Survey Finds Solid Majority Of Consumers Would Pay More For Healthier Snacks

A survey of 270 U.S. consumers found that more than 85 percent would be willing to pay more for a healthier product in a post-pandemic world. The study, commissioned by Reno, Nevada-based Mary's Gone Crackers, a marketer of organic, gluten-free, and plant-based crackers.  Asked what they associated with a healthy snack, organic, plant-based, low sugar, and protein-rich were the top contenders. Fifty-nine percent reported that they have set out to improve or change their diet in the post-pandemic era. And 14 percent said that intermittent fasting has become a popular form of dieting. 

"Quality Matters: Mary's Gone Crackers Consumer Survey Reveals Around 85 Percent Of Consumers Are Willing to Pay More for Healthier Products", PR Newswire, July 22, 2021

Kellogg's RX Unveils Cereal Containing Plant-Based Protein

RX Cereal, available in chocolate almond, vanilla almond and strawberry, uses a mix of pea protein, almonds, and brown rice to provide protein. Each serving of the cereal contains 11 to 12 grams of protein and three to four grams of fiber depending on the flavor. The cereals also are made without artificial colors, flavors, ingredients, or preservatives. RX says its new cereal is also a good afternoon snack that consumers could enjoy as a cereal or more like a granola. Kellogg changed the name RXBar to RX in 2019 as part of a push to expand into new product lines. 

"Kellogg's RX brand launches protein-rich cereals", Food Dive, July 20, 2021

Keishindo Makes Good Use Of Seafood Waste

The Nagoya-based Japanese snack maker is turning discarded food scraps such as shrimp heads and udon noodle scraps into sustainable shrimp crackers. The 150-year-old company is known for its shrimp crackers made from shrimp surimi (paste), wheat and soy, as well as whole grilled shrimps. Usually, only the flesh of shrimps is used, while the shrimp heads are discarded. With the help of high school students and a curry udon restaurant chain, the company developed a spicy curry-flavored shrimp cracker made with shrimp heads and edible off-cuts of udon noodles. The new product is sold online and in retail stores, as well as airport and train stations across the country. The firm is also open to export opportunities.

"From scraps to snacks: 150-year-old Japan firm Keishindo turning waste into sustainable shrimp crackers", FoodNavigator-Asia.com, June 27, 2021

Survey Finds Young Europeans Want Snacks That Support Mental Health

The research, commissioned by EIT Food and conducted among 2,000 18-24-year-olds in five countries, found that more than half of young Europeans track their food in some way and women especially are actively seeking healthy snacks that prioritize mental health. Many respondents – in fact, 55 percent of those surveyed – think that including calorie counts on food labels and menus can be detrimental to mental health, a figure that rises to 62 percent in the U.K., 60 percent in France, and 61 percent in Germany. Unfortunately, the research shows that young people are being let down. Across Europe, 18–24-year-olds find healthy food more expensive and harder to find on the go, and they feel they lack the information and advice they need to make informed nutritional decisions. The research, conducted in June and July by Opinium, focused on Gen Z-ers in France, Germany, Poland, Spain, and the U.K.

"Research reveals Gen Zs want healthy snacks that prioritise their mental health instead of calories", BakeryAndSnacks.com, July 27, 2021

Wide Variety Of Snacks Meets The Needs Of Post-Pandemic Shoppers

After enduring more than a year of COVID-19 pandemic stress and anxiety, consumers are prioritizing health and safety more than ever before. Online and in-store shoppers are looking for better-for-you nourishment by scanning labels, zeroing in on unfamiliar ingredients, skipping items loaded with sodium, sugar, and fat, and looking for as many health benefits as possible in every snack or meal. Among the sought-after foods and snacks in “the new normal,” as reported by various grocery retailers and experts, are: dates; low-sugar chocolate bars, sour cream and onion protein puffs, and ketogenic malted milk balls; fruit and nut snacks made with simple ingredients; salty and savory snacks (including ready-to-eat popcorn); chickpea chips, green plantain chips, keto bars, refrigerated snack solutions, and ready-to-eat meat (sticks, jerky, and bacon to go).

