Cancer Surgery Led Entrepreneur To Launch Seahorse Snacks

Following surgery to remove her stomach to avoid developing cancer, Stacy Martin had to rely on small, high-protein meals and snacks for nutrition. The result is Seahorse Snacks – seahorses do not have stomachs - a brand that is based around nuts. Stacy founded the company last year and started selling her products a farmers’ market last March. She offers two flavors: Chili Turmrific, based on almonds, cashews and pistachios; and pecan-based Maple Chaitastic. She is now focused on expanding distribution at high-end and boutique retailers in the southeast of the U.S. 

"Seahorse Snacks founder's cancer-fighting surgery leaves only a stomach for business", Chattanooga Times Free Press , March 01, 2022

Graham Cracker Sandwiches, The Latest Snacks From Once Again

Once Again Nut Butter is using its nut and seed butters in its newest launch, 100% gluten-free graham cracker sandwiches, and showcasing them at Natural Products Expo West. There are two flavors: peanut butter and sunflower seed butter. Once Again says that the convenient, single-serve snacks are the only sandwich crackers certified both organic and gluten-free, and they are vegan, kosher and non-GMO Project Verified. The crackers are available nationwide at retailers, including Whole Foods Market, as well as online on Amazon and the brand's website.

"Once Again Launches Graham Cracker Sandwiches at Expo West", PR Newswire, March 01, 2022

PeaTos Brand Upgrade Brings All Plant-Based Snacks

Launched in 2020, PeaTos expects to sales to reach almost $30 million this year, and has announced a new brand image, featuring the face of the PeaTos kid-friendly character DJ_P, as well as a move to go all in with plant-based snacks by replacing the traditional corn base with peas and all-natural, non-GMO ingredients. The brand claims each serving has twice the protein and three times the fiber of leading salty snacks like Cheetos and Funyuns, but with fewer calories and less fat and sodium, and no dairy. PeaTos flavors are Classic Cheese Curls, Fiery Hot Curls, Classic Onion Rings, and new Crunchy Pizza Rings, which will debut in March 2022. PeaTos can be found at some 4,700 retailers nationwide, including Kroger and Sprouts, and online at Peatos.com, SamsClub.com and Amazon.com. In 2021, the company closed a Series B funding round led by Post Holdings, Inc. that also included the former head of global R&D at PepsiCo, Carlos Barroso, and Apu Mody, former president at Mars Food.

"A Snack That Tastes as Good as Cheetos® Made From Plants and Loved by Kids?", Business Wire, March 01, 2022

Graze Launches On-The-Go Marmite Crunch

U.K. snack brand Graze has introduced an on-the-go version of its Marmite-flavoured Crunch snack launched last year. The 28g product is non-HFSS and vegan and sold through convenience stores.

"Graze introduces grab-and-go size Marmite Crunch snack", Talking Retail, March 01, 2022

Canada’s Mr. Favourite To Launch Plantain Chips in America

Using green plantains as the base ingredient, Mr. Favourite chips from Canada are to be introduced to the U.S. in the coming months. They are free of added sugar, 100 percent vegan, free of trans fats and gluten-free. The company is showcasing the chips at ECRM’s March 2022 “Weight Management, Nutrition, and Vitamin Program”, which will include buyers from Walgreens, CVS Health, GNC, and Amazon. Plantains are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, including potassium, vitamins A and C, and Magnesium. The products come in three flavors – original plantain, sour cream and onion, and garlic.

"Mr. Favourite Plans to Introduce its Plantain Chips to American Consumers", EIN Presswire , February 28, 2022

Cornado Rosemary Garlic Joins The Snac A’tac Portfolio

Snac A’tac in India has introduced a new flavor, Cornado Rosemary Garlic, to its Cornado line of snacks. It’s made with ingredients that are free of trans fats and gluten-free, and that include naturally sourced Rock Salt, calcium, 5 grams of protein and no cholesterol. Shrenik Chaudhary, Director of Snac A’tac, says that consumers today have a much more developed taste expectation from exposure to global flavours, but with local flavors woven in. 

