Oreo Announced Its Flavor Contest Winner — And There Are Hard Feelings
Oreo said it launched the flavor contest "knowing that this would happen."
Oreo has been rather... extra this year when it comes to new flavor announcements. The cookie sandwich giant announced Pistachio Oreo Thins, Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Oreos, Rocky Road Trip Oreos, Strawberry Shortcake Oreos, Peppermint Bark Oreos, and Mickey Mouse Oreos at the Sweets and Snacks Expo in Chicago in June, and now has come forth with the winner of its latest flavor contest, which was open to the public for ideas.
The finalists for the contest were Pina Colada Oreo Thins, Kettle Corn Oreos, and Cherry Cola Oreos, and the latter was crowned the champion.
However, there was a bit of a flap when it came to selecting the Cherry Cola flavor, because one consumer claimed to have come up with the idea and not received the finalist prize money of $25,000 or the winner's purse of $500,000, a claim that Oreo disputed.
“As expected, many consumers submitted the same flavor suggestions, including ‘cherry cola,’ but did so in different and creative ways,” the company said in a statement published by People. “Knowing that this would happen, the winning submission was based on more than just identifying the flavor (as this Denver Colorado entrant has done), but also on the creative way in which the entrant presented the flavor along with other details about the flavor creation, as outlined in the official rules.”
Cherry Cola Oreos are on shelves now.