"The New Normal for Snacks", Progressive Grocer, July 22, 2021

Quinn Snacks Snags $10M In Second Funding Round

The Louisville, Colo.-based natural foods snack company said the Series B round was led by growth equity firm NewRoad Capital Partners, and includes follow-on investments from Boulder Food Group, Echo Capital, and Sunil Thakor. The funding will support growth, product innovation, and the company's “Be Better. Do Better” sustainability mission centered on advancing agriculture toward more regenerative approaches. Quinn salty snacks are sold in more than 10,000 stores across the natural, mass, and conventional grocery channels as well as ecommerce. The company has experienced 60 percent growth in revenue year over year since 2019. 

"Mission Based Snack Brand, Quinn, Secures $10 Million in Series B Round", PR Newswire, July 21, 2021

Naturally Homegrown Foods Honored For Its BFY Potato Chip Multipack

The Surrey, B.C.-based natural snack food manufacturer was awarded the 2021 Retail Council of Canada's Canadian Grand Prix New Product Award for its Hardbite "Explorer Pack," a 32-count package comprising some of the company’s bestselling Hardbite potato chip flavors:  Rock Salt & Vinegar, Spicy Dill Pickle, and Wild Onion & Yogurt. The company’s anchor brand, Hardbite, is a kettle fried chip that is allergen-free, non-GMO, and contains no preservatives, no trans-fats, no gluten, no cholesterol, and nothing artificial. The Retail Council of Canada's annual awards program, the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards, celebrate advancement and excellence in new food distribution and innovation. 

"Naturally Homegrown Foods' "Hardbite Explorer Pack" Wins Prestigious Award", Canada NewsWire, July 22, 2021

India’s The Whole Truth Raises Nealy $6 Million In 2nd Funding Round

The Bengaluru-based clean label health food brand’s new financing round, its second, was led by Sequoia Capital and included existing backers along with eight angel investors. Matrix is the largest stakeholder among investors with 20.17 percent while Sequoia picked up 10.37 percent by leading the round. According to Fintrackr’s estimate, The Whole Truth has been valued at $27.5 million (post-money) in the Series A round. The company positions itself as a healthy and clean snack brand with a portfolio of protein bars, immunity balls, and muesli. The company offers subscriptions and claims to have 80-85 percent sales through its website and remaining from partnerships with gyms and health clubs.

"Sequoia leads Series A round in snack brand The Whole Truth", Entrackr, August 24, 2021

Nightfood Holdings Launches First TV Ad Campaign

The Tarrytown, N.Y.-based BFY snack company, looking to grab a bigger share of the $50 billion that Americans spend annually on night-time snacks, announced it is running its first video ads on connected TV and “over-the-top” TV to consumers across the country. Nightfood sleep-friendly ice cream is now available in almost 2,000 supermarkets across the U.S., including Walmart and divisions of Kroger, Albertson’s and H-E-B, Rouses Markets, Lowes Foods, and other independent chains. Ads will appear on over-the-top TV (OTT) and connected TV (CTV) and will reach users of popular ad-supported network services such as Hulu, Roku, FUBO, Sling TV, as well as apps such as ESPN, A&E, Fox, Discovery Channel, and more. According to the company, more than 80 percent of Americans snack regularly at night. The most popular choices are ice cream, cookies, chips, and candy.  

"Nightfood Launches Connected TV Ad Campaign to Capitalize on Significant Retail Expansion", Globe Newswire , July 21, 2021

Rind Snacks Expands Beyond Chewy Fruit Snacks

The New York-based maker of functional sustainable chewy dried fruit snacks is crossing over into the fast-growing chips market with the launch of crispy thin-cut Fruit Chips in orange, kiwi, and apple flavors. The company says the chips, made with U.S.-grown non-GMO fruit, deliver up to three times more fiber, immunity-boosting vitamin C, and less sugar than leading fruit snacks on the market. The new line furthers the brand's fight against unnecessary food waste, retaining the rind on its products and helping divert over tons of edible peels from landfills. Rind Chips in 3-ounce bags at an MSRP of $4.99-$5.99 will be available online and at FreshDirect, Hungryroot and several leading retail accounts later this year. The three-year-old company last month raised $6.1 million in Series A funding after seeing its revenue grow nearly five-fold year-over-year in 2020.

"Rind to Shake up the Snack Aisle with the Launch of Crispy Fruit Chips", PRNewswire, June 27, 2021