Kellogg Company has announced its decision to split into three independent companies focusing on cereal, snacks, and plant-based foods. Chairman and CEO Steve Cahillane claimed the division will give each company greater autonomy to encourage innovation and growth. The breakup will occur through two tax-free spinoffs that will be completed by the end of 2023. Cahillane will remain as the CEO of the global snacking business, which will include the snack brands Pringles, Cheez-Its and Pop-Tarts, along with Kellogg's international cereal portfolio, the group's African noodles business and the US Eggo unit. Kellogg’s snacking business will focus on innovation, brand building and expanding internationally, including in South America and AMEA. While much smaller, the plant-based unit will be led by the Morning Star Farms brand and focus on growth and product innovation. Kellogg shares jumped as much as 5.5 percent on the day of the announcement, the most in over a year. Under the plan, Kellogg shareholders will receive shares in the two spinoff companies on a pro rata basis.

Kellogg’s has turned to the U.K. High Court in a three-pronged attempt to prevent the upcoming government HFSS restrictions. Kellogg’s first argument claims the HFSS regulations should be declared “ultra vires” because enforcement powers given to local authorities to enforce the rules have never been approved by parliament. If the court decides the enforcement regime is illegal it could force the government to completely discard the legislation. It could also allow the regulations to continue but order the government to revaluate how they are enforced, leaving the ban in limbo. The second strand of Kellogg’s case centres on the HFSS nutrient profiling model, which was set up in 2004 as the basis for Ofcom’s policing of advertising aimed at children. Kellogg’s claims the model has never been before parliament. If the argument succeeds, the government would be forced to either drop the legislation or re-pass it with a different model. Kellogg’s third claim is that cereals should be excluded from the clampdown because most consumers add milk to the product, contributing to calcium intake and the cereal’s overall nutritional value. Within the court documents, Kellogg’s claimed it could lose up to £113 million in sales if the government’s crackdown on HFSS promotions goes ahead. Within the coming weeks, the court is expected to reveal which of the legal arguments the review will hear. If Kellogg’s arguments succeed, it would have huge implications on the government’s current obesity strategy. 

Daily Crunch has introduced two new flavors for its Uniquely Crunchy sprouted nut snacks at NYC’s Summer Fancy Food Show 2022: Cinnamon Java Sprouted Nut Medley and Nashville Hot Sprouted Almonds. The Cinnamon Java Sprouted Nut Medley contains coffee-infused sprouted almonds, dried black currants, coconut flakes and cashews, all flavored with cinnamon and sea salt. The Nashville Hot Sprouted Almonds are sprouted almonds seasoned with cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, chilli powder and monk fruit sweetener. These new varieties join the other Uniquely Crunchy flavors: Original, Cherry Berry, Golden Goodness, and Cacao + Sea Salt. Uniquely Crunchy is created with the company’s patent-pending sprout and dehydration process that makes nuts easier to digest. The vegan snack is made with clean ingredients, is high in protein and fiber, and contains minimal to no oil or sugar. Daily Crunch’s snacks are sold online on its website and in more than 1,000 retail locations, including Meijer, Central Market, Foxtrot, Bristol Farms, Erewhon, and Jimbo’s. 

A Europe-focused study from Glanbia Nutritionals looked at consumer attitudes relating to protein snacks. Consumers from Germany, France, Sweden and Italy were polled. The survey found that about one in six eat them once a week or more to manage appetite and energy, as well as for enjoyment, and consumers are reducing their consumption of less healthy snacks. Nearly half think protein bars are healthy snacks. Although many use snacks as nourishment and for an energy boost, more use them as a treat, and taste is the most important factor when choosing a snack. Protein content is then considered, as well as the amount of sugar it contains. The study also found that format innovation in protein snacks will become increasingly important, with interest shown for protein cookies and brownies, as well as protein crisps, protein-fortified pastries and protein bites, balls and spreads. For its part, Glanbia Nutritionals has created Crunchie Milk Protein Crisps, which can be included in bars and snacks, and also sells custom premix solutions of vitamins and minerals, with bioactive, functional and nutritional ingredients.

