Valentine’s Day LTOs

Love is in the air – and innovation should be too! Valentine’s Day is upon us, and yet another holiday means yet another opportunity for creating buzzworthy limited time offers (LTOs) that capitalize on the excitement of the season. Valentine’s Day falls a couple of months after the holiday rush and a few months before all of the anticipation for summertime seasonal specialties, presenting a huge opportunity for brands to introduce something special in the middle of an otherwise uneventful time.

Consumers have been embracing holiday LTOs lately, due to a combination of factors. Social media influencers, for example, push the acknowledgement of holidays in both small and over-the-top ways. Additionally, inflation has forced consumers to cut back on extravagances, but finding fun ways to celebrate holidays has allowed them to continue infusing their lives with some permissible indulgence.

Historically, though, Valentine’s Day LTOs typically only included one or more of the following: 1) heart shaped foods, 2) packaging that features red, pink, and/or hearts, and 3) the inclusion of chocolate. With consumers loving all things holiday – and looking for ways to shake up their daily lives – it’s time for brands to push the envelope when it comes to innovating with holiday LTOs. Keep reading for our takes on how to capitalize on the popularity of Valentine’s Day to create LTOs that consumers will fall in love with.

Look Beyond Chocolate

Yes, (almost) everyone loves chocolate, making it an easy option for including in food products for Valentine’s Day LTOs. These days, however, consumers’ expectations for brands are getting higher, especially when it comes to innovation. Just adding chocolate candy or a chocolate flavor isn’t enough. Brands should try to get a little bit more creative. One option? Use chocolate as a starting point and incorporate other trending ingredients or flavors. Think a chocolate-covered strawberry popcorn or a chocolate BBQ sauce.

Another option? Embrace the indulgence associated with Valentine’s Day by getting inspired by other sweets and desserts typically consumed on this holiday. Think a red velvet cake ice cream, a salted caramel crème brulee dip, or a cherry cheesecake protein shake.

Cocktails and certain other alcoholic beverages, like champagne, are oftentimes served on Valentine’s Day – and can also serve as flavor inspiration for LTOs. Consider bringing the flavors of these beloved beverages to everything from snacks to sauces for Valentine’s Day LTOs that consumers will be totally obsessed with.

Focus on Florals

Besides chocolate, what else is Valentine’s Day practically synonymous with? Flowers. It just so happens that floral and botanical inspired flavors have been trending, as consumers have been branching out from traditional flavor offerings. Brands can use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to experiment with bringing floral flavors to their products.

Roses are perhaps best known for their associations with love and romance, positioning them as a potential option for including in a Valentine’s Day LTO. Think a matcha and rose latte or a rose infused honey. Lavender is another potential option. Consumers have been seeking out lavender for its potential functional properties, including stress relief. Lavender also pairs well with a number of flavors, making it ideal for including in Valentine’s Day LTOs.

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