"Snac A’tac Welcomes The New Amigo In Town From The Cornado Family", Outlook India, February 24, 2022

Happilo Raises $25 Million In Latest Funding Round

Healthy snacking brand Happilo, based in Mumbai, raised $25 million from Motilal Oswal PE, following a $12 million investment from A91 Partners a year ago. The company sells trail mixes, nut protein bars, dry fruit and muesli. It will use the investment to grow its D2C business and distribution, to build on its four-fold growth in the last two years and expand its product portfolio and production capacity, acquisitions and brand building. 

"D2C snacking brand Happilo raises $25 million from Motilal Oswal PE", The Economic Times, February 22, 2022

Vegan Crispy Snacks, The Latest Launch From Seapoint Farms

Seapoint Farms from Huntington Beach, California, has brought Mighty Lil' Crunchy Corn to market, to join its Mighty Lil' Lentils. The new vegan product comes in pink Himalayan salt and zesty ranch flavors and is made with non-GMO corn. It’s also gluten-free, allergen-friendly, kosher, and free of trans fat and cholesterol. Since 1996, the company has introduced lentil and corn snacks, Dry Roasted Edamame, Edamame Pasta and Seaweed Crisps. Seapoint Farms products are available on Amazon in retailers like Albertsons, Publix, Walmart, ShopRite and Wegmans, as well as online on Amazon and iHerbs.

"Seapoint Farms Introduces Vegan Crispy Snack: Mighty Lil' Crunchy Corn", The Shelby Report, February 21, 2022

Scotland’s Mackie’s Brand Is Expanding Capacity and Production

Perthshire-based crisp, popcorn and health snacks brand Mackie’s has seen sales boom during 2021 and now wants to take advantage of the revenue growth by doubling the size of its plant and expand production and distribution, although it acknowledges challenges from cost inflation and labor market pressures. Mackie’s launched several new products last year, and festive pack sales were strong during the Christmas period, up 47 percent on the year before. It has seen growth from the supermarket and convenience store channels, and from foodservice. 

"Crisp maker Mackie’s at Taypack to double factory size and add more flavours after surge in sales", Scotsman, February 17, 2022

EnviroKidz Unveils New Kids Cereal

The Nature’s Path Foods subsidiary has introduced Rhino Rolls, a gluten-free and organic cereal made with whole oat and rice flour, sweetened with organic cane sugar and sprinkled with cinnamon and vanilla. It contains no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, and each serving has 18g of whole grains. The products can be bought on Amazon as well as in retailers like Whole Foods Market, Kroger and Sprouts.

"Nature’s Path launches new children’s cereal", Food Business News, February 04, 2022

Palmex Is Added To the Wind Point Private Equity Stable

Chicago private equity firm Wind Point Partners has acquired Mexico-based Palmex S. de R.L. de C.V., which manufactures better-for-you and Hispanic snack pellets for salty snacks. Palmex produces products based on wheat, corn and potatoes, with the pellets sold to consumer-packaged goods companies, regional producers, distributors as well mom-and-pop stores in the U.S. and Latin America. The deal will provide the opportunity to build the platform by investing in capacity and further acquisitions. It will also prioritize market leadership and growth in core markets. Other Wind Point food and beverage investments include good2grow, Tropicale Foods, Stir Foods, Gehl Food & Beverage, Nonnis, FoodScience, Hearthside Food Solutions and Evans Food Group.

"United States: Wind Point Partners Acquires Palmex", Wind Point Partners, February 28, 2022

Slurrp Farm Attracts $7 Million from Investors

Indian snack brand Slurrp Farms, which focuses on healthy snacks for kids, has secured $7 million funding from investors including Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and Fireside Ventures. The parent company, Wholsum Foods, says the capital will finance product development and marketing efforts, and be used to expand the brand’s global footprint. Wholsum Foods was founded six years ago and claims to have grown 10 times since mid-2020 and aims to reach INR 500 Cr in sales revenue by 2025. It launched around 20 new SKUs last year and extended its geographic reach to the U.K. and U.S. It is also operating in UAE and sees the Middle East region as key for its expansion. 