International snacks and beverages have long been popular in the U.S. International supermarkets like 99 Ranch and online stores such as Weee! thrive off the demand for them. They have a cult-like following among customers who feel compelled to try each new product and flavor. Popular flavors include Spicy Sour Doritos from Israel, Chinese Chicken Cheetos from China, and Esan Hot Pot Lay's Chips from Thailand. Recently, the international snack industry has crossed over with hip-hop culture. San Jose rapper Yonex Jones sells international chips and beverages at his TankShop in San Jose and in his box truck at pop-up events. Furthermore, Exotic Pop, a Houston beverage company that launched in 2016, sells international beverages and makes branded sodas that feature popular rappers including Soulja Boy, Sean Combs and Too $hort. According to Exotic Pop's founder and CEO, Charleston Wilson, international snacks and beverages connect to hip-hop culture due to exclusivity and high price point. Wilson claims international snacks are often flaunted on social media and even music videos to emphasise wealth and success. 

Consumers are increasingly moving away from eating the traditional three meals a day, instead turning to frequent snacking and meal fragmentation. As the line between meals and snacks becomes increasingly blurred, consumers are becoming more concerned with the nutritional value of snacks. This is reflected in three visible trends: rise in plant-based alternatives, protein claims and lower sugar content. Innova Market Insights’ number two trend for 2022 is “Plant-Based: The Canvas for Innovation,” which reflects consumers’ desire for diet variation due to health and sustainability concerns. The popularity of plant-based products coincides with the rise of protein claims, which are also popular beyond plant-based foods, including meal replacements, sport nutrition, dairy products and cereals. Another key trend is the increased demand for sugar-reduced products and natural sugar alternatives. Innova Market Insights found the use of sweeteners in F&B launches increased globally by 3 percent from 2020 to 2021. As a result, manufacturers are developing new natural and low-calorie sweeteners. Earlier this year, Sweegen rolled out Ultratia, a new high-intensity sweetener from brazzein. In addition, Finnish confectionery brand Fazer is upcycling oat hulls to create xylitol, a sugar replacer with 40 percent fewer calories. 

NFL free agent player and ESPN broadcaster Tim Tebow is joining the ranks of low-sugar, plant-based nutrition bar company NuSkool Snacks. Tebow will join as an investor and chief mission officer of the company, acting as its public voice and face. NuSkool’s CEO Joe Christensen believes this move will help secure new accounts and distribution. Formally named MCTco, NuSkool Snacks uses a variety of functional ingredients such as collagen, plant protein, prebiotic fiber and MCT oil to deliver a line of nutrition bars with zero added sugar, 10 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber per serving. Its mission is centered around reducing added sugar in the American diet. In 2021, NuSkool was selected to join the Mondelez SnackFutures CoLab startup program and, since its launch, has attracted a number of investors including the founders of Super Coffee, Jim, Jake, and Jordan DeCicco; co-founder of Liquid I.V, Hayden Fulstone; and Jackie Fast, managing partner at Sandbox Studios. 

Climate-friendly snack brand Moonshot has launched its crackers in Target stores nationwide. Moonshot is carbon neutral certified at the product and operations level and sources regeneratively grown ingredients. Moonshot's first and only product, a line of crackers, is available in Sourdough Sea Salt, Rosemary Garlic and Margherita Pizza flavors. With its expansion into Target, Moonshot’s products are now available in over 2,500 retail locations, including Sprouts, West Coast Whole Foods locations, Wegmans, Giant Food Stores, Raley's and The Fresh Market. 

Indulgent better-for-you snack company Cibo Vita “Food for Life” has announced it will launch over 15 innovations under its BeHonest and Nature’s Garden brands this month. Its innovations will include Glazed Szechuan Mix, Smores Flavored Cashews, Berry Bliss, Ghostly Ranch Snack and Oat Milk Chocolate Bars. Nature’s Garden was launched in 2011 as the company’s flagship brand, and sells trail mixes, dried fruits and nuts. BeHonest launched in 2021 and sells low-carb, low-sugar chocolates. Through these brands, Cibo Vita’s mission is to continuously create innovative products that promote functionality, digestive wellness and heart health. Cibo Vita features over 2000 SKUs that are sold in supermarkets, warehouse clubs, drug chains, health food stores and convenience stores across the U.S.  

Specialty health foods start up INNER LOVE debuted its Activated Air-Dried Walnuts at the 2022 Summer Fancy Foods Show. INNER LOVE Activated Air-Dried Walnuts are made through a process that neutralizes the anti-digestion enzymes in walnuts, making the nutrients in the nuts more bioavailable during digestion. The walnuts are organic and raw, to preserve the beneficial fats and nutrients and are sweetened with organic, dark-robust maple syrup. 

