Mondelēz International Acquires Aussie Cracker Company

The Chicago-based confectionery and snack company has acquired Australian premium cracker manufacturer Gourmet Food Holdings, giving Mondelēz an entry into a whole new snacking market in the health and wellness space. Current Gourmet Food COO Oliver Flint will serve as the new managing director; CEO Todd Wilson will remain with the business as an advisor. Gourmet Food's brands, including OB finest, Olina's Bakehouse and Crispbic, are category leaders in the premium crackers and biscuits segments in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). Included in the transaction is Gourmet Food's pre-packaged seafood business, including the Ocean Blue brand. There are no closing conditions and the transaction is expected to close in April.

"Mondelēz International Acquires Australian Premium Cracker Company Gourmet Food Holdings", GlobeNewswire, March 09, 2021

PureK Holdings To Acquire Women’s BFY Snacks Brand

The Vancouver, B.C.-based food company focusing on CBD products and plant-based foods and beverages said it plans to acquire Tru Brands Inc., a health and wellness brand specializing in nutritious snacks for women, for $7.5 million. Founded in 2018 under the female-led parent company TruWomen, Tru Brands products are sold online and at U.S. retailers, including Target and Costco. The company’s dessert-inspired protein bars are made with plant-based ingredients such as cassava, cacao, and brown rice protein, and are certified vegan, gluten-free and kosher, as well as dairy- and soy-free, non-GMO verified, and free of sugar alcohols. PureK will acquire 100 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Tru Brands.

"PureK Holdings Corp. to Acquire -TRUBAR' Nutrition Brand in Latest Addition to Its Plant-Based Wellness Portfolio", GlobeNewswire, March 03, 2021

Nature’s Eats Introduces Grain-Free Chips Made From Almonds

The Boerne-based brand of the Texas Star Nut & Food Company says its Nutchos chips are cooked in 100 percent almond oil, are naturally grain- and gluten-free, have 33 percent fewer carbs than tortilla chips, are rich in plant protein, and are paleo- and keto-friendly. According to the company, Nutchos have all the “crunch and mouthfeel” of traditional tortilla chips, but are “a guilt-free treat, packed with fiber, magnesium, and vitamin E.” Available in three variants – Classic Sea Salt, Barbecue, and Guacamole – Nutchos are sold in Kroger stores, specialty foods and natural grocers, and online at Nature’s Eats and Amazon beginning in June for an RRP of $3.99.

"Nature’s Eats set to disrupt the potato chip category with first to market almond tortilla chip", BakeryAndSnacks.com, March 08, 2021

BFY Snack Companies Merge Under New Name, Awakened Foods

Ka-Pop! Snacks and Bubba's Fine Foods announced a merger creating a new company, Awakened Foods of Loveland, Colo., that will compete in the $110 billion global healthy snacks market and the $38 billion global cereal/granola market. Ka-Pop is the maker of Ancient Grain Popped Chips & Puffs, while Bubba’s makes Paleo & Keto-friendly snacks, granolas, and private-label goods, Dustin Finkel, founder of Ka-Pop! Snacks, will serve as CEO of Awakened Foods; Jeff Schmidgall, founder of Bubba’s, will serve as COO. "This merger allows us to simultaneously accelerate our top and bottom lines, building on an already strong gross margin foundation and 2020 growth rates of over 200 percent," Finkel said.

"Ka-Pop! Snacks and Bubba's Fine Foods Merge to Create a Powerhouse Healthy CPG Company: Awakened Foods", PR Newswire, March 09, 2021

Pandemic Effects Cause Peeled Snacks To Go Belly Up

The Rhode Island-based healthy snack manufacturer has filed for bankruptcy, citing a decline in sales in two of its most important sales channels caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company told the bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Del., that it has experienced a substantial sales decline because airports and schools have either been closed during the pandemic or are operating with capacity restrictions. The company sold gluten-free, vegan, kosher, grain-free, and paleo-friendly snacks, including dried fruits, apple clusters, pea crisps, and puffs. 

"Maker of Peeled Snacks Brand Dried Fruit And Crisps Files for Bankruptcy", Wall Street Journal, March 04, 2021

KIND Healthy Snacks Debuts Plant-Based Frozen Breakfast

The New York City food company announced its first frozen breakfast snack offering, KIND Frozen Smoothie Bowl, planting its flag in a $3.7 billion frozen breakfast category that has increased seven percent year-over-year. The Frozen Smoothie Bowls have a fruit and almond milk base topped with nut butter and granola. With no more than nine grams of added sugar and 7-8 grams of protein, the Smoothie Bowls are “ready to enjoy straight from the freezer.” The product is available at U.S. retailers in Almond + Mango Pineapple Passion Fruit, Almond + Triple Berry Açaí, Almond + Chocolate Banana, and Almond + Peach Kiwi Greens flavors. 

"KIND Introduces National Launch of First-Ever Frozen Breakfast Innovation", PR Newswire, March 09, 2021

India’s Future Consumer To Manufacture Terra Chips

Though the Hain Celestial gluten-free veggie chips have been available in India as an imported item, Future Consumer is now manufacturing the snack through a joint venture with Hain. Sold for Rs 400 ($4.68) for a 150-gram pack, the product is now available in 60-gram packs for Rs. 70 ($0.96) in three flavors. The company’s Tumkur plant will manufacture Terra Chips for the Indian market and for various other countries. Future Consumer entered into a JV with Hain Celestial to manufacture, market, and distribute natural and organic products in various categories, including snacks.

"Future Consumer forays into health snacks, launches Terra Chips in India", CNBC TV-18, March 08, 2021

Justin’s Announces Snack Box Linked To Social Media Promotion

The Boulder, Colo.-based maker of nut butters, organic nut butter cups, and plant-based snacks has launched a promotional campaign that features its first SNACKsational Kit, a limited-time, specially-curated box filled with all-occasion snacks. The company says snack fans can get the kits by participating in a series of enter-for-a-chance-to-win giveaways on social media during March. The SNACKsational kits contain plant-based protein snacks, including Almond Butter, Squeeze Packs, Refrigerated Almond Butter Protein Bars, and various Nut Butter Cups, including Dark Chocolate Crispy Cups and Mini Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. The campaign is featured on Justin's Instagram page and on Twitter using #SNACKsational. 

"Justin's Celebrates 'National Snack Day' With LTO Snack Kit Launch That Is Hard To Get Your Hands On", PR Newswire, March 04, 2021

Survey Sheds Light On Snack Accidents – Or “Snackccidents”

A survey of 2,000 Americans conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Chomps, a Naples, Fla.-based maker of beef, turkey, and venison meat sticks, has found that the average American experiences 416 “snackccidents” a year. Fifty-seven percent of respondents admitted that they'd accidentally eaten a full-sized bag of snacks in one sitting. Forty-five percent admitted eating a full meal composed entirely of snacks, when they'd only intended to eat a single snack. Thirty-seven percent said they’d purchased a snack that they later realized contained ingredients that weren't exactly healthy. But “happy 'snackccidents'” were fairly common, according to the survey: 66 percent of respondents confirmed they'd stumbled accidentally upon a new snack they enjoyed. And lastly, and happily for snack makers, fifty-six percent of respondents agreed that, when it comes to snacks, they have little to no self-control.

"'Snackccidents' happen to the best of us - but just exactly how many meals have we ruined because of them?", SWNS Digital, March 03, 2021