Leftovers: Ghirardelli and PepsiCo lean into TikTok-style flavor and convenience plays

A new round of consumer brands is trying to capitalize on TikTok-driven food trends and the continued shift toward convenient, ready-to-eat meals, according to Food Dive’s “Leftovers” roundup published October 16.

The outlet highlights Ghirardelli’s move into Dubai chocolate, referring to the dessert trend popularized online in which chocolate bars are filled or flavored in ways that mirror the look and mix of Middle Eastern-inspired sweets. The report frames the launch as the chocolatier’s latest attempt to ride the viral craze.

PepsiCo’s role in the same broader push is tied to flavors rather than dessert. Food Dive reports that PepsiCo’s Flamin’ Hot seasoning is being used to elevate Pilgrim’s prepared chicken, indicating that the spicier, punchier flavor platform remains a key growth lever for the snacks and seasonings maker.

Flamin’ Hot is PepsiCo’s branded line of hot and spicy flavors that has expanded beyond traditional snack formats into seasoning applications and licensed or co-branded product partnerships. The Food Dive mention suggests PepsiCo is still looking for ways to extend that identity deeper into mainstream grocery categories like prepared meat.

In a separate track within the roundup, Food Dive also points to California Pizza Kitchen expanding its consumer packaged goods portfolio with prepackaged salads. The move indicates continued investment in “grab-and-go” meal formats, not just frozen pizza or dine-in brand awareness.

Taken together, the items described in the roundup reflect two overlapping themes in retail food right now: first, brands chasing short-cycle demand spikes created by social-media virality; second, brands making their flavors and menu concepts easier to buy and consume at home.

In this latest update, PepsiCo did not disclose additional details in the reported mention, such as the specific chicken products involved, launch timing by retailer, or distribution scope. The company also did not provide, in the roundup, any performance targets or sales expectations for the Flamin’ Hot partnership.

For shoppers, the practical takeaway is that familiar brands are increasingly showing up in formats that require less preparation, whether through seeded-in-the-box snacks and sweets or fully portioned meals built around recognizable flavor profiles. For competitors, the implication is that “brand equity” is being translated into more categories through partnerships and product line extensions.