Icelandic snack brand, Næra, previewed its products at the NYC Summer Fancy Food Show 2022. Næra (pronounced as Nye-rah) means “nourish” in Icelandic. Næra sells popped, crunchy cheese and skyr snacks made with Icelandic Viking cow milk, which is rich in A2 proteins. Its products are gluten-free, non-GMO and preservative-free and made with 100 percent green energy and minimal processing. Its current product line-up includes Strawberry Skyr Crunch, Garlic & Herb Premium Aged Cheese Crunch, and Sour Cream & Onion Power Protein Crunch. During the Summer Fancy Food Show it unveiled a new flavor, Jalapeno Very Gouda Crunch. Næra is owned by Responsible Foods, a food tech start-up founded in 2019 in Reykjavik, Iceland that aims to modernise traditional Viking foods. Responsible Foods plans to expand its product line into protein-rich vegan and seafood snacks. 

Better-for-you cereal brand Special K has recently launched its Crunchy Oat Granola line in the U.K. The granola is non-HFSS and is made of an oat-rich base and puffed-grains. The branding claims the cereal supports gut health with a high fiber content and contains 30 percent less sugar on average than other granolas. Special K Crunchy Oat Granola is available now in Asda, Waitrose, and Morrisons in two flavors: Mixed Berries and Dark Chocolate Curls. 

Sustainable seaweed-based snack company SHORE, from the U.K. From June 20, its 25g Sweet Sriracha Seaweed Chips will be available in over 170 Morrison’s stores. The chips can also be found online at Amazon and on the Holland & Barrett website, as well as offline in Sainsbury’s and Co-op stores in Scotland. SHORE also offers two other flavors and is adapting the products to make them HFSS-compliant. The company is based in the northeast of Scotland, in Wick, and it harvests the seaweed by hand before processing them into vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and low-calorie chips. The brand shipped more than 400,000 in its first full year in 2021. 

Visitors to the 2022 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York in mid-June will see Popadelics Crunchy Mushroom Chips, which the brand calls “shiitake mushrooms reimagined for the modern superfood snacker”. They are made by vacuum frying, where food can be cooked at lower temperatures and absorb less oil but retain more color, flavor and nutrients. The Chips are vegan and claimed to be a good source of protein and fiber. Developed by Fun-Gal Snacks, based in New York City, they launched in February and were a finalist at the 2022 Dieline Awards in the Savory Snacks category. 

Better-for-you snack brand LesserEvil has launched a limited-edition Cherry-Lime popcorn flavor for summer, following a collaboration with functional and sustainable whole-fruit snacks maker RIND Snacks. The new products have been tossed in coconut oil, cherry and lime powders from RIND. The two companies have worked together in the past on the Clean Oil Crew coalition and social media. Cherry-Lime will join the current summer assortment including Watermelon Hibiscus, Lemonade and Peach Mango. LesserEvil Healthy Brands, based in Connecticut manufactures premium better-for-you snacks like Organic Popcorn, Grain-Free Organic Puffs, Grain-Free Egg White Curls and Keto Certified Mini Cookies, and sells through natural foods shops as well as conventional and specialty retailers nationally.

Utz Brands-owned artisan snack brand RW Garcia has recently expanded distribution of its Organic Crackers to select Whole Foods Market stores. Of RW Garcia’s five flavors, Whole Foods Market will carry three: Sweet Potato, Everything, and Lentil with Tumeric. Its Organic Crackers are gluten-free and Non-GMO Project verified and are made using clean ingredients such as vegetables, seeds, and lentils. 

100 percent cheese-based snack brand, Moon Cheese, has launched its Crunchy Cheese Sticks. Moon Cheese claims its Cheese Sticks are the first shelf-stable cheese snack product in a stick or puff format made from 100 percent real cheese. The cheese sticks are gluten-free and have 14-15 grams of protein and 3 grams of carbohydrates per serving. Moon Cheese’s Crunchy Cheese Sticks are available in-store in five flavors: Cheesy Does It, Wild White Chedda', Kick It Up a Nacho, Rowdy Ranch, and Yum Inferno. The Yum Inferno flavor is available exclusively at Whole Foods Market. 

Ancient Brands Milling has announced plans to invest $26.5 million to relocate and expand its puffed grains capacity in Dyersville, Iowa. Ancient Brands is a manufacturer of organic and non-GMO puffed grains for use in products such as cereal, granola and energy bars. After experiencing high demand, the company has nearly reached the capacity of its current facilities. As part of the investment, Ancient Brands plans to replace its current facility by building a new 92,000-square-foot plant in Dyersville. The new facility will allow the company to expand its portfolio to include puffed wheats. In addition to bringing in new high-volume equipment, the expansion will increase Ancient Brand’s capacity from 2.5 million to 20 million pounds of puffed grains per year. The company will start building the new facility this month and hopes it will be ready to start-up by the end of Q2 next year. 

