearing up for the holiday season with a raft of flavourful treats.

From National Cookie Day (4 December) onwards, Cheryl’s Cookies is offering special savings on the Shimmering Bakery Gift Tower.

As the ultimate sweet treat, the brand has an assortment of new seasonal cookie flavours, too, including Caramel Apple, Cookie Dough, Maple Suga, and Cinnamon Roll.

Harry & David has an extensive variety of festive gift ideas for cookie lovers that can be delivered straight to your door as well, including:

  • Holiday Cookie Bento Box
  • Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies 24-Pack
  • Cookies for Santa and Board
  • Deluxe Holiday Cookie Basket
  • Tower of Holiday Cookies
  • Holiday Galette Cookie Gift Tin

Products from the two brand are available on affiliate platforms (Skimlinks, Impact Radius and more) and prices vary depending on offering.

Popcornopolis and Takis
Popcornopolis and Takis

The fast-growing ready-to-eat (RTE) popcorn brand has partnered with Takis to create a bold new mashup, designed to sizzle the holiday season.

Popcornopolis Takis Fuego features gourmet, non-GMO popcorn popped in coconut oil and seasoned with an intrepid combination of hot chili pepper and sour lime, reminiscent of the iconic spicy rolled tortilla chip.

The new offering is available online from Popcornopolis, as well as at Walmart, Sam’s Club, 7-11, Target, HEB and Meier for and RRP of between $4.98-$5.99.

Great American Cookies and The Elf on the Shelf
Great American Cookies and The Elf on the Shelf

The maker of the Original Cookie Cake has collaborated with The Lumistella Company – home of the The Elf on the Shelf brand – to bring holiday cheer with The Elf on the Shelf Cookie Cake.

The limited edition cake features Scout Elves – Santa’s hardworking helpers – but can be tailored to the consumers choice of batter (including the Original Chocolate Chip Cookie) and customisable border icing colour options.

Great American Cookies is the first dessert franchise to bake up a special collaboration with The Lumistella Company for the special treat – available until Christmas Eve.

“We are so excited to take part in the magic of The Elf on the Shelf tradition leading up to Christmas,” said Katie Thoms, senior director of Marketing for Great American Cookies.

“While the Scout Elves will be in the homes of their families, we wanted to celebrate them instore with one of their favourite foods, the Cookie Cake.”

Added Helen Bransfield, executive director of Licensing for The Lumistella Company, “We are committed to creating joyful family moments.

“What better way to create merry moments for Santa’s Scout Elves and their families than to join with Great American Cookies to offer the most festive treats of the season.”

Founded on a family chocolate chip cookie recipe in 1977, Great American Cookies sports a vast portfolio that spans the Original Cookie Cake and fresh baked cookies in numerous flavours to brownies and Double Doozies created in more than 370 bakeries across the US and internationally in Bahrain, Guam and Saudi Arabia that are shipped to your front door.

GoGo squeeZ
GoGo squeeZ

Looking to elevate holiday snacking this season? All you need is a GoGo squeeZ pouch in the pantry and a recipe that everyone can have a hand in putting together.

The wholesome fruit and veggie snack brand has designed a range of recipes that are sure to be crowd-pleasures, not only for adults who may want to occupy their kids with a fun activity, but also to make sure they eating products that are better for them.

One such suggestion is the GoGo squeeZ Charcuterie Board – all the rage this year.

  • Any cheese or crackers
  • Bite-sized veggies
  • Dips and any other snacks of choice
  • GoGo squeeZ pouches

Kids – or adults – be creative and arrange the board with snacks, fruits, veggies and, of course, GoGo squeeZ pouches! With all the colours and variations of snacks, the styling options are endless,

Or try the GoGo Gingerbread Cookies.

