Fraternal Entrepreneurs Launch Popcorn Company With A Charitable Twist

Former fast-food franchisees Rudi and Aaron Sinykin wanted to escape the restrictive corporate environment and get involved in a fun concept with a charity component. The result was the launch of Tempe, Ariz.-based Kettle Heroes Artisan Popcorn, a company that makes small batch, artisan popcorn, kettle corn, and caramel corn in eight flavors with 100 percent all-natural, Non-GMO Project-verified, certified gluten-free, nut-free, and kosher-certified ingredients. The prickly pear kettle corn, for example, uses real prickly pear ground into a fine powder; real chiles give the Hatch green chile cheddar popcorn an authentic flavor. The company's charity side, meanwhile, is a key ingredient in its surging popularity. Since 2013, Kettle Heroes has donated more than $30,000 to various causes, nonprofits, and organizations. The global ready-to-eat popcorn market is expected to reach $6.22 billion by 2026.

"Tempe's Kettle Heroes combines popcorn and charity with lots of good ingredients", The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), March 13, 2021

Mondelēz Venture Unit Joins Group Dedicated To The “Upcycled Economy”

SnackFutures, the Mondelēz International, Inc. innovation and venture hub has joined the Upcycled Food Association (UFA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing food waste by growing the upcycled economy. SnackFutures, created in 2018 with a focus on well-being snacks, the unit has made planet-first innovation a pillar of its portfolio strategy. The first two brands launched by SnackFutures were CaPao, which upcycles parts of the cacao fruit into plant-based snacks, and Dirt Kitchen Snacks, made from produce that would normally become on-farm waste due to surplus, ripeness, or bruising. The UFA, which has established a standard definition of upcycled foods, also created the Upcycled Certification Program, which allows brands and businesses to apply for a third-party certification of ingredients and products. It will launch later this year.

"SnackFutures Joins Upcycled Food Association", CSR Wire, March 11, 2021

Haldiram Snacks Hopes To “Indianize” Oats, Granola For Local Consumers

The Indian sweets, snacks, and restaurant company, which makes roasted channa (chickpeas), roasted peanuts, diet murmura (puffed rice) and bhel (puffed rice and vegetables), and other snacks, has entered into a 51:49 joint venture with South African health food company Futurelife. The JV is launching products such as granola, protein powders, and oats. But because Indian consumers tend to prioritize flavor over health, the company is working closely with Haldiram's to get a sense of flavor profiles that would be more attractive to the Indian consumer. The Idea is to “Indianize” products like oats and granola, in much the same way Haldiram’s was able to “Indianize” a western product like potato chips.

"Murmura to granola! Haldiram's sets eyes on India's health food market", Business Today, March 15, 2021

D'vash Organics Hopes To Create Date-Focused “Super Brand”

Former fast-food franchisees Rudi and Aaron Sinykin wanted to escape the restrictive corporate environment and get involved in a fun concept with a charity component. The result was the launch of Tempe, Ariz.-based Kettle Heroes Artisan Popcorn, a company that makes small batch, artisan popcorn, kettle corn, and caramel corn in eight flavors with 100 percent all-natural, Non-GMO Project-verified, certified gluten-free, nut-free, and kosher-certified ingredients. The prickly pear kettle corn, for example, uses real prickly pear ground into a fine powder; real chiles give the Hatch green chile cheddar popcorn an authentic flavor. The company's charity side, meanwhile, is a key ingredient in its surging popularity. Since 2013, Kettle Heroes has donated more than $30,000 to various causes, nonprofits, and organizations. The global ready-to-eat popcorn market is expected to reach $6.22 billion by 2026.

"D'vash Organics Lands Major Deal During Pandemic", PR Newswire, March 12, 2021

Colombian Banana Snacks Brand Reaches U.K., Czech Republic, UAE

Loro Crisps, banana snacks made with bananas grown in Colombia, have been exported since November 2020 to the Czech Republic, the U.K., and the United Arab Emirates. The two Colombian entrepreneurs who created the snacks say their goal was to at least partially replace potato chips in U.K. supermarkets with a snack that featured “a Latin flavor.” The entrepreneurs were supported in their efforts to bring a healthy, vegetarian, and gluten-free snack to the rest of the world by ProColombia, which helped them find a supplier in the Urabá Antioqueño region that meets the standards required for export. The founders expect their Loro Crisps will soon reach Japan, and within five years, Canada, Spain, and Ireland. Future plans include making snacks with cassava or chontaduro (peach palm).

"Two Colombian entrepreneurs bring banana snacks from Urba to the United Kingdom", The Daily Guardian, March 13, 2021

Mars Wrigley Partners With Biodegradable Materials Company For Sustainable Packaging

The McLean, Va.-based snacks and treats company has partnered with Danimer Scientific, a manufacturer of biodegradable materials, on a two-year project to develop home compostable packaging. The first brand Mars Wrigley will introduce with the new packaging will be Skittles in the U.S. Danimer Scientific's packaging – Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) – is produced through natural fermentation processes using plant oils such as soy and canola and biodegrades in both soil and marine environments. Mars says it will continue to evaluate opportunities to scale the technology across its portfolio of brands and categories.

"Mars Wrigley and Danimer Scientific Help Environmentally Conscious Consumers to Compost at Home by Developing Biodegradable Packaging from Natural Ingredients", PR Newswire, March 16, 2021

Eat Real To Relaunch In Effort To Produce Less Salty Snacks

The U.K.-based healthier snacking brand is relaunching with a new look and flavors in a bid to be a “fully non-HFSS” (high in fat, sugar or salt) brand. Two new flavors of its Hummus Chips  – Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar, and Barbecue – will roll out alongside reformulations. Its Sea Salt and Tomato & Basil Hummus Chips will be reformulated, reducing their salt content by more than half. The brand will get a packaging makeover this summer designed to “highlight the brand’s use of real, natural ingredients” alongside a slew of new launches and recipe changes.

"New Product Development: Eat Real gets major overhaul in push to be ‘fully non-HFSS’", The Grocer UK, March 17, 2021

Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn’s Success Prompts Expansion

Demand for the Asheville, N.C. company’s naturally-flavored non-GMO popcorn has been so strong that it has opened a new shipping and fulfillment facility that has increased production capacity by more than 25 percent, enabling it to expand its wholesale business nationwide. Founded in 2014, the company’s workforce has doubled over the past three years. Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn is available through a variety of retailers, including dozens in the Asheville area.

"Demand for Poppy popcorn spurs expansion", The Asheville Citizen-Times (North Carolina), March 13, 2021

MadeGood Foods Expands Snack Bar Lineup With Chocolatey Granola

The Canadian allergy-friendly and nutrient-rich snack company (Vaughan, Ontario) is expanding its line of better-for-you snack bars with Chocolate Drizzled Granola Bars in three flavors: Cookie Crumble, Birthday Cake, and Vanilla. The new bars are an extension of the current MadeGood line, which includes: Granola Bars, Granola Minis, Crispy Squares, Soft Baked Mini Cookies, and Crispy Light Granola. The gluten-free, organic bars are available in the U.S. online and in store at Target for an SRP of $4.99 for a box of five bars.

"MadeGood Sweetens Up Snack Bars With New Chocolate Drizzled Granola Bars", PR Newswire, March 10, 2021