PEDESTRIAN.TV and Maltesers have named the winners of their national dream wedding competition, with engaged couple Bianca and James set to receive a fully planned and funded wedding package valued at up to $60,000. The campaign asked couples across Australia to share their love stories and the compromises behind their wedding planning, tying the search to the launch of Maltesers Duos. The prize includes support across major costs including clothing, food, hair and makeup, flowers and venue expenses. The campaign was created around the idea that wedding planning often means bringing together two different sets of tastes, traditions and expectations into one celebration. Mars Snacking ANZ Bitesize Portfolio Director Ana Laskova said, “The launch of Maltesers Duos was the perfect opportunity to explore the ultimate joint decision: a wedding. “PEDESTRIAN.TV has been instrumental in bringing this ambitious idea to life with us, they know their audience so inherently and we’ve been delighted by the creativity and heart shown in the entries to the competition. “We congratulate our winning couple and can’t wait to share their journey of how they achieved their dream wedding, with a little help from Maltesers Duos.” Bianca and James will now work with the PEDESTRIAN.TV team across the planning process, from styling and fashion through to catering and entertainment. Their wedding journey will also be documented in a content series for PEDESTRIAN.TV platforms. Publicis OneMars Group Planning Director Jasmin Christie said, “This campaign was built on a simple truth: the best relationships aren’t about choosing one way over another, but about having the best of both worlds. “Through this partnership with PEDESTRIAN.TV, we’ve created a campaign that brings the spirit of Maltesers Duos to life in an authentic and engaging way, turning one of life’s biggest decision-making moments, a wedding, into a celebration of not having to choose.” Most weddings are not shaped by one person’s perfect vision. They are shaped by two people, two families, two sets of priorities and a lot of decisions that need to land somewhere in the middle. For Maltesers Duos, that gives the product launch a matched campaign hook. The new product is centred on two flavours in one, while the wedding campaign follows a couple trying to bring two visions into one day. PEDESTRIAN.TV Senior Creative Project Manager Madison O’Nions said, “Bringing this campaign to life has been an absolute blast. It took a massive effort across our strategy, creative, partnerships, and production teams to make something that feels culturally relevant and genuinely hits with our audience. “Partnering with Maltesers to throw one lucky couple the ultimate wedding is a total dream, and we’re only just getting started!” Now that Bianca and James have been selected, the campaign will move into production. The wedding is scheduled to take place later in 2026, with content rolling out across PEDESTRIAN.TV in the lead-up to the event. Source: Soda Communications Find more food culture on Crumb Wire.

Allen’s is transforming its lollies into a much-loved Aussie sweet-treat format, decorating supermarket aisles with three new Choc Blocks. The range has launched at Coles, Woolworths and independent retailers, mixing milk and white chocolate with sherbet fizzy chips, fudge pieces, waffle cones and Mini Smarties. Nestlé Head of Marketing Confectionery Shannon Wright said, “We wanted to take everything people love about Lollies: the colour, the fun, the unexpected textures and pack it into a choc block. “Each piece has its own little surprise, whether it’s a pop of fizz, a chewy bite or a satisfying crunch.” The range includes: Allen’s Block Party – Smooth milk chocolate with fudge pieces, sherbet fizzy chips and Mini Smarties. Allen’s Sherbet Fizz – Smooth milk chocolate with sherbet fizzy chips and waffle cone. Allen’s Strawberries & Cream – Creamy white chocolate with fudge and sherbet fizzy chips. The 170g blocks take the chew, fizz and crunch people already know from Allen’s and put them into a supermarket chocolate block. Allen’s has dabbled in chocolate before through products like Freckles and chocolate-coated lollies, but this is a dedicated three-block range under the Allen’s name. The new Allen’s Choc Block range is now available nationally, retailing for $7.50. Source: Omnicom Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

