Crayola's Dandelion color was retired in 2017 and revived in early 2025, and this iconic color inspired the new, limited-edition Banana Mango flavor freezer bar created in collaboration between Jel Sert and Crayola. This flavor was created entirely for kids, by kids, and it involved working with food scientists, experimenting, trial, error and at the heart of the collaboration, tons of creativity. "In the CPG industry, it's exceptionally rare for a company to open its R&D lab and empower kids to develop a flavor that ultimately makes it to market," remarked Amy Pagels, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Jel Sert.
The crowd-pleasing Banana Mango flavor freezer bar can be found in a pack with signature Fla-Vor-Ice flavors like Berry Punch, Lemon Lime, Strawberry, Orange, and Grape.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Crowdsourced Product Development
- Engaging children in the product development process reveals a trend where consumers drive innovation, challenging traditional R&D protocols.
- Nostalgic Brand Revival
- The reintroduction of Crayola's Dandelion color highlights a movement where brands are leveraging nostalgic elements to strengthen emotional connections with both old and new audiences.
- Limited-edition Collaborations
- The creation of a Banana Mango freezer bar in partnership with Crayola demonstrates the growing appeal of exclusive, co-branded offerings that harness unique consumer engagement.
Where This Applies
- Consumer Packaged Goods
- The integration of consumer-driven ideation within CPG companies offers a major shift towards personalized and participatory product development strategies.
- Children’s Products
- Opening innovation processes to children in product development signifies a disruptive shift in how youth markets can actively shape their own consumption experiences.
- Food and Beverage
- Creating kid-driven, custom flavors in partnership with non-food brands showcases a novel approach to diversification and audience expansion within the food industry.
