Mac And Cheese Is Over, Kraft Now Makes Ramen

You know what, Kraft? It’s not that we were unaware of your game – but we definitely underestimated it. For years, we saw you as the maker of a completely unchangeable product, which was obviously very successful and beloved, but which, we think we can all say, didn’t push the boat out that much. In the last six months, though, Kraft’s been changing it up in a pleasing fashion. First, there were its new fine dining-esque mac and cheese flavors. Then there was its Mac and Cheesecake. Yeah, really. 

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And now, Kraft makes ramen. What a world. Here’s the deal.

KD Ramen

Kraft Dinner announced yesterday that it was debuting its KD Ramen lineup, which will be launching exclusively in Canada. The whole idea is that this new ramen line will retain all of the nostalgic, cozy feelings (and flavors) of its flagship product, with a new twist. “For generations, Canadians have turned to KD for comfort, craveability, and unmistakable cheesy flavour,” said Kraft Heinz Canada’s CMO, Kelly Fleming, in a press statement. “With KD Ramen, we’re bringing that iconic KD cheesiness to an entirely new aisle and occasion. It’s a bold new way for Canadians to experience the flavour they know and love.”

When they say bold, they do mean it. Kraft’s whole thing with this new line is cheesy ramen, and it’s coming in three different flavors. They are:

• Cheesy Ramen: Kraft Mac and Cheese purists should start here. This one mixes KD cheesiness with a savory ramen flavor and hits it with a touch of spice, too.
• Extra Cheesy: Want more cheesiness and less spice? This is the one. It’s mild, but still flavorful. 
• Extra Spicy: This one is, we think, KD’s stab at competing with Buldak. It goes heavier on the spice, but still has a note of creaminess to stop it from getting too much.

Will It Work?

That remains to be seen, but to be honest, we wouldn’t be surprised. Kraft actually teased this whole thing in a kind of inverse way with the release of its Chicken Ramen-flavored Kraft Mac and Cheese a few months back, a limited-edition item that came and went, but which seemed to indicate a push towards fusion. If we do say so ourselves, it felt like it was slightly setting out its stall there, ahead of this new release.

Plus, creamy ramen is all the rage and has been for a minute. There’s a reason why Buldak’s carbonara flavor hits so hard – the mixture of flavors and textures just works. Canadian customers can give their verdict on whether KD’s new line hits the spot this July, when it drops in stores across the country.