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Ghirardelli has launched Dubai-style chocolate squares filled with pistachio and crispy kataifi, while PepsiCo and Pilgrim’s Pride are bringing Flamin’ Hot flavor to frozen chicken tenders and bites. The products extend established brands into growing grocery categories; the source report does not give a launch date for the chicken products.
Ghirardelli has launched Dubai Style Chocolate SQUARES filled with pistachio and crispy kataifi, while PepsiCo and Pilgrim’s Pride are teaming up on Flamin’ Hot chicken tenders and bites. The moves carry two well-known flavors into new grocery formats: a premium chocolate line is adapting a viral confection trend, and PepsiCo’s spicy brand is entering the frozen aisle for the first time, according to Food Dive.
Ghirardelli’s new squares combine pistachio filling and kataifi, a shredded pastry used in Middle Eastern desserts. The pieces are taller than the company’s traditional squares to make room for more filling. They are sold in 4.4-ounce bags at major retailers nationwide and on Ghirardelli.com, with a suggested retail price of $10.99.
The chicken collaboration pairs PepsiCo’s Flamin’ Hot flavor with Pilgrim’s Pride products: frozen chicken tenders and bites. Food Dive reported that this is the first time the Flamin’ Hot line is moving into the frozen aisle. The report did not provide a price, specific retailer list or release date for the chicken products.
PepsiCo described the partnership as a way to bring its signature flavor to a new category. Pilgrim’s Pride is the poultry processor behind the products. The announcement represents a brand partnership rather than a reported change to either company’s ownership or core business.
Big Brands Move Beyond Their Core Aisles
Both launches show established food companies using recognizable flavors to compete in categories beyond their usual products. Ghirardelli is applying its chocolate brand to Dubai-style confectionery, while PepsiCo is licensing or extending Flamin’ Hot’s appeal through a partnership with a poultry processor. For shoppers, the practical change is new packaged options; for the companies, the products offer a way to seek growth without relying solely on their traditional formats.
The Flamin’ Hot expansion is particularly notable as a category move: the brand has appeared across snack products, but frozen chicken gives it a place in a different part of the grocery store. Food Dive cited a survey by NC Solutions in which 62% of respondents said they were more likely to buy a food or beverage item advertised as spicy. That figure reflects the survey’s respondents, not all consumers, and the report did not provide further details on the survey’s sample or methodology.
Ghirardelli’s launch also illustrates how a product trend can prompt established confectioners to adapt a format that gained attention online. The company is using its familiar square shape while changing its height and filling to accommodate the pastry-and-pistachio combination.
Ghirardelli Dubai style chocolate squares pistachio
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Dubai-style chocolate is associated with a confection combining chocolate, pistachio and crispy kataifi. Food Dive traced its origins to 2021, when a chocolatier in Dubai made the confection to satisfy a pregnancy craving. The product spread more widely after an influencer promoted it on TikTok three years later, according to the report.
Other companies have since introduced their own versions. Food Dive reported that Lidl, Hershey and Lindt launched Dubai-style products in 2025. Lindt and Ghirardelli are owned by the same company, though the report does not describe the new Ghirardelli squares as a joint product with Lindt. Ghirardelli, which Food Dive described as 174 years old, has also been expanding outside its traditional chocolate line, including a recent first move into packaged cookies.
PepsiCo established Flamin’ Hot as a distinct brand within its portfolio in 2024. At the time, the company said the brand had generated more than $3 billion in retail sales and that a standalone identity would help consumers identify its products. Flamin’ Hot is used across products including Doritos, Cheetos and Funyuns, as well as Jack Link’s jerky.
“Consumers continue to be drawn to the rich pistachio filling and crispy kataifi texture that define Dubai-style chocolate.”
— Bobby Oliver, Ghirardelli’s vice president and head of marketing
Chicken Launch Details Still Missing
The source report does not say when the Flamin’ Hot tenders and bites will reach stores, which retailers will carry them, or how much they will cost. It also does not provide product nutrition information, serving details or a description of how the seasoning will be applied.
For Ghirardelli, the reported price is a suggested retail price, not a guarantee that every store will charge $10.99. The report identifies nationwide retailer availability and Ghirardelli.com but does not list individual chains or provide sales figures for the new squares. Neither announcement includes evidence yet about consumer response or repeat purchases.
Retail Rollouts and Buyer Response
Ghirardelli’s squares are already available through major retailers and the company’s website, so shoppers can look for the 4.4-ounce bags on shelves or online. The next indicators for that launch will be wider details about retail distribution and any reported sales or consumer response; none were included in Food Dive’s account.
For the Flamin’ Hot chicken products, the immediate next milestone is a confirmed release schedule and retailer availability. Until PepsiCo or Pilgrim’s Pride provides those details, shoppers and retailers do not have a reported date or price to plan around. The companies’ announcements establish the planned product partnership, but not the scale or timing of its rollout.
Key Questions
What is in Ghirardelli’s Dubai Style Chocolate SQUARES?
They contain pistachio filling and crispy kataifi, a shredded pastry used in Middle Eastern desserts, inside Ghirardelli chocolate squares.
How much do Ghirardelli’s new squares cost?
The reported suggested retail price is $10.99 for a 4.4-ounce bag. Actual store prices may vary.
What Flamin’ Hot chicken products are planned?
PepsiCo and Pilgrim’s Pride are partnering on Flamin’ Hot Chicken Tenders and Bites. The report says the products mark the flavor line’s first move into the frozen aisle.
When will the Flamin’ Hot chicken be available?
The source report does not specify a release date or retailer list for the tenders and bites.
Source: rss
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