Heinz UK has partnered with Mattel to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Barbie with an unusual limited-edition product — “Barbiecue Sauce“.
The condiment contains a combination of vegan mayo and barbecue sauce, with beetroot extract used to give it a bright pink colour. Heinz first teased the product on social media in August, along with another suggested sauce — “Tomato Kenchup”.
After many fans expressed their enthusiasm for the idea, Heinz decided to make the Barbiecue Sauce a reality (though there is no sign of the Tomato Kenchup so far). The sauce is said to be ideal for drizzling on burgers, fries, and salads.
Initially, the condiment will only be available in the UK and Spain, though it may later be expanded to other markets. 5000 bottles will be available from the Heinz website, and the sauce will launch at supermarket chain Tesco on April 17. It will then roll out at other retailers, including Ocado, from May.
“Iconic partnership”
It is notable that Heinz chose to use vegan mayo for the new sauce; the brand has increasingly been moving into the plant-based sector in recent years, starting with a range of vegan mayos, salad cream, and burgers in 2021.
Last year, Heinz launched vegan versions of two of its most popular products — Cream of Tomato Soup and Beanz & Sausages. The brand has also introduced meat alternatives made from beans, including mince and nuggets.
“Barbie well and truly won the hearts of Brits all over again last year, and after seeing the reaction this sauce brought to our fans on social media, we knew we had to make it a reality,” said Thiago Rapp, director of taste elevation at Heinz, in a statement. “We’re always looking for ways to innovate and give our fans what they want, and we’re thrilled to be able to bring this iconic partnership with Mattel to life.”
