What’s new in the seasoning and condiment aisles?

Similar to other grocery food and beverage categories, packaged seasonings and condiments are pursuing new product collaborations with popular brands outside the core circle.

Two companies getting in on the action recently include Conagra Brands with a new Orville Redenbacher interpretation and B&G Foods with Weber Seasoning Blends. 

Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn Seasonings represent a collection of curated shake-on seasonings with a lineup featuring licensing partnerships with Buffalo Wild Wings Buffalo and Cinnabon.

“Ready-to-eat popcorn and other salty snacks have long offered a broad collection of flavors, but freshly popped popcorn has trailed behind,” said Spencer Fivelson, vice president and general manager of snacks at Conagra. “We’re excited to shake up the microwave and kernels category with our diverse assortment of sweet and savory seasonings.”

Meantime, B&G Foods’s Weber Seasoning Blends are the result of a supplier “constantly looking for new ways to elevate consumers’ culinary experiences with completely unique, yet familiar, seasoning flavor offerings,” said Virginia Jordan, senior marketing director of spices and flavor solutions at B&G Foods.

Click forward for a glimpse of six new innovations. 

Mantis Sweet Heat BBQ Dust starts sweet and then gives a touch of heat. It can be applied as a rub, seasoning or used with dips and on chips and popcorn, Mantis Sweet Heat BBQ Dust comes in a 4-ounce bottle and joins two existing seasonings in Original BBQ Dust and Mantis Ghostly Glaze. Mantis BBQ portfolio also includes three sauces: Mantis Original, A Whisper of Chile (pepper) and A Haunt of Ghost (pepper).

Kraft Heinz launched Hot Varieties, a new lineup of three spicy ketchup flavors and a first-ever Heinz Hot 57 Sauce. Heinz Spicy Ketchup comes in three varieties: Chipotle, Jalapeno and Habanero. Heinz Hot 57 Sauce offers red jalapeno, a twist on the brand’s classic and 57 Sauce. It marks the first new Heinz 57 product in more than a decade.

MicroSalt Shakers offer 50% less sodium per serving and are available in 2- and 6-ounce sizes. The brand's patented process creates micro-sized particles of salt that dissolve immediately, giving consumers a more intense salt taste experience with less sodium, according to the company.

B&G Foods launched three Weber Seasoning Blends inspired by Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Southern Comfort Whiskey. Each blend is non-alcoholic and carefully crafted to capture the iconic flavor of each brand. The full line includes Fireball Whiskey (sweet heat and cinnamon flavor); Buffalo Trace Whiskey (sweet fruit flavor and rich caramel notes); and Southern Comfort Whiskey (balanced blend of stone fruit flavors, warm spices and garlic).

Sauer’s Kernel Season’s product line (Sauer Brands Inc.) brings to market five new popcorn seasoning flavors: Cinnamon Roll offers icing and dough and the flavor of oven-fresh cinnamon roll in one convenient bottle; Roasted Garlic Butter is made with real butter; Churro flavor and Salt & Pepper is made with real cracked pepper; and Salt & Vinegar contains real vinegar. In addition, each is Kosher-certified and gluten-free.

Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn Seasonings feature co-branded licensing partnerships with several suppliers: Buffalo Wild Wings Buffalo infuses classic spicy seasoning to popcorn; Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll is inspired by the brand’s iconic cinnamon roll made with signature Makara Cinnamon; and Movie Theater Butter matches the profile of Orville Redenbacher’s microwave popcorn flavor. Also available are Nacho Cheese and White Cheddar Cheese as well as Ranch. Ranging in sizes from 2.4 to 3.3 ounces, all styles are available for an SRP of $3.49.