Philadelphia and Divina Shake Up Summer Cocktails with New Philly-tini Olives
A bold twist on the traditional martini olive — and a bold play by two category leaders to target at-home mixologists and food-curious shoppers this summer. Philadelphia Cream Cheese, in partnership with Mediterranean foods specialist Divina, has unveiled Philly-tini Olives — a new, creamy take on the classic dirty martini garnish. The launch lands just ahead of National Martini Day and is designed to offer a less divisive alternative to blue cheese-stuffed olives.
Each Philly-tini Olive is a plump Greek olive, stuffed not with cheese crumble but with Philadelphia’s signature cream cheese — delivering the salty tang cocktail fans love, with a smooth, creamy finish that fits the brand’s evolving role in savoury indulgence.
From Breakfast Spread to Bar Cart Hero
While Philadelphia cream cheese is best known for breakfast and baking, this collaboration with Divina signals a bold expansion into cocktail culture — a space rarely touched by dairy brands. And yet, the opportunity is real.
Blue cheese is one of the most polarising foods in the U.S.
Dirty martinis remain one of the most iconic, socially shared cocktails.
And Gen Z and millennial drinkers are actively reshaping traditional bar recipes with viral, food-forward twists.
By replacing blue cheese with a creamier, milder alternative, Kraft Heinz is positioning the Philadelphia brand as a flexible, lifestyle-friendly ingredient that extends well beyond bagels.
Kelli Srivastava, Senior Brand Manager for Philadelphia, framed the launch as a win for inclusivity:
“Just because someone doesn’t like blue cheese doesn’t mean they should miss out on enjoying a dirty martini.”
Strategic Pairing: Divina’s Olives Meet Philadelphia’s Creaminess
The product itself is a clever blend of Divina’s premium Greek olives and the cool creaminess of Philadelphia’s spread — an unusual pairing that works visually, texturally, and flavour-wise.
Divina, a respected player in Mediterranean antipasti and specialty olives, brings authenticity and sourcing strength to the partnership. Its olives are widely distributed across both grocery retail and foodservice channels — giving the launch reach beyond cocktail hour and into snacking, plating, and even restaurant menus.
As Divina’s SVP of Brand, Brandon Gross, put it:
“Philly-tini Olives are a standout bite — bold, briny, and playful. They’re built to surprise and satisfy.”
Timing and Distribution Strategy
Philly-tini Olives officially launched on June 10 and are currently available exclusively through DivinaMarket.com, retailing at $15 for a pack of two. The limited run is timed to build buzz around National Martini Day on June 19 and capitalize on peak summer entertaining.
For supermarket category buyers, this direct-to-consumer launch may be just the first phase. The product has potential to expand into:
Chilled deli aisles next to stuffed olives and cheese cubes
Holiday gifting and gourmet snack boxes
Seasonal displays tied to cocktail themes and influencer campaigns
As consumer interest in premium, playful bar cart ingredients grows, the Philly-tini is perfectly placed to become a limited-edition novelty with long-term merchandising legs.
Why It Matters for the Grocery Sector
This launch marks a growing trend: cross-category collaborations that blur the lines between traditional product roles. Dairy is entering spirits. Spreads are becoming stuffings. And familiar brands are chasing novelty in entirely new settings.
For retailers, this means:
Shoppers want unexpected flavours and formats
Seasonal timing matters — especially in June, when cocktail culture spikes
Social media buzz drives trial — and martini recipes with custom garnishes have been generating millions of views
Philadelphia and Divina are seizing the moment — not just by launching a quirky new olive, but by offering something that’s both visually bold and functionally smart.