  • 3 cups wholewheat flour
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • ¾ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp clove
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 Tbsp ground ginger
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • 1 egg
  • 1 pouch GoGo squeeZ AppleApple
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Mix flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ground ginger in a bowl. Mix the maple syrup, molasses, egg, GoGo squeeZ and vanilla in a separate bowl. Add dry to wet ingredients and mix well. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for 3+ hours. Remove from the fridge and roll out on a floured surface, about ¼ inch thick. Use cookie cutter and cut out gingerbread men. Bake on lined baking sheet in preheated oven (350 °F) for 8 mins.

British Bakels
British Bakels

The UK manufacturer of bread, pastry, cake and confectionery ingredients is going Direct to Consumer (DTC) for the first time with its Ta-Da! baking mix range.

Distilling 115 years of professional baking knowledge into six fool-proof mixes, Ta-Da! makes it easy for anyone to bake at home, regardless of their skill.

From Chocolate Brownie to Triple Seed Bread, Vanilla Cake, White Bread, Pizza Base and Chocolate Cake Mixes, the Ta Da! range takes the stress out of home baking, so everyone can enjoy making something special, quickly and easily.

“There’s something comforting and joyful about whipping up yummy treats to share with loved ones (or even to enjoy on your own!),” said Michael Schofield, marketing manager of British Bakels.

“However, baking from scratch can feel intimidating as it needs time, multiple ingredients, the right equipment, accurate measurements and a bit of skill and experience.

“As specialists in what we do, we’re sharing our expertise and fool-proof mixes with home bakers across the nation to take out the stress and make it easy for everyone to create joyous Ta-Da! moments, baked into memories. Whether it’s your first bake or your hundredth, Ta-Da! has the right mix for everyone.”

Just add water to the Brownie Mix to make 12 gooey choc chip brownies. The Cake Mix creates a two-tiered cake or 15 chocolate muffins. Both mixes use Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa.

The Pizza Base Mix produces an authentic sourdough base, while the Bread Mix is high in fibre and can be made into two loaves or 12 rolls.

The mixes need minimal kitchen equipment - usually little more than a measuring jug, tin and a mixing bowl. All the mixes are suitable for vegetarians, and some are suitable for vegans. 

“The Ta-Da! launch takes us into an exciting new area, selling Direct to Consumer, but it’s not a completely new approach for us,“ added Schofield

“Our core business model has always been to innovate and develop products to meet consumer and customer needs. We’re experts in producing high-quality ingredients, and we know consumers of all skill levels.

“As the cost of living continues to rise, many consumers will also be switching out-of-home dining for in-home activities they can enjoy with family and friends. The Ta-Da! range captures this market and gives us the opportunity to share the joy of baking with as many people as possible.”

The Mixes are available on a dedicated website, along with recipes, hints and tips. Each mix retails at £3.50 and is packed in recyclable paper packaging. Consumers can also subscribe to receive regular deliveries of the mixes.

SRSLY
SRSLY

Low carb brand SRSLY is rebranding its flourishing portfolio, rolling out in January 2023 in new packaging that not only provides a greater onshelf presence, but showcases low carb in a more light-hearted and informative manner.

Originally known as Seriously Low Carb, the brand decided the abridged SRSLY name was not only memorable, but more in keeping with its hip and youthful demographic. It has also extended its low-carb range of bread, rolls and wraps to include pizza, jams and condiments.

“Keto as we know, has been the most googled food movement for some while now, initially materialising as an antidote to antiquated weight loss and reduced sugar regimes but subsequently snowballing into something so much bigger; namely a thoughtful alternative to nonsensical high carb/high sugar diets,” said SRSLY founder Andy Welch..

“Having taken online by storm, Seriously is now setting our sights on indies, the healthy food wholesalers, high-brow coffee chains, sandwich emporiums, foodservice & hospitality and, of course, the major mults.

“As such, we felt we needed a new dynamic identity that marked this step-change in ambition and scale, an informative identity with ambitious swagger that projected our ‘everyday accessible’ credentials, while reinforcing our headline message that great taste, common sense carb intake and nutritionally well-rounded aren’t mutually exclusive ambitions.”

SRSLY’s new look portfolio is available on Amazon and in selected retailers across the UK.