As food companies look for new ways to increase usage and generate consumer buzz about their products, fast-food restaurants have proven to be a popular channel. Taco Bell has already partnered with PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay to use the food and beverage giant’s Doritos and Fritos in some of its menu items. Friendly’s also has a Doritos Cool Ranch ChoppedCheese Burger, and KFC, which is owned by the same company as Taco Bell, previously sold a crispy chicken filet with Cheetos sauce.
Kellanova, which split last year with cereal maker WK Kellogg Co, is now solely focused on snacks. Cheez-It is the company’s second best-selling brand behind Pringles. Last year, Cheez-It posted net sales of $1.4 billion, according to the packaged food maker. Kellanova is moving aggressively to market the Cheez-It brand beyond its Taco Bell collaboration. It announced in May a Cheez-It Diner in New York that features a Deluxe Cheez-It Milkshake, Big Grilled Cheez, Mac & Cheez-It and a jukebox that plays for Cheez-It crackers instead of coins.
Cara Tragseiler, senior brand director with Kellanova, told Nation’s Restaurant News that there is strong demand for innovative collaborations, particularly with offerings that are in new and exciting formats. The Taco Bell menu items, the publication noted, help position the Cheez-It brand as a viable option in other foodservice items.
Source: fooddive.com