Line-up launches ahead of the riotous new chapter in Illumination’s joyful animated universe, Minions & Monsters, in theaters July 1, 2026
SALINAS, Calif. (April 14, 2026) — Taylor Farms has announced the launch of its new line of fresh snacks, salads, and vegetable kits inspired by Illumination’s beloved Minions. As the leading global producer of salads and healthy fresh foods, this collaboration between Taylor Farms, Universal Products & Experiences and Illumination coincides with the riotous new chapter in Illumination’s joyful animated universe, Minions & Monsters, hitting theaters July 1, 2026.
“Illumination’s Minions are a global phenomenon with broad cross-generational appeal,” said Bryan Jaynes, Senior Vice President of Product. “With the new film’s release just around the corner, we’re thrilled to offer products that bring moments of joy and connection to families nationwide.”
The new product line includes eight licensed items designed to delight fans of all ages:
- Crunch Pak Minions Snack Tray – movie theater flavor inspired with sweet apples, tart apples, brown sugar caramel dip, and buttery half-popped popcorn bites.
- Crunch Pak Minions Snack Tray – sweet apples, butter flavored pretzel braids, and string cheese.
- Crunch Pak Sweet Apple Slices – sweet, sliced apples in a family-sized bag.
- Taylor Farms Minions Pesto Pastability with Chicken Ready-to-Eat Salad Bowl – rotini pasta, grilled white meat chicken, spinach, grape tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and creamy pesto dressing.
- Taylor Farms Minions Caribbean Crunch Salad Kit – baby greens, carrots, sliced almonds, diced banana bits, and creamy tropical dressing made with seed-oil-free olive oil.
- Taylor Farms Minions Caesar Mini Chopped Salad Kit – romaine lettuce, buttery half-popped popcorn bites with creamy Caesar dressing.
- Taylor Farms Minions Cauliflower n’ Cheese – fresh cauliflower florets with ready-to-prepare mac n’ cheese mix. Just add milk and butter of your choice for a delicious side dish in minutes.
- Taylor Farms Minions Broccoli n’ Cheese – broccoli florets with ready-to-prepare mac n’ cheese mix. Just add milk and butter of your choice for a delicious side dish in minutes.
“This initiative reflects years of strong collaboration between Taylor Farms and Crunch Pak,” said Brian Modena, Vice President of Snacks. “As the industry leader in fresh-produce licensing, Crunch Pak brings incredible expertise, and Taylor Farms is thrilled to collaborate with their exceptional team.”
“Crunch Pak’s Fresh Licensing platform is a leader in worldwide licensing that helps make fresh food more fun and accessible for children and families while driving growth for retailers,” said Ozgur Koc, Head of Licensing, Crunch Pak.
The new Minions line is a key component of Taylor Farms’ broader strategy to expand its licensed product portfolio and drive category excitement. Consumer testing has shown significant purchase intent. The launch will be supported by omnichannel marketing, including in-store promotions, digital campaigns, and studio tie-ins. Taylor Farms’ Minions products will be available nationwide May 2026.
ABOUT TAYLOR FARMS
Taylor Farms is the leading global producer of salads and healthy fresh foods, with production facilities across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe. The company is grounded in a commitment to quality, innovation, food safety, assured supply and sustainability. Taylor Farms is family-owned and based in Salinas, California, known as “The Salad Bowl of the World.” For additional information, delicious recipes, and more, please visit www.taylorfarms.com and follow Taylor Farms on Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok.
ABOUT ILLUMINATION’S MINIONS & MONSTERS
Fresh off the worldwide blockbuster success of summer 2024’s funniest comedy, Despicable Me 4, Illumination expands its joyful animated universe with a riotous new chapter, featuring all-new characters, in the biggest global animated franchise in history: Minions & Monsters.
This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created.
Minions & Monsters is directed by Academy Award® nominee Pierre Coffin, a director of the first three Despicable Me films and the first Minions film. Coffin has also provided the voice for the Minions since their film debut in 2010. The film is written by Brian Lynch (Minions, The Secret Life of Pets films) and Pierre Coffin and is produced by Illumination’s Academy Award® nominated founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Bill Ryan (executive producer, The Super Mario Bros. Movie). The executive producer is Brian Lynch.
More than ten years after their creation, the Minions have become the most iconic animated characters of their generation. Globally recognized and beloved by fans of all ages, they have propelled Illumination’s Despicable Me and Minions to a global box office of more than $5.6 billion.
ABOUT ILLUMINATION
Illumination, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the entertainment industry’s leading producers of event-animated films, including Despicable Me—the most successful animated franchise in cinematic history—as well as the record breaking The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch and The Secret Life of Pets and Sing films. Illumination’s library includes three of the top 10 animated films of all time. Illumination’s iconic, beloved franchises—infused with memorable and distinct characters, global appeal and cultural relevance—have grossed almost $11 billion worldwide. Illumination has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures.
ABOUT UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS & EXPERIENCES
Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives the expansion and elevation of NBCUniversal’s iconic collection of brands, intellectual properties, characters, and stories based on the company’s extensive portfolio of properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The division executes this through innovative physical and digital products, as well as engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and third-party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E’s lines of business include Consumer Products and Games, along with Theme Parks Products & Retail. UP&E is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. More information is available at universalproductsexperiences.com.
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