Pic’s Peanut Butter has teamed up with Melbourne bakery Rustica for a one-day-only collaboration to mark International Peanut Butter Day. The partnership centres on a limited-edition Pic’s Peanut Butter and Popcorn Crookie, a hybrid pastry that combines elements of a cookie and a croissant. The crookie has been developed by the Rustica team and will be sold during normal store opening hours. “International Peanut Butter Day gives us an extra excuse to celebrate the humble peanut and the work we do at Pic’s Peanut Butter,” says Aimee McCammon, CEO of Pic’s Peanut Butter. “Partnering with bakery icons Rustica felt like a natural fit, bringing together quality baked deliciousness and our much-loved peanut butter – a match made in heaven.” As part of the promotion, Rustica’s South Yarra store will offer an additional giveaway, with the first 24 customers who purchase the Pic’s Peanut Butter creation receiving a free jar of Pic’s Peanut Butter to take home. The item will be available for one day only across all nine Rustica locations on Saturday, January 24, while stocks last. Source: Good Appetite Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

PopBox has launched a limited-edition collaboration with Wicked: For Good to coincide with the film’s digital at-home release. The promotion includes themed popcorn packs and a series of supermarket competitions offering replica props and movie-night prizes. The collaboration is rolling out nationally, with exclusive prizes available through Woolworths, Coles and participating retailers. Woolworths exclusive: Shoppers who purchase any PopBox product at Woolworths can enter to win The Grimmerie, a replica prop from Wicked: For Good valued at $8,500. The prize also includes a year’s supply of PopBox. Coles exclusive: Customers who purchase PopBox at Coles can enter to win Glinda the Good Witch’s wand, a replica prop from the film valued at $6,500, along with a year’s supply of PopBox. Nationwide competition: All PopBox purchasers nationwide can enter to win a movie-night bundle featuring an LG 4K UHD Smart Projector, LG Q Series Dolby Atmos Soundbar, an Apple gift card and a year’s supply of PopBox, with a total prize value of $3,582. Twenty runners-up will each receive a one-month supply of PopBox. Mark Adamson, CEO of PopBox, said: “Wicked: For Good has captivated audiences across Australia, and this partnership gives us the opportunity to bring that joy and popcorn into the homes of PopBox fans across the country for their at-home watch parties. “The drama and spectacle of Wicked: For Good align perfectly with PopBox, and we’re thrilled to see this limited-edition collaboration available in retailers for Aussies to pop, share and enjoy.” The limited-edition PopBox packaging draws on the visual world of Wicked: For Good and is available at Coles, Woolworths and independent retailers while stocks last. “We’re thrilled to partner with PopBox to celebrate our at-home digital release of Wicked: For Good and are excited for fans to enjoy a special movie-night experience,” added Poonam Kirkham, Vice-President of International Marketing, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The collaboration includes PopBox’s Mega Butter, Butter, Sweet & Salty and Caramel Crunch flavours, which are available nationwide for an RRP of $4. Source: Good Appetite Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

Roma Foods has marked 70 years in Australian food by leaning into simpler, plant-based ingredients and a back-to-basics approach to how food is made and consumed. Founded in Victoria, Roma Foods has grown from a small Australian manufacturer into a global supplier exporting to more than 70 countries. Today, its attention is on functional flours and high-protein plant inclusions made from ingredients such as peas, rice, corn, buckwheat and quinoa. “Our purpose is consistent and clear – create great food for healthier living,” says Max Buontempo, Managing Director of Roma Foods. “Today that means instantised, precooked flours and smart inclusions that help manufacturers innovate faster, reduce complexity and deliver products consumers love.” Ingredient versatility Rather than relying on heavily engineered substitutes, the company is developing instantised, precooked flours and plant-based inclusions designed to slot easily into everyday foods, from bread and snacks to cereals and plant-based meals. That approach reflects a broader shift in how consumers are thinking about food, with growing interest in shorter ingredient lists, cleaner labels and products that feel less processed without sacrificing texture or flavour. “Versatility is non-negotiable,” Buontempo explains. “By offering multiple formats from instantised flours to protein puffs, our partners can target specific textures, improve binding or hydration and keep flavour profiles clean and consumer-friendly.” Texture, taste and familiarity Roma Foods’ ingredients are now being used across familiar categories, including gluten-free baking, muesli and granola, snack foods and plant-based alternatives, where texture and taste remain key to repeat purchase. The company has also expanded its range of puffed and flaked inclusions containing more than 30 per cent protein, designed to add crunch and nutritional value to foods like bars, cereals and trail mixes without changing how they taste. “Protein puffs have been a breakthrough for our customers,” Buontempo says. “They deliver on texture and nutrition, integrate easily and keep taste profiles clean, which is exactly what better-for-you brands need.” Behind the scenes, Roma Foods operates a vertically integrated facility in Carrum Downs, overseeing everything from milling to packaging. For consumers, that translates to greater consistency, traceability and an Australian-made supply chain. “Taste remains the paramount,” Buontempo emphasises. “Better-for-you products must still taste great. We make that easier providing desired textures, neutral flavour and functional reliability.” As interest in plant-based, free-from and clean-label foods continues to grow, Roma Foods says its focus remains on supporting healthier everyday eating while keeping flavour front and centre. Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

As Melbourne heats up during the Australian Open, Miilk Cake Studio has introduced a limited-edition range of tennis-themed drinks at its Swanston Street store. Timed to coincide with the tournament, the CBD cake shop has created three iced fruit tea drinks inspired by the colours of the tennis court, including the Australian Open’s signature blue. The drinks are designed as a seasonal offering for summer and are available for a limited time. Each drink is based on iced fruit tea, finished with milk foam to create layered colour effects and contrasting flavours, including: The Tennis Colada, which features pineapple-infused tea topped with banana milk foam, delivering a tropical flavour profile. The Lawn Tennis Cooler, which combines a lychee yoghurt slushie with green kiwi milk foam for a tangy finish. Courting You, which pairs mango and passionfruit-infused tea with blue butterfly pea tea, creating a vibrant blue drink inspired by the tournament’s visual identity. The tennis-themed drinks are available at Miilk Cake Studio’s Swanston Street location until February 1. Source: Modern Currency Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.