So Much to Love About Heart Shaped Pasta
Heart-shaped foods have been on a seasonal roll around Valentine’s Day (and sometimes Mother’s Day!) with heart-shaped pizzas at many restaurants, heart-shaped donuts at Crispy Kreme, and more. We’re about to add one more most-loved food to that list! That’s right, heart shaped pasta from Barilla is coming to foodservice.
Our friends at Nordstrom Restaurants were the first to trial it this past February, combining a retail promotion for Nordstrom shoppers with activations and menu items at their cafes all month long. The anchor was a simple swap of their regular pastas for Barilla Love, a heart-shaped rigatoni pasta, to capture attention and the spirit of the season…along with quite a few Instagram hits. Dishes like Barilla Love with Bolognese & Meatballs, Barilla Love with Spicy Shrimp Pomodoro and Barilla Love with Chicken & Lemon. “We’re excited to run the promotion next year, too, doing both special pasta dishes featuring Barilla Love and serving up a retail offering,” says Boyer.


Nordstrom extended its Valentine’s Day promotion to its kids’ menu, offering Barilla Love Mac and Cheese. “In a dish we already know we can execute well, switching into heart-shaped pasta gave us a whole new selling point for the dish—kids loved it,” says Boyer. “It was a great promotion.”

Get your share of the Love!
Seasonal and holiday-themed LTOs are a proven strategy for driving traffic and engagement. When the innovation is as simple – and profitable – as pasta, it’s a can’t-miss opportunity. Barilla Love is available for your distributor to pre-order through DOT Foods now, shipping in early 2025. Quantities are limited, so make your move now!
For more information on Barilla Love heart-shaped pasta, recipe inspiration and more, visit www.barillaforprofessionals.com/en-us/heart-shaped-pasta/.