Food and Beverage
VINI JR. SADDLES-UP, WHILE JACK GREALISH HEADS TO JUNGLE IN LATEST PEPSI® CAMPAIGN
THE CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGES FOOTBALL FANS TO DITCH MIDWEEK ROUTINE FOR UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ACTION
- Campaign features two films with Pepsi ambassador Vini Jr. The first, unveiled today, features him as a cowboy transported into a traditional Telenovela scene and the second will see him taking on the role of a martial artist within the Chinese fiction genre, Wuxia
- In a separate standalone film, we witness Jack Grealish taking on a traditional gameshow challenge in the jungle
- Pepsi’s latest campaign – Football Always Wins – encourages fans to break their midweek monotony, that might include watching TV game shows, Telenovela serial dramas, or Wuxia martial arts shows and to instead choose football enjoyment over everyday sameness.
LONDON /PRNewswire/ — Pepsi has launched its latest global football campaign, encouraging fans around the world to break their midweek routines to experience the enjoyment of UEFA Champions League football. Featuring ambassadors Jack Grealish and Vini Jr, the campaign sets out to show that “Football Always Wins” over other forms of entertainment.
n the set of films created for the campaign, Jack Grealish and Vini Jr. challenge fans to break with their midweek routines that might include watching TV Game Shows, Telenovela serial dramas, or Wuxia martial arts shows and to instead embrace the opportunity to watch more sport. The global campaign coincides with Pepsi partnership with the UEFA Champions League.
In the first two entertaining films, Vini Jr. is transported into the Telenovela format popular across Latin America, donning a cowboy outfit for his role. The player rides a horse towards a potential romantic partner but, just as the two lock eyes, Vini Jr. decides to choose football and instead controls a ball on his chest. The film closes with Vini Jr. standing on his horse’s saddle, demonstrating that football should always win in a choice between soap opera and a match.
Whilst this epic competition can turn a routine Tuesday or Wednesday into the best moment of the week, Pepsi’s latest campaign recognises that fans around the world encounter habits and routines which might stop them from watching and enjoying midweek games.
Vini Jr. said, “When I was younger and growing up in Brazil, I clearly remember sprinting back from school as fast as I could to catch the start of European matches. I remember being glued to the screen, dreaming of one day playing on those pitches. Now I’m there, my goals and ambitions are always about taking my game to the next level. I want to score more goals, provide more assists, and be a decisive player in every competition”.
The second film, due to be released next week, will feature Vini Jr. transported into the Chinese fiction genre, Wuxia. Two martial artists are shown preparing to fight each other but are dramatically interrupted by Vini Jr., armed only with a football. Once again, Football Always Wins.
Vini Jr. continues, “Playing a martial artist in the new Pepsi campaign was amazing—it felt like stepping into a completely different world. But I have to say, the cowboy outfit was such an unexpected and fun look for me. As for what’s next? Who knows! Maybe I’ll get to be a superhero or even dive into the world of music”.
In a standalone film featuring Jack Grealish, we find him taking on a traditional gameshow challenge based in the jungle. The film opens with a group of contestants crawling in the mud in an attempt to find a giant ball to slot into a hole in the wall. Having struggled to complete the challenge, Jack Grealish appears from nowhere and kicks a football straight through the hole, completing the challenge and once again demonstrating that Football Always Wins.
Jack Grealish said, “Those who know me know how much I love game shows. So, when Pepsi revealed I’d be taking on a series of jungle inspired challenges for its latest campaign, I couldn’t wait to get involved!”
In supporting content for the campaign Jack Grealish is dispatched to the “jungle” as he’s challenged to test himself with a series of mystery boxes to unlock the winning Pepsi and the enjoyment of mid-week football. The “Football Always Wins” campaign will later be extended with a series of social assets in which Jack and Vini Jr. encourage football fans to stop their scroll and tune-in to UEFA Champions League games. The three players will “hack” popular TikTok memes to present the match as more fulfilling entertainment.
Eric Melis, VP Global Brand Marketing at PepsiCo said: “Football has an unrivalled ability to entertain fans around the world, and nothing encapsulates this more than the UEFA Champions League. We know, however, that UEFA Champions League football alters the midweek routine and that fans around the world have weekly schedules which might keep them from experiencing the thrill of mid-week sport.