"Kids Snackmaker Slurrp Farm Raises $7 Mn Funding From ICD, Fireside Ventures", Inc42 , February 22, 2022

Kind Snacks Wants To Help Educate U.S. Consumers About Healthy Snacking

Health-conscious snacking brand Kind Snacks is urging US consumers to choose fresh food options rather than packaged foods, including its own bars. Supporting the National Nutrition Month campaign, Russell Stokes, CEO at Kind, says that “there’s a time and place for eating a Kind bar, but we believe it should never replace eating the whole, fresh foods that are essential to staying healthy.” To help launch the initiative, Kind will not sell its snacks online during the first two days of March but encourages shoppers to buy its new limited-time Kind Whole Fruit and Nut Box. 

"Kind Snacks nudges consumers away from its bars toward fresh fruit and nuts", NutritionInsight.com , February 24, 2022

Mondelēz Chooses Ten Snack Startups For CoLab

Mondelēz Intetnational has chosen 10 American snack startups to join the company’s second CoLab class lasting 12 weeks. Each will receive a $20,000 grant, mentorship and expert collaboration. The initiative is run by the company’s SnackFutures innovation and venture hub. The participants will be: Bunny James Boxes, a vending machine business that helps office workers meets diverse dietary needs; Every Body Eat®, which offers clean snacks free of the top 14 allergens, as well as corn and sugar; GoNanas allergen-friendly banana bread mix; Moonshot, which uses organic ingredients for carbon neutral crackers; Nunbelievable, a cookie company that matches each purchase with a donation to charities that fight hunger; Oat Haus, which offers an oat-based spread; Pan’s mushroom jerky; Popcorn for the People, a non-profit employing over 50 people with special needs; Wonder Monday’s low-carb, gluten-free cheesecakes; and Yolélé’s West African sharing food using an underused grain, fonio. 

"Mondelēz International’s SnackFutures Announces Start-Ups Selected for CoLab Class of 2022", Mondelēz International , March 01, 2022

U.K. Convenience Store Chain SPAR Launches New Private Label Snacks

Debuting in its Northern Ireland stores, SPAR is adding new products to its private label snacks range. There are two new flavors - Hoisin Duck and Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar – for the SPAR Handcooked Crisps line; Hot & Spicy Bites and Ready Salted Sticks flavors will join the sharing and impulse ranges; and Brazil Nuts and Apricots are two additions to the healthy snacking nuts range. SPAR has also refreshed its own-label nuts collection to give it more presence on shelf. Glen Howe from the Henderson Group said: “We have added these new and improved SKUs in response to customers looking for innovation, value, healthier options, limited edition and premium lines in the category.”

"SPAR boosts its own-label crisps, snacks & nuts range", Belfast Telegraph, February 24, 2022

Indian Snack Brands Wants You To Snack But Healthily

Mumbai-based Flabites aims to reverse the unhealthy image of snacking with seed snacks, such as chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and watermelon seeds. The seeds contain minerals such as fiber, iron, potassium and magnesium, as well as essential vitamins. Flabites seeds are roasted, and each comes in two flavours: roasted and roasted salted. Chia seeds, for example, are fiber-rich and contain antioxidants, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids, beneficial for weight loss, heart and gut health, and digestion. 

"Flabites - A Mumbai Based Snack Brand that Offers A Plethora of Healthy Snacking Options", EIN Presswire, February 22, 2022

Real Handful Introduces Air Nut Snacks In The U.K.

Launching with four flavors - Sea Salted, Salt & Black Pepper, Cheese & Onion and Hot Chilli –Real Handful calls its “aerated nut snacks” a “category first”. The brand blends peanuts (83%), rice flour and seasoning, and then bakes and aerates them to produce snacks that are high in fibre and under 115 calories for a 20g serving. They will be available in 20g single impulse packs or 60g pouches, in Whole Foods Market from March, and then Sainsburys and Ocado by April. 

"Real Handful unveils ‘category first’ healthier aerated nut snacks", The Grocer UK, February 22, 2022