Mars, Incorporated's Pringles brand is rolling out two product innovations this September: Pringles Dippers, a new line of thicker, wavier crisps designed specifically for dipping, and a Sweet & Salty addition to its Mingles puffed-snack lineup — moves that signal Mars Snacking North America's continued push to capture incremental shelf space in the salty-snack category.
The New SKUs
Pringles Dippers represent the brand's most significant format departure from its signature flat, uniform crisp. The new product features a scoop-like curvature and increased structural thickness intended to prevent breakage during heavy dip loads — a common friction point for operators and consumers who use stackable crisps as a dipping vehicle at snack bars, catered events, and convenience-channel grab-and-go sets. The line launches in three flavors: Original, French Onion, and Bacon Cheddar. The Mingles extension, a bowtie-shaped puffed snack, adds a Sweet & Salty variant described as balancing brown-butter sweetness against a salty finish.
Operator and Channel Relevance
For foodservice and convenience operators, dip-companion snacks represent a meaningful attach-sale opportunity. Dip-and-chip formats have expanded their footprint across stadium concessions, hotel amenity packages, and fast-casual snack programs over the past two years as operators look to boost per-visit spend without adding kitchen complexity. A structurally reinforced crisp addresses a practical gap: standard stackable chips frequently fracture under thick dips like queso or French onion, generating guest complaints and plate waste. Eileen Flaherty-Yao, Senior Director of Salty at Mars Snacking North America, framed the launch around that pain point directly. "We know it can be frustrating if your typical salty dipping vessel prevents your perfect scoop or breaks as you dip," she said, noting the thicker, wavier parabolic shape is "built to handle any dipping style from light dips to heavy scoops."
The dual-innovation rollout also reflects Mars's broader portfolio strategy following its Kellanova acquisition, which brought Pringles, Cheez-It, and related salty-snack brands under the Mars umbrella. Combined Mars and Kellanova net sales were reported at over $65 billion in 2025, giving the company substantial retail leverage to secure prominent placement for new SKUs at launch. For category buyers and snack-program managers at foodservice distributors, the Pringles Dippers format may open cross-merchandising conversations with dip brands already in their portfolios — particularly in the refrigerated dips and spreads segment, which has posted consistent unit-velocity gains in both retail and away-from-home channels.
What's Next
Both innovations hit retailers nationwide beginning in September. No price points or suggested retail figures were disclosed in launch materials. Operators and buyers evaluating the Dippers line for bulk or foodservice pack formats should watch for distributor listings through the fall reset cycle. The Mingles Sweet & Salty SKU, meanwhile, targets the better-for-you-adjacent puffed-snack daypart that has gained traction in college dining, corporate café, and vending channels seeking lighter-texture, portion-friendly items.
For broader context on how salty-snack innovation is reshaping convenience and snack channel strategy, and how Mars's Kellanova integration is influencing packaged-food distribution partnerships, coverage continues across the Food & Beverage Magazine network at fb101.com.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