“Pepsi’s latest campaign – Football Always Wins – sets out to encourage football fans to break their midweek monotony, encouraging them to choose enjoyment over everyday sameness. Working with our incredible Global football ambassadors, Jack Grealish and Vini Jr, both of whom are known for challenging convention in the game, we’ve created a campaign which brings unrivalled entertainment to fans around the world and continues Pepsi’s philosophy to unlock pure enjoyment for those who are Thirsty For More.”
The campaign launches globally with the first of the two films released on 20 January 2025, across a range of channels. Fans can follow Pepsi channels to see more as the campaign unfolds: X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook
The Vini Jr. in Telenovela and Jack Grealish Jungle Game Show films are available here, with the final film to be released next week.
Jack Grealish imagery is available here and Vini Jr. imagery is available here.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complimentary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LiinkedIn @PepsiCo.
(Feature Impact) Game day is about more than the big plays, touchdown-saving tackles and final score. Whether you’re gathering in the stadium parking lot or hosting friends for an at-home watch party, a memorable experience begins long before kickoff.
Start your pregame festivities with an MVP-worthy spread that’s simple to serve, easy to eat and keeps fans full through the final whistle. For example, the flavor of Buffalo is a game-day staple, but wings aren’t the only way to enjoy it.
For less mess, Buffalo Chicken Caesar and Celery Wraps pair convenience with the cool crunch of Dandy Celery, a year-round superstar ingredient for many of your favorite football-inspired dishes. It’s packed with flavor and low in calories, making it a smart choice for snacking.
The contrasting tastes and textures offer a satisfying bite, whether you slice the wraps into smaller portions for appetizer-style serving or leave them whole for fans with hearty appetites.
Nervous nibblers during the game’s most tense moments may prefer a lighter bite, and that’s where a dependable dip can come through in the clutch. This Buffalo Hummus recipe puts a tailgate-spin on the familiar favorite, combining creamy texture with a little heat.
Serve it alongside crackers, chips or crisp vegetables like Dandy celery dippers, fresh-cut celery sticks that are pre-washed and ready to eat at your convenience – a true time-saver when the clock is ticking.
Design your own winning game plan by finding more tailgating recipes at DudaFresh.com.
Buffalo Chicken Caesar and Celery Wraps
Servings: 4
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1/4 cup Buffalo sauce
- 2 cups Dandy romaine hearts, chopped
- 1 cup Dandy celery, chopped (about 4 ribs)
- 1/3 cup Caesar dressing
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 large flour tortillas (10 inches)
- In bowl, toss shredded chicken with Buffalo sauce. Set aside.
- To make salad: In separate bowl, combine romaine, celery, Caesar dressing, Parmesan cheese and black pepper. Mix well.
- To assemble wraps: Spoon about 1/4 cup Buffalo chicken along center of each tortilla, leaving small border at each end; top with Caesar salad. Fold up bottom of tortilla over filling then fold in sides and roll up tightly. Slice in half diagonally.
Buffalo Hummus
Prep time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup Buffalo sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 lemon, juice only
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2-3 tablespoons ice water
- dairy-free blue cheese, for garnish (optional)
- chopped chives, for garnish (optional)
- paprika, for garnish (optional)
- olive oil, for garnish (optional)
- Dandy Celery Dippers
- pita chips
- In food processor, puree drained chickpeas, tahini, Buffalo sauce, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Add water through lid until desired consistency is achieved.
- Spread hummus onto serving plate or bowl. Garnish, if desired, with dairy-free blue cheese, chopped chives, paprika and drizzle of olive oil. Serve with celery dippers and pita chips.
SOURCE:
Food and Beverage
ALDI Rolls Out Its First-Ever Line of Ready-Made Meals
ALDI is entering the ready-made meal market with seven fresh, refrigerated dishes priced under $15. The rollout begins in October, with nationwide availability expected by January 2027.
Busy shoppers looking for a quick dinner option will soon have something new waiting in the refrigerated section at ALDI.
ALDI is launching its first-ever collection of fresh, ready-made meals, introducing seven single-serve and family-size dishes designed to combine convenience, affordability and familiar comfort-food flavors.
The new meals begin rolling out at select ALDI stores in early October, with additional markets receiving them throughout the fall. ALDI expects the entire collection to be available nationwide by January 2027.