Sal’s Authentic New York Pizza has found a new home at The Carlton Club kitchen in Melbourne’s CBD. The Bourke Street venue will launch the residency on Tuesday, September 8, with $1 slices for one day only before adding Sal’s foldable New York-style slices and pies to its regular food offering. The Carlton Club will also run a $12 pot of Birra Moretti and slice deal from 3 pm to 11 pm daily after the launch. The move gives the multi-level venue another reason for people to stay beyond the first drink. The Carlton Club is already known for its rooftop, level 1 balcony, pool room, drinks and DJs, with Sal’s now joining the mix from the kitchen. Chief Publican Liam Ganley said, “Historically, The Carlton Club has been a place you go for one drink and end up staying for the whole night, so for us, having food from ‘the city that never sleeps’ just makes sense. “We want people to come have fun, enjoy some great pizza and stay for the night. Sal’s is the perfect fit for The Carlton Club.” Sal’s traces its roots back to Queens, where Italian-born New Yorker Salvatore Leo opened Sal’s Pizza of Little Neck in 1975. The brand later came to this side of the world in 2008, after friends Nick from Auckland and Ciaran from Queens worked to bring New York-style pizza to the Southern Hemisphere. After rounds of blind testing, they found Sal’s pizzas could be made with water from down under. Sal’s Authentic New York Pizza opened in Auckland later that year, with Sal’s son Brian joining the team before the brand expanded through New Zealand and launched in Australia in 2019. At The Carlton Club, diners can expect Sal’s signature slow-risen dough, made with New York-milled hard spring wheat flour for a foldable base. The tomato sauce is made fresh daily with vine-ripened California tomatoes, with menu highlights such as Pepperoni and the original Home-Style Italian Meatball. The residency also marks a new chapter for The Carlton Club, with Ganley Group rescuing the venue from administration in March 2025, keeping the heritage hospitality landmark trading and retaining staff. Ganley Group, known for restoring heritage buildings, has major renovations planned for The Carlton Club in 2027. Until then, Sal’s will be serving from the kitchen at 193 Bourke Street. Find more dining out updates on Crumb Wire.

Hungry Jack’s has teamed up with Pistachio Papi to give the world two limited-edition menu items starring the cult pistachio spread. The chain is now serving two limited-edition pistachio packed menu items nationally: a Pistachio Papi Storm and Pistachio Papi Shake. Both use Pistachio Papi drizzle and crunchy cookie crumb, paired with either Hungry Jack’s vanilla soft serve or a creamy vanilla shake. The collaboration puts Pistachio Papi inside an Aussie quick service restaurant for the very first time. It also gives Hungry Jack’s a neatly timed dessert play as pistachio continues to dominate café cabinets, chocolate bars and social feeds. Hungry Jack’s Marketing Director Luke Pavan said, “Pistachio has absolutely exploded in popularity, and we’ve seen how Pistachio Papi has been at the heart of the trend. “Teaming up with Pistachio Papi gave us the opportunity to continue our iconic and exclusive brand collaborations, which has become a hallmark of our dessert menu. An all-Australian collab with Pistachio Papi was the natural next step.” Pistachio Papi has become one of the more recognisable local names in that space, built around the glossy, rich pistachio spread that has helped turn the flavour into a full-blown dessert fixation. Pistachio Papi founder Mark Abdelmalik said, “Pistachio Papi has always been known for creating memorable and iconic collaborations, so when discussions began with Hungry Jack’s, another Australian icon, we knew we had the opportunity to give fans something really special. “Seeing Pistachio Papi drizzled through the iconic Hungry Jack’s Storm and Shake is honestly a match made in heaven. The products have exceeded even our expectations, and we know fans are going to go crazy for them. “This collaboration is another huge moment for Papi and a perfect example of what makes the brand so special – we continue to push boundaries and, most importantly, give pistachio lovers products they genuinely get excited about.” The limited-edition range includes: Pistachio Papi Storm – Hungry Jack’s vanilla soft serve swirled with Pistachio Papi drizzle and crunchy cookie crumb. Pistachio Papi Shake – A creamy vanilla shake mixed with Pistachio Papi drizzle and crunchy cookie crumb. The Pistachio Papi Storm and Pistachio Papi Shake are available now at participating Hungry Jack’s restaurants nationwide, in-store, via drive-thru and delivery. Source: Wrights Communication Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.