Salty, Spicy Snacks Succeed At C-Stores During Pandemic

Retailers everywhere took it on the chin with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but one fgood category that prospered, especially at convenience stores, was the salty snack category. The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) reports that sales of Frito-Lay legacy brands, for example, are up over the past several months, with Lay’s up 32 percent and Tostitos up 42 percent. Salty snacks – chips, popcorn, pretzels, tortilla chips, and more – all satisfied the slaty snack cravings of cooped-up consumers globally. The introduction of new formats and flavors – ghost pepper, habañero, Tabasco, Korean barbecue, wasabi, sriracha, and salted caramel – excited consumers, especially Gen Z and Millennials. In the wake of the pandemic, as more consumers than ever focus on their health, sales of better-for-you free-from snacks are booming, along with healthier items containing protein and plant-based ingredients like nuts, seeds, and trail mixes.

"How Did COVID-19 Impact the Salty Snack Category at C-Stores?", CStore Decisions, October 04, 2021

Pop Star Brothers Launch Popcorn Brand

The Jonas Brothers – Nick, Joe, and Kevin – have teamed up with food and beverage platform The Naked Market to launch a vegan “artisanal” treat inspired by a bowl of popcorn Nick first had more than a decade ago. Rob’s Backstage Popcorn – named after long-time friend Rob Garbowsky – is available for nationwide delivery on eatrobs.com. The brothers say the key to Rob’s popcorn is Garbowsky’s “secret seasoning,” which they describe as “a perfect mix of sweet and savory.” The popcorn is vegan, GMO-free and gluten-free. Rob's Backstage Popcorn is sold in a four-pack for $19.99

"How An Impromptu Sleepover Led to the Jonas Brothers Launching a Popcorn Brand", Rolling Stone , October 05, 2021

Farm Girl Launches Diabetes-Friendly Breakfast Granola

The Canadian online provider of health food products (Mississauga, Ont.) has launched a range of low-carb, keto- and diabetic-friendly breakfast cereals that help consumers eat a healthy breakfast without consuming empty carbs. Farm Girl’s new nut-based granola is available in salted caramel, caramel apple spice, cinnamon maple, cinnamon banana, chocolate, chocolate hazelnut, and Ontario strawberry and banana crisp flavors. One of the company's more popular varieties of granola is the Ketocrunch: Salted Caramel Nut Based Cereal containing flax, walnuts, almonds, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, and caramel flavor sea salt.

"Canada Low-Carb Nut-Based Granola - Diabetic-Friendly Breakfast Cereal Launched", MarketersMedia News Hub, October 04, 2021

Good Food Partners Releases Reformulated Messy Monkeys Snack

The new cereals and snacks division of Australia’s Arnott’s Group has released its first product, a reformulation of Messy Monkeys Wholegrain Bites. Arnott’s, purchased by U.S. private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) from the Campbell Soup Company in 2019, bought the cereals and snacks business from distressed Freedom Foods early in 2021. The business became Good Food partners, and the reformulated Messy Monkeys Wholegrain Bites is their first branded product. The new Bites have revamped flavors, a softer texture, and are gluten- and allergen-free, containing no nuts, soy, or egg. They also have less than one gram of sugar per serve and account for more than 10 per cent of a child’s daily fiber intake. They are available in Australia for A$4.80 each, or A$0.80 per individual serve.

"First branded product from Arnott's Group's Good Food Partners", Food & Drink Business, October 01, 2021

Sweet Potato Upcycler Spudsy Closes $3.3M Funding Round

The Costa Mesa, Calif.-based brand that upcycles imperfect sweet potatoes and turns them into snacks has closed a $3.3 million funding round led by KarpReilly and Stage 1 Fund. This brings the total funding for the brand to $6.5 million in two years. Spudsy annually upcycles 75,000,000 tons of sweet potatoes headed for landfills due to minor “flaws” (shape, size, color) into Sweet Potato Puffs and Sweet Potato Fries. According to the company, the new cash provides the capital to enter new sales channels and reach new customers. The brand will also use the money to develop sales and marketing strategies and build out its ecommerce channel. 

"Spudsy Positioned for Continued Chip Aisle Domination with Close of $3.3 Million Series A Funding", PRNewswire, September 30, 2021

Laid Back Snacks Operates Canada’s Only Subscription Snacking Service

The Vancouver, B.C.-based snack company, which says it is the only Canadian firm offering a direct-to-consumer subscription snacking service, was originally named Naked Snacks. The recently relaunched brand was created in 2014 after founder Neil Thomsen emigrated from stressful London to Vancouver with a goal of founding a healthy snack ecommerce subscription company. The Laid Back Snacks online subscription service allows customers to choose from 31 snacks online and have them delivered. Laid Back Snacks are also found across North America in gifting services, grocery stores, and in food service locations including hospitals and 5-star hotels. 

"Laid Back Snacks: Relaunched brand offers subscription snacking service", Daily Hive, October 04, 2021

Griffith Foods Introduces Prebiotic Snack Seasoning

The Canadian food ingredients specialist collaborated with Canadian potato starch producer MSP Starch Products Inc. to create a prebiotic seasoning using MSP's resistant potato starch, Solnul. The seasoning, available in tzatziki (a Greek cucumber yogurt sauce) and white cheddar flavors, targets digestive health and is “well-suited for popcorn, extruded snack, rice cake, and crisp applications.” Solnul is a substantiated prebiotic resistant starch that increases Bifidobacterium, the beneficial bacteria known for its effects on healthy digestion, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) symptoms, and proper immune system function, according to MSP.

"Griffith Foods Partners with Solnul to Create Prebiotic Snack Seasoning", Griffith Foods, October 05, 2021

Crunchmaster Debuts Popped Cassava Snacks

The Loves Park, Ill.-based subsidiary of snack maker TH Foods says its Bistro Crisps are grain-free, paleo, vegan, certified gluten-free, non-GMO Project verified, and kosher. Naturally colored with turmeric and available in vegan cheddar, nacho, and Margherita pizza flavors, the olive oil-popped cassava crisps contain 120 calories per 63-crisp serving and are made with cassava root flour, tapioca starch, coconut flour, and sesame flour. Crunchmaster’s snack portfolio also includes multi-seed and multi-grain crackers, grain-fee and protein snack crackers, and protein brownie thins.

"New Crunchmaster offering ushers in ‘new realm of snacking’", Food Business News, October 05, 2021

Brown Bag Unlimited’s Gourmet Popcorn Becomes AATAC Brand Partner

The Naples, Fla.-based manufacturer says its Nature's Crush Popcorn line was accepted as a brand partner by the Asian American Trade Association Council (AATAC), which represents 50,000 convenience store members (80,000 stores) in the U.S. Founded in 2017, the gourmet popcorn brand adds a variety of crushed herbs and spices to create microwavable popcorn in four flavors: Original 23 Blend, Light & Zesty Lemon Pepper Garlic Blend, Aromatic Herb, and the newest, Tex-Mex Chili Lime Sea Salt. All are gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan, contain no artificial preservatives, colors, or ingredients, and are packaged in PFOA-free bags. The suggested retail price per single bag (3.2 ounces) is $1.49, and multi-packs are available.

"Nature's Crush Popcorn Brand Joins AATAC", PR.com, October 02, 2021