Taylor Farms announced on April 14 the launch of a new line of fresh snacks, salads, and vegetable kits inspired by Illumination’s Minions. The product line is being introduced in partnership with Universal Products & Experiences and Illumination ahead of the release of “Minions & Monsters,” which arrives in theaters July 1.
The collaboration aims to bring family-friendly products to market while capitalizing on the popularity of the Minions franchise. Bryan Jaynes, Senior Vice President of Product at Taylor Farms, said, “Illumination’s Minions are a global phenomenon with broad cross-generational appeal. With the new film’s release just around the corner, we’re thrilled to offer products that bring moments of joy and connection to families nationwide.”
The range includes eight licensed items such as Crunch Pak snack trays featuring apples and popcorn bites, ready-to-eat salad bowls like Pesto Pastability with Chicken, Caribbean Crunch Salad Kits with banana bits and tropical dressing, Caesar Mini Chopped Salad Kits with half-popped popcorn bites, as well as Cauliflower n’ Cheese and Broccoli n’ Cheese kits. Brian Modena, Vice President of Snacks at Taylor Farms, said, “This initiative reflects years of strong collaboration between Taylor Farms and Crunch Pak. As the industry leader in fresh-produce licensing, Crunch Pak brings incredible expertise, and Taylor Farms is thrilled to collaborate with their exceptional team.” Ozgur Koc from Crunch Pak added that their licensing platform helps make fresh food more fun for children while supporting retailers.
The launch will be supported by omnichannel marketing including in-store promotions and digital campaigns. Consumer testing has shown significant purchase intent for these products which will be available nationwide starting May 2026.
Bruce Taylor represents notable personnel at Taylor Farms due to his background in third-generation fresh produce farming according to the official website. The company supports community initiatives focused on youth development, education and health according to its official website. Taylor Farms operates state-of-the-art production facilities across North America according to its official website and has earned TRUE zero waste certification at multiple locations for sustainability efforts according to its official website. The company remains family-owned with deep roots in Salinas Valley’s produce heritage according to its official website, employs over 24,000 people across North America delivering millions of servings weekly according to its official website.
Looking forward, this partnership highlights how brands can use popular entertainment properties like Illumination’s Minions franchise—whose films have grossed more than $5.6 billion globally—to create excitement within food retail markets.
