India’s Parle Products Ventures Into Breakfast Cereals

The Mumbai-based maker of biscuit brand Parle-G is extending its popular Hide & Seek brand with a breakfast cereal that can also double as a snack. Fills chocolate cereal is mainly positioned as a breakfast cereal eaten with milk. But, thanks to its 50 percent chocolate filling, the product can also be enjoyed as a sweet snack. Hide & Seek Fills will be rolled out across Parle’s distribution network of about eight million outlets across the country, with an RRP of Rs 10 ($0.14) per pack.

"India’s leading biscuit producer forays into better-for-you indulgent breakfast cereals category", BakeryAndSnacks.com, September 17, 2021

Myprotein Debuts High-Protein Breakfast Mix In India

The British online retailer of sports nutrition products says its Protein Rava Idli Mix is an instant breakfast mix with 22 grams of protein per 100-gram serving. The product is a variation of the popular South Indian breakfast food idli (rice cake), made usually with rava durum wheat, Bombay rava, or semolina. 

"Myprotein launches South Indian breakfast mix with high protein", Food & Beverages News, September 16, 2021

Forbidden Foods Raises $5.5M, Will Acquire Snack Bar Company

The Sydney, Australia-based maker of infant, toddler, health, and plant-based foods is acquiring snack bar company Blue Dinosaur (Littleton, Colo.) after raising $5.5 million. Forbidden Foods sees the $4 million acquisition as a serious step into the snacks market. Ten-year-old Blue Dinosaur caters primarily to health-focused Millennials with its baked snack, protein, and energy bars containing no soy, gluten, dairy, preservatives, added colors or sugars, stabilizers or artificial ingredients. The deal is expected to close by October 2021.

"Forbidden Foods scales up company with Blue Dinosaur buyout", Food Processing Au, September 16, 2021

Private Equity Firm Acquires U.K.’s Deeside Cereals

London-based Elysian Capital has acquired the North Wales-based breakfast cereals and snack-bar business through its Wholebake business, a health-snacks company the British investor bought over the summer from Singapore wholesaler Agrotech Impex. Also located in Wales, Wholebake supplies its own brands under names such as Bounce, Nine, and Brynmor, and is also a co-manufacturer. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

"U.K.'s Deeside Cereals acquired by private-equity firm Elysian Capital", Insider Media Limited , September 21, 2021

Warp Snacks’ Sales Described As “Exceptional”

Sales at the London-based company, created in February after Exponent’s acquisition of Proper Snacks, are up almost 30 percent this year – an “exceptional” start to trading. Combined sales are up 29 percent year-to-date. Sales of Proper popcorn and lentil chips are up 36 percent year-to-date. Out-of-home sales of Eat Real hummus snacks are down compared to the same period last year because of lockdowns on foodservice accounts, but they have staged a strong recovery in July since reopening. “Since Proper and Eat Real joined forces earlier in 2021, we are delighted by the performance of both brands,” said Warp CEO Chris Schulze-Melander.

"Warp Snacks reports ‘exceptional’ start to trading", The Grocer, September 17, 2021

Wonderful Pistachios Partners With Esports Star To Promote New Flavors

The Los Angeles-based company is strengthening its investment in Esports via a content partnership and marketing campaign across the Twitch and YouTube gaming channels with streamer Brennon "GoldGlove" O'Neill. Wonderful Pistachios says it is targeting “adventurous snackers” with its newest No Shells BBQ and No Shells Sea Salt & Vinegar varieties. The alliance with GoldGlove includes three sponsored livestreams through October reaching 1.4 million followers on Twitch, 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube, 400,000 on Twitter, and 148,000 on Instagram. About 47 million U.S. adults are Esports fans, according to MRI Simmons; more than 80 percent of Esports fans say they eat or drink while watching. The newest No Shells flavors are available in 0.75 oz single-serve packs and 5.5 oz, 11 oz, or 22 oz options.

"Wonderful Pistachios Expands Esports Marketing With Content Partnership", PR Newswire, September 16, 2021

How Brewer’s Crackers Adapted Its Business Model To Survive The Pandemic Crisis

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the Somerville, Mass.-based snack maker  relied on supermarket sales and in-store sampling to drive sales. That all came to a screeching halt as the pandemic wore on. Sales at the company, whose snack crackers are made with spent brewer’s grains and whole wheat flour, slowed to a crawl as people increased their online shopping. The term Brewer's Crackers just didn't pop up on search algorithms. To find new customers, it switched to different outlets, like smaller shops and specialty stores (e.g., cheese shops), and wholesale websites such as Faire.com and MeetMable.com. The company, which recently introduced pita chips made from upcycled brewer’s grains and is changing its name to Brewer’s Foods, is back on the road to growth.

"Moving beyond crackers; Snack firm uses sustainable grain in pita chips, too", Newsday (New York), September 20, 2021

Mission Foods Adds Gluten-Free Tortillas To Product Line

The Irving, Texas-based maker of tortillas and wraps is extending its BFY product portfolio with new gluten-free Almond Flour and Cauliflower Flour tortillas. Available now at select grocers, and at other grocery retailers in the coming months, the two new offerings feature popular alternative ingredients like almond and cauliflower flour that cater to health-conscious consumers and those with allergy and dietary restrictions. The tortillas are vegan, high in fiber, and contain no artificial colors. The company’s product portfolio also includes flatbreads, dips, salsas, and other Mexican food products. 

"Mission Foods Rises to Meet Changing Consumer Needs with New, Great-Tasting Variety for Health-Conscious Shoppers", Business Wire, September 16, 2021

African Nations Strive To Meet Surging Demand For Cashews

Thanks to growing demand, the global market for raw cashews will expand at an annual rate of 4.27 percent between 2020 and 2025 and is expected to reach almost $7 billion by 2025. Several forces are driving demand: recognition of cashews’ health and nutritional benefits; the growth in plant-based diets; a growing role as a substitute for both peanut butter and dairy products; and continued popularity as a savory snack. At the forefront of response to the growing demand for cashews are African countries that have increased production. Ghana, one of Africa’s biggest growers of cashews,. produces 85,000 metric tons of raw cashews each year – or about one percent of the world’s total production. 

"Global demand for cashews is booming. ", The Conversation US , September 21, 2021