Seven New Meals — Ready to Heat and Eat
Unlike frozen dinners, ALDI says its new meals are delivered fresh and sold refrigerated in easy-to-heat trays.
The initial lineup includes five single-serve meals priced under $8:
- Beef Bolognese Spaghetti
- Beef Brisket with White Mac & Cheese
- Butter Chicken & Rice
- Chicken Burrito Bowl
- Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Two larger family-size meals will be available for under $15:
- Chicken and Bacon Mac n’ Cheese
- Meat Lovers Pizza Bake
ALDI says the recipes were developed around ingredients including chicken breast, smoked beef brisket, real cheeses and made-from-scratch sauces.
The single-serve meals contain between 30 and 46 grams of protein per serving, according to the company. Family-size offerings provide between 16 and 22 grams per serving.
Convenience Without the Restaurant Bill
The move puts ALDI more directly into the growing market for prepared refrigerated meals — an increasingly attractive option for consumers who want something more substantial than a frozen dinner but don’t necessarily have the time or desire to cook from scratch.
ALDI cited the 2026 International Food Information Council Food & Health Survey, which found that 61% of Americans consider convenience an important factor when purchasing food.
“Our shoppers are looking for meals that fit into busy lives without sacrificing quality or stretching their budgets,” Joan Kavanaugh, Vice President of National Buying for ALDI U.S., said in the company’s announcement.
ALDI supplier Kitchen Food Company said hundreds of recipes were tested while developing the new collection.
Dinner in Just a Few Minutes
Convenience is a major part of the concept.
Depending on the variety, ALDI’s single-serve meals require roughly 3½ to 4½ minutes in the microwave. The company instructs consumers to heat the meals until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
The larger family meals can be prepared in a conventional oven at 350 degrees, with approximately 40 minutes of total cooking time.
Shoppers will find the meals in the refrigerated meals section near the front of participating ALDI stores.
More Meals Are Coming
The seven dishes are only the beginning.
ALDI says it plans to introduce additional ready-made meals through its rotating ALDI Finds selection every month during the next year. That could allow the retailer to experiment with additional recipes, flavors and seasonal offerings while expanding its presence in prepared foods.
The timing also makes the rollout noteworthy. With restaurant meals and takeout competing for household food dollars, prepared grocery-store meals occupy a middle ground: more convenient than cooking from scratch while potentially costing considerably less than feeding a family through restaurant delivery or takeout.
For ALDI shoppers, that means the familiar question of “What’s for dinner?” may soon have a few more answers — and they could be waiting just inside the front door.
Source: ALDI, September 22, 2026
Sources & Related Links
- ALDI — Official Announcement: ALDI Launches First-Ever Collection of Ready-Made Meals
- Original Press Release: ALDI Ready-Made Meals — PR Newswire
- Consumer Research: 2026 IFIC Food & Health Survey — Convenience Outranks Healthfulness
- More ALDI News: ALDI U.S. Newsroom
- More Food & Drink Coverage: STM Daily News Food & Drink
Hungry for More?
Looking for more easy dinner ideas, meal-planning inspiration, and affordable meals? Explore STM Daily News Food & Drink for the latest recipes, food news, restaurant stories, culinary trends and more.
A poached egg may look fancy, but it is surprisingly easy to prepare. With a tender egg white and warm, runny yolk, it makes a delicious addition to toast, salads, breakfast bowls or avocado toast.
Ingredients
- 1 large fresh egg
- Water
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar, optional
- Salt and black pepper
- Toast or English muffin for serving, optional
Instructions
Fill a saucepan with about 2 to 3 inches of water and bring it to a gentle simmer. Avoid a rolling boil, which can break the egg apart.
Crack the egg into a small cup or bowl. Add the vinegar to the water if desired—it helps the egg white hold its shape.
Gently slide the egg into the simmering water. Cook for about 3 minutes for a runny yolk, or 4 to 5 minutes for a firmer center.
Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and place it briefly on a paper towel to absorb excess water. Season with salt and pepper, then serve immediately.
Quick Tip
Fresh, cold eggs usually produce the neatest poached eggs because their whites are thicker and stay closer to the yolk while cooking.
Simple, satisfying and ready in minutes, a poached egg is an easy way to make an everyday breakfast feel a little more special.
