Brand extensions happen when companies slap their logos on products that have nothing to do with their core business. It’s a strategy that can either mint money or make you the laughingstock of the boardroom—no in-between. From tech giants testing the food market to fashion houses trying hardware, get ready for a wild ride through the wonderful world of brand-identity crises. Some are genius, others are head-scratchers, but all prove brands will try anything to get your attention.
8. Tesla Giga Bier
Think automotive innovation meets beer brewing—but does it mix?
Tesla launched a beer, and it comes in a bottle that looks like it could survive a zombie apocalypse. Designed to visually echo a Cybertruck, Giga Bier sells as a three-bottle pack for around $98. Brewed in Germany with regional ingredients near Giga Berlin, this beer is less about taste and more about flexing your Tesla allegiance.
Picture yourself cracking one open at a tailgate party—it’s the beer equivalent of those Porsche 911 Paper Clips, more about the statement than the flavor. Like paying extra to fly first class when everyone arrives at the same time.
7. Porsche 911 Paper Clips
These miniature sports cars won’t hit any apexes, but they’ll keep your reports organized.
Some say organization is for squares, but Porsche is proving them wrong one tiny sports car at a time. For around $46, you get nearly 100 paper clips shaped like the iconic Porsche 911, minus the 300+ horsepower. Part of the Volkswagen Group’s lifestyle products, these clips represent the intersection of German precision and office supplies.
Each clip mirrors the silhouette of a classic sports car, which might be the only way some of us ever get to “own” one. Imagine using them to hold together contracts—it’s like saying you’re buttoned-up but still know how to have fun.
6. Volkswagen Currywurst
Originally made for German factory workers, this sausage became a cult favorite beyond the canteen.
Before slapping logos on everything from beer to paperclips was trendy, Volkswagen was serving currywurst in its employee canteens starting in 1973. VW calls it “probably our most popular spare part,” and at around $20 today, you can grab a taste of automotive history—or just hit up your local butcher.
Now available in German supermarkets and select dealerships, it highlights the quirky intersection of corporate identity and regional cuisine. Unlike Tesla’s flashy Giga Bier, VW’s sausage is a low-key, blue-collar delicacy that somehow works.
5. Mentos Bath Bombs
The “Freshmaker” landed in the tub with mixed results.
At around $15, Mentos bath bombs transform your tub into something vaguely reminiscent of dropping candy into soda. One reviewer noted they smell lovely in the package but wished for stronger fragrance once submerged in water. It’s a curious brand extension for a candy known for its chewy texture—not exactly spa vibes.
If you crave nostalgic fizz without the calories, these might hit the spot. Though reviews suggest you’re paying mostly for the brand name rather than spa-level luxury.
4. Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Lip Balm
Some risks just aren’t worth taking, even for brand extension.
Cheetos dipped into cosmetics with Flamin’ Hot lip balm, but this experiment got shelved for obvious reasons. Available through resellers for around $11, it came in a keychain tube designed to look like a Cheeto snack. Imagine whipping out Flamin’ Hot flavored balm on a date—the design was clever, but the concept was questionable.
Now discontinued, it serves as a cautionary tale about brand extensions gone sideways. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should, especially when it involves making people taste snack food all day long.
3. Dr Pepper Baked Beans
When soda meets canned staples, things get weird fast.
Serious Bean Co unleashed Dr Pepper Baked Beans upon the world, available for around $9 per can. The soda-infused legumes reportedly taste like sweet, barbecue-style beans with a distinct Dr Pepper aftertaste. Though technically edible, one has to wonder: would you serve these at your next cookout?
Reviews describe them as polarizing among bean traditionalists—very sweet with that unmistakable soda flavor. You’re probably better off sticking to classics, unless actively trying to confuse your guests.
2. IKEA Swedish Meatballs
More than furniture fuel—they’re a full-blown cultural phenomenon.
The Swedish furniture giant sells around 150 million IKEA Swedish Meatballs annually worldwide. When you’re wandering through mazes of BILLY bookcases, they’re strategically placed to keep you from bolting. Each meatball consists of ground beef and pork, breadcrumbs, and spices, served with cream sauce and lingonberry jam.
During COVID lockdowns, IKEA released their meatball recipe like a flat-pack instruction sheet, allowing fans to recreate the cafeteria experience at home. These aren’t just a dish—they’re a cultural icon that somehow makes shopping for furniture feel like a day out.
1. Jack Daniel’s BBQ Sauce
Whiskey-branded supermarket sauce lands somewhere between Kraft and gourmet.
At around $8, Jack Daniel’s Original Barbecue Sauce represents the most mainstream entry on this list. For folks who like their ribs with brand recognition, this sauce delivers decent flavor without breaking the bank. Reviews describe it as smokier and tangier than typical supermarket options, though still firmly in mass-market territory.
Here’s the twist: some variants reportedly contain no actual whiskey. So if you’re hoping for a buzz while grilling burgers, prepare for disappointment. Still, it’s reliable sauce that helped normalize whiskey-branded condiments in grocery aisles nationwide.
Last modified: December 11, 2025