Singapore snack start-up Hey! Chips has recently launched corn kernel chips to its line of dehydrated fruit and vegetable products. Hey! Chips now sells nine varieties of dehydrated chips, including mango, banana, okra, broccoli, onion and jackfruit. Its chips made with 100 percent natural ingredients are dehydrated at 60C to 80C to absorb less oil than deep frying or air frying.

U.K.-based health snack brand Humdinger has partnered with Budweiser to launch three new flavors of peanuts, in a deal brokered by IMG. The crispy-coated peanuts have been developed to pair with Budweiser beer and come in American-inspired flavors: Smokey Texan BBQ, Buffalo Chicken Wings, and Flame Grilled Ribs. The line will be available from the 26th of June at select UK supermarkets. 

KIND Snacks has announced its KIND Grab & Go Billboard will be available in London’s King’s Cross on the 22nd of June only. The activation will be filled with KIND’s products and fresh produce including pears, bananas and cucumbers, to encourage commuters to consume their daily recommendation of produce. The KIND Grab & Go Billboard was inspired by research that found the majority of Brits do not consume the recommended 5-a-day of fruits and vegetables and daily handful of nuts. 

According to P&S Intelligence, the worldwide seaweed market is currently worth over $500 million and is expected to reach almost $1.4 billion by 2030. Although seaweed has always been a huge part of Asian cuisine, the food is growing in popularity among Westerners. Brands including SeaSnax, Ocean’s Halo, Annie Chun’s and gimME Health Foods are leading this snackable seaweed trend. Seaweed’s different species, textures and formats and unique flavor profile have led it to be an interesting and diverse snacking option. It is also marketed as a superfood as it is rich in minerals such as iodine and vitamins like K and B12, and it is seen as sustainable as it contributes to water health and doesn't require additional land or resources. 

Rabba Fine Foods, a 34-store grocery chain in the Toronto area, is now selling the complete Holy Crap Superseed four-flavor range of cereals, including the latest flavor, Mango Coconut, launched last year.  The company also highlighted the success of its 2021-2022 growth strategy, which includes LumberHeads snack brand, which it recently acquired, and Heal Wellness, a new QSR brand. Holy Crap comes products certified organic, non-GMO, kosher and gluten free, containing hemp, buckwheat, chia seeds and gluten-free oats. They are also high in fiber, free from the top nine allergens and contain no added flavors, preservatives, chemicals, color, salt or oil. 

Start-up cereal company Magic Spoon was founded in 2019 with the aim of providing a healthy alternative to sugary, iconic cereals. Magic Spoon’s cereal is gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb and high in protein and is available in several large retailers including Target and Walmart. While cereal brands such as Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops target children, Magic Spoon caters towards young adults who are more health conscious. Magic Spoon reaches this demographic through social media marketing, which has been key to the company’s success. Since its founding, the company has reached out to influencers to promote its products on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and podcasts. The company also has an affiliate program, where members can make 20 percent commission on every purchase made through their link. Magic Spoon also makes less targeted advertisements through Facebook ads. 

A desire to reinvent breakfast and snacks products for Indian consumers was the rationale for Puru Gupta and Sreejith Moolayil to establish and grow the True Elements brand, which aims to offer options without chemicals, preservatives and added sugar. It has become the country’s only food brand certified as both 'Clean Label' and '100 per cent wholegrain'. The founders’ plan was to take the company to an IPO with the help of a strategic investor. The longer-term goal is for the brand to outlive them. It has secured strategic investment for the parent company, HW Wellness Solutions, by consumer goods company Marico, which has a 54 percent stake, acquired for an undisclosed amount. Marico has agreed to restrict its involvement in the operations of True Elements, which has become Marico's third strategic acquisition in India. 

International commodity trading house, Valency International Pte Ltd., received the Retail Category trophy at the 2022 SBR National Business Awards. The company was awarded for the success of its Singaporean brand, With Love, Gretel (WLG), that makes sprouted snacks using sustainable manufacturing methods. WLG sells a range of sprouted plant-based foods, including nut and seeds mixes, nut butters, and superfoods. Its production facility reduces its carbon footprint by recycling cashew shells to burn as a greener alternative to coal. WLG’s products are sold online on its website and in-store in local supermarkets, gas stations and movie theaters. This year, WLG plans to expand internationally and enter the South-East Asian, Middle East, North American and European markets. 

Byron Bay-based better-for-you snack brand We the Many has unveiled “mono-material” recyclable plastic packaging across its range. The launch coincides with the brand’s recent partnership with Woolworths in Australia, which will stock its gourmet breakfast range in 332 stores nationwide. Its breakfast range includes Prebiotic Granola, Antioxidant Granola, Turmeric Granola and Antioxidant Porridge. We the Many’s products are vegan, non-GMO and preservative and additive free. 

Chickpea-based snack brand HIPPEAS has relaunched its Chickpea Tortilla Chip line. The products have been reformulated to bring more crunch and a better texture in order to more accurately replicate traditional corn tortilla chips. The chips contain protein and fiber and, like the rest of HIPPEAS’ products, are organic, vegan and made with natural ingredients. The Chickpea Tortilla Chips are available in its two original flavors, Straight Up Sea Salt and Rockin’ Ranch, and a new Sea Salt & Lime flavor. HIPPEAS’ reformulated Chickpea Tortilla Chip line is now available in-store at retailers and online on its website and Amazon. 

After having difficulty finding retailers through the pandemic, Mr.Tortilla started selling its low-carb tortillas online through its website and Amazon. Since moving its business online, Mr.Tortilla grew 3,000 percent and has become the number one selling tortilla on Amazon in both the U.S. and Canada. Mr.Tortilla is now sold in-store in retailers in New York and California, and is looking to expand its distribution to Florida, Texas and Illinois soon. 

Plant-based ‘junk’ food brand PeaTos has announced the release of its latest offering: Crunchy Pizza Rings, a Funyuns-style onion ring in a dairy-free “cheesy” pizza flavor. New in 2022, PeaTos uses proprietary technology to replicate the dairy experience using only 100 percent plant-based ingredients. With its technology, PeaTos aims to challenge the PepsiCo Frito-Lay’s category monopoly by creating products that offer the flavor of junk food snacks like Cheetos and Funyuns but with the benefit of better-for-you nutrition. PeaTos replaces the traditional corn base with peas to offer more protein and fiber than the leading salty snack counterparts but with fewer calories, and less fat and sodium. 

Better-for-you cereal brand Magic Spoon recently secured $85 million in Series B funding as three of its products transition from direct-to-consumer-only to Target store shelves for the first time. HighPost Capital led the investment round, which brings Magic Spoon’s total funding to date to $100 million. HighPost is joined by Siddhi Capital, Coefficient Capital, Constellation Capital, Carter Comstock and celebrity investors including Shakira, Halsey, The Chainsmokers, Amy Schumer, Odell Beckham Jr. and Nas. These investments will go towards hiring employees to scale up around logistics, customer service and growth marketing as the company balances both DTC and retail. Magic Spoon was founded in 2019 and sells gluten-free cereal with zero added sugar, high protein and low carbs. Its Fruity, Cocoa and Peanut Butter flavors are the first among Magic Spoon’s eight flavors to go into 1,300 Target locations.

High protein zero sugar breakfast cereal brand Superzeros launched in May 2022 on the brand’s website. Founder, Noel Eves, describes himself as a sports and fitness lover with a taste for sweet breakfasts. The brand’s focus is currently on securing an early adopter following to gather feedback before widening distribution. Eve’s goal is to improve the breakfast options and habits of millions of consumers and make a “major impact on the cereal aisle”, which is “one of the least changed categories in the past few decades and I think the consumer is ready for fresh new voices”.

Marvel Studios is presenting “I Am Groot,” this year on Disney+, and Wonderful Pistachios has launched “Groot Gets Crackin” campaign that showcases its products. Groot, a character from Guardians of the Galaxy, features in the campaign, which covers TV, digital and social media as well as other channels through August 31. The collectible bag will be available from early July from Walmart, online and in-store. Fans are invited to enter the “Groot Gets Crackin’” sweepstakes online, with prizes including a trip to Las Vegas to visit Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. 

A San Diego gluten-free snacks brand, Chasin’ Dreams Farm, is the culmination of almost two decades of effort by Sydney Chasin, who has eaten gluten-free food since she was seven and started to experiment with making healthy snacks at home. The brand has launched air-popped, sorghum-based “Tiny Pops” in three varieties: sweet and salty, cinnamon and cocoa. They look like mini-popcorn and can also be eaten as a topping. Chasin established the company in 2018 while she was working in a New York City restaurant and prototyped the snacks in her apartment. Sorghum can be used as a gluten-free flