Stop & Shop Releases Limited-Time Groceries for Summer

Just in time for backyard gatherings and summer poolside parties, supermarket chain Stop & Shop has introduced two seasonal, private-label products that will amp up your warm-weather entertaining — but they’re only available for a limited time.

To enhance your next appetizer spread, the grocery store has created a non-traditional version of a beloved dip, a Thai Coconut Curry Hummus by Taste of Inspirations. (Taste of Inspirations is a premium, private-label brand that’s offered at Stop & Shop stores.) For sipping on the side, you can grab a few bottles of the new Shirley Temple-Inspired Cherry & Cranberry Soda, a sweet, bubbly beverage with fruit flavors. 

According to a press release shared with Food & Wine, a two-liter bottle of the Shirley Temple-inspired soda is available for just $1, and the Thai Coconut Hummus is sold for $3.99 in a 10-ounce tub. 

In the release, Stop & Shop’s executive vice president and chief merchant, Lee Nicholson, says, “We are always looking for ways to deliver unique, flavor-forward products at a strong value with our private-label brands, and the Thai Coconut Curry Hummus and Shirley Temple-Inspired Soda are perfect examples of that.”

Stop & Shop’s Thai Coconut Curry Hummus

If you always keep hummus in the fridge as a go-to snack, you probably know that this versatile spread can be infused with many different flavors — from options like roasted red pepper to lemon, caramelized onion, and more. Stop & Shop’s Thai Coconut Curry Hummus is an unexpected flavor combination, but one that the brand says “combines creamy chickpeas with sweet and spicy flavors” from the added Thai curry seasoning, coconut oil, shredded coconut, and ginger.

“The Thai Coconut Curry Hummus has pleasantly surprised shoppers with its subtle heat and globally inspired [flavors],” Nicholson explains in a statement provided to Food & Wine. This dip is far from a traditional hummus or a typical Thai curry — instead, it’s simply inspired by both — but it is delicious and full of bright, aromatic flavors. Add it to a grazing table with pita chips and crudités, or spread it on sandwiches and wraps for a quick hit of nutty coconut and subtle spice.

Stop & Shop’s Shirley Temple-Inspired Cherry & Cranberry Soda 

Is there anyone who doesn’t crave a Shirley Temple in the summer? If you’re like me, it’s unlikely you have grenadine on hand when that desire for a fizzy pink drink hits, but this soda presents an easy and delicious alternative. Stop & Shop’s limited-time beverage takes the classic Shirley Temple and turns it into a fizzy, cherry- and cranberry-flavored soda that requires no preparation but still provides sweetness and bubbles. 

The idea for this drink came from Stop & Shop’s beverage category manager, Eddie Attubato, who explains that “It’s my favorite drink, and I make them at home all the time. I figured, why not try and share them with everyone?” You can enjoy the flavors of the classic mocktail by sipping the Shirley Temple-Inspired Cherry & Cranberry Soda on its own, or take it up a notch by making a spiked Dirty Shirley or creating an even more elaborate mocktail with whatever you have on hand.

Where can you get Stop & Shop’s limited-time summer items?  

Both products are currently available for purchase at 360 Stop & Shop locations across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey while supplies last. Customers can also order the two items online, if local delivery is available from the chain, at stopandshop.com. 

At my nearest Stop & Shop, there was only one tub of the new dip left, so if a coconut-forward hummus sounds mouth-watering to you, make sure to snag one while they’re still available. “Across the board, our shoppers are loving the bold tastes and great value both products deliver,” Nicholson emphasizes.