Safe + Fair Food Company Adds To Seasoned Popcorn Portfolio

The Chicago-based maker of clean-label, plant-based, allergy-friendly foods, snacks, and beverages is expanding its seasoned popcorn offerings with the launch of Everything Bagel Seasoned Popcorn. The new snack delivers the taste of an everything bagel made without allergens sesame seeds or poppy seeds. The popcorn is made with sunflower oil, pea protein, and traditional everything bagel spices like sea-salt and garlic, contains only 44 calories per cup, is 100 percent whole grain, as well as gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and non-GMO. Everything Bagel Seasoned Popcorn is available exclusively on Safe + Fair's website for $5 a bag.

"The Safe + Fair Food Company Adds a New "Nosh" to Their Allergy-Friendly Seasoned Popcorn Category: Everything Bagel Seasoned Popcorn", PR Newswire, July 13, 2021

Good Crisp Company’s Cheese Balls Boost Immune System

The Boulder, Colo.-based better-for-you canister-stacked chips brand Cheese Balls contain the clinically-tested immune-boosting ingredient Wellmune that helps strengthen the immune system and enhances its key functions. The snacks are non-GMO, gluten-free, and made with all-natural ingredients providing “a cleaner version of an age-old, household favorite snack.” Available in Cheddar and Aged White Cheddar flavors, Cheese Balls are sold in the brand's canister shape. A six-pack of 2.75-ounce canisters sells for $24.00 online.

"The Good Crisp Company Makes It Easy to Snack Happy with New Immune-Boosting Cheese Balls", PR Newswire, July 13, 2021

Sow Good Raises $3M In Second Private Placement

The Irving, Texas-based maker of freeze-dried foods, including bagged fruit and vegetable snacks, completed a $3 million private placement. The share price of $4.25 represents a 6 percent premium to Sow Good’s private placement earlier this year. Investors in the private placement included the company’s top executives, board members, and a few accredited investors. Proceeds from the placement will be used to fund additional marketing and brand development, brand extensions, and working capital investments. The company raised more than $1 million in an earlier funding round. According to the company, the months following its May launch have seen the introduction of Sow Good products to retail stores and development of new products, including five flavors of gluten-free granola featuring freeze-dried fruit, and miniature bags of its initial snack line.

"Sow Good Inc. Completes Second Successful Fundraising", GlobeNewswire , July 07, 2021

Mackie's Ready To Enter U.S. Potato Chip Market

The Scottish ice cream company, which two years ago began making and exporting potato chips, is poised to enter the American potato chip market after posting impressive sales growth this year. The company says it expects to produce five million bags of potato chips this year, and is already exporting to seven countries. Sales of chips leaped 65 percent this year to about £2 million ($2.8 million). The company is also eyeing the Chinese market after reporting healthy sales of their branded potato chips in Hong Kong.

"U.K.'s Mackie's Crisps looks to U.S. for next export push", Just-food.com, July 13, 2021

U.K.’s Good Food Fund Backs Snack Maker Bepps

The fund, launched by food and drink start-up accelerator Missions Venture, has invested £400,000 ($555,000) in funding and will also provide support and advice to the three-year-old maker of the black-eyed peas snacking brand. Stocked by Asda, Tesco, Ocado, Amazon, and Selfridges, the various bagged popped snacks are gluten-free and vegan-friendly. Mumsnet co-founder Carrie Longton also took part in the new funding round, joining early angel investor Giles Brook as a shareholder. Mission Ventures, alongside partners Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, launched the Good Food Fund in 2020 to support brands helping to reduce childhood obesity.

"Bepps bags six-figure backing from Mission Ventures’ Good Food Fund", The Grocer, July 13, 2021

India’s Packaged Food Companies Trim Package Sizes, Hike Prices

Thanks to inflation in commodity prices and high transport costs, packaged consumer food companies in India are trimming the weight of smaller-sized packs or hiking prices in categories such as salty snacks, chips, and cookies. Higher prices in commodities like palm oil have been a particular cause of concern for companies. For example, PepsiCo India, which sells the popular Lay’s and Kurkure snacks, might reduce the weight of its $0.07 and $0.14 packs. Parle Products Pvt. Ltd has reduced the weight of smaller biscuit packs. In chips, the company has reduced the size of some packs priced at $0.67. Bikano, which makes salty snacks, cookies, and namkeens, said the rising price of palm oil – it has doubled over the past year – may continue for three to four months.

"Packaged food companies to cut on grammage or hike prices on snacks amid inflation", Agro & Food Processing, July 12, 2021

Real Food From The Ground Up Enters Salty Snack Space With Cauliflower Chips

The Fairfield, N.J.-based snack company’s vegan Cauliflower Potato Chips are available in Sea Salt, Sour Cream & Onion, Salt & Vinegar, and Buffalo (hot) flavors at Sprouts, Fresh Thyme, Wegmans, The Fresh Market, ShopRite, Meijer, and Sam's Club, as well as online. The suggested retail price is $3.99 per 3.5 oz bag. The company also sells cauliflower-based versions of crackers, pretzels, tortilla chips, Stalks (puffed snacks), and Snacking Crackers, that also contain butternut squash or purple carrot.

"Real Food from the Ground Up is Upping the Snack Game with the Launch of Cauliflower Potato Chips", PR Newswire, July 13, 2021

Spudsy Introduces Sweet Potato Fries

The California-based (Costa Mesa) brand that sells a line of Sweet Potato Puffs says its Sweet Potato Fries are made with flour derived from upcycled “ugly” landfill-bound sweet potatoes. Vegan, non-GMO, gluten- and grain-free, the fries are available in hot, vegan ranch, and cheese flavors at select Kroger flags and online at Amazon at $3.99 per four-ounce bag, or $51.99 for a 24-pack. 

"Spudsy Celebrates National French Fry Day with The Launch of Vegan, Grain-Free Sweet Potato Fries", PR Newswire, July 13, 2021

Catalina Snacks Debuts Line Of Low-Carb, Low-Sugar Snacks

The Indianapolis, Indiana-based keto-friendly snack company has introduced Keto-Friendly Crunch Mixes that combine Keto-Friendly Cereal pieces with traditional party mix ingredients like cashews, chickpea pretzels, almonds, pecans, and cheese crisps. Containing nine grams of carbs, four grams of fiber and one gram of sugar or less per serving, the snack mixes come in Traditional, Spicy Kick, Cheddar, and Creamy Ranch flavors. The Keto-Friendly Crunch Mixes are available on the company’s website for $39 per pack of four 6-oz pouches; additional retailers will follow. The company is also debuting a refreshed brand identity, including a new logo, icon, tagline, and brand colors.

"Catalina Crunch puts keto-friendly spin on party mixes", Food Business News, July 09, 2021

Study Finds That Snacks Can Be Fortified With Gut-Friendly Fiber

With a view toward developing prebiotic (fiber-rich) snacks that support a healthy gut, Mondelēz partly funded a study at the Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis, Mo.) to investigate the dynamic relationship between the modern diet, gut microorganisms, and their effect on physical and mental wellbeing. In tests in both mice and humans, the researchers found that the more types of fiber introduced into the diet, the greater the abundance of bacterial genes that play a role in fiber metabolism. This in turn increased the levels of proteins in the blood involved in glucose metabolism, immunity, blood coagulation, blood vessel function, and the biology of bone and nerve cells. The study, published in Nature, proved that in principle fiber can be incorporated into a variety of snack formats that will benefit consumers, even those accustomed to a low-fiber diet.

"Study reveals the multifaceted benefits of prebiotic snacks fortified with sustainable sources of fiber", BakeryAndSnacks.com, July 07, 2021