Apr 2, 2025

While meant to be a joke, the fake offerings can generate valuable buzz and in some cases lead to real product launches. Published April 1, 2025 This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback . Food and beverage companies launch thousands of products every year, but some of the most talked about might be the ones that aren’t even real. Each year, businesses take advantage of April Fool’s Day to introduce fake products involving some of their most well-known brands. These stunts are meant to draw attention to a company’s core products, and can often lead to debate among consumers if certain launches are genuine. In some cases, what starts as a joke can generate so much buzz that companies end up creating and selling the product. In 2023, Kraft Heinz’s Claussen brand launched a pickle-flavored cocktail after teasing the concept as an April Fool’s joke one year earlier. And in 2024, Hidden Valley Ranch and Burt’s Bees, both owned by consumer care products company Clorox, joined to create lip balm in four flavors. This year, food manufacturers are releasing fresh twists on core offerings and linking up with promising upstart brands to gain exposure. Hidden Valley's April Fools collaboration, for example, links with Olipop to tap into consumer demand for prebiotic sodas. Here's a look at a few of the April Fool’s Day products companies have “introduced” this year, including launches from Hershey, Smarties and more. Olipop goes savory with ranch soda collab Better-for-you soda maker Olipop is playing a joke on fans with a fictional collaboration with Clorox’s cult favorite salad dressing Hidden Valley Ranch. Olipop unveiled a “Ranch Lovers” soda pack including four zesty flavors based on the condiment: Ranch, Jalapeño Ranch, Garlic Ranch and Hot Honey Ranch. "It’s a refreshing, logic-defying experience that demands a sip and finally makes drinking your favorite Hidden Valley Ranch socially acceptable," Olipop said in a release. Get smart with Thinkies Smarties is partnering with learning tool Quizlet on a sweet treat consumers can enjoy while studying. The imaginary "Thinkies" is described as candy to help boost enjoyment and enhance brain power. In announcing the imaginary candy, the companies said every student who tried Thinkies claimed the treat has “made studying a delight” or “improved their work/life balance” by giving them a sweeter perspective while securing a 4.0 GPA. “We saw an opportunity this year to tap into the consumer trend on social media of sweet treats as rewards and teamed up with Smarties to bring the ultimate study treat to fans,” Mallory O’Brien, head of social at Quizlet, said in a statement to Food Dive. “While Thinkies isn’t an actual product, the sentiments of the joke allowed us to play into consumer truths while creating a fake product we know our users would crave.” BodyArmor hits the showers The sports drink brand owned by Coca-Cola is trolling athletes with a fantasy product in the personal hygiene category: BodyArmor Sports Performance Shampoo. BodyArmor teased that the shampoo contains electrolytes and vitamins in order to “hydrate, strengthen, protect, restore and volumize hair.” The shampoo is supposedly endorsed by barber chain Great Clips. The beverage brand is also using the fake launch to debut a real sweepstakes for tickets to the Stanley Cup, as part of its partnership with the National Hockey League. Is it still CRUNCH if it doesn’t “crunch”? We’re about to find out. ? ??? Introducing our quietest bar yet, now made with cooked rice and 75% less noise! Tag a friend that needs to try this. #CRUNCH pic.twitter.com/YHFN1gC1MU Crunch goes quiet The Crunch candy bar is too loud. At least that’s the message from the popular confection that’s normally made with chocolate and crisped rice. The popular confection said it is introducing its “quietest bar ever,” which is made with boiled white rice for 75% less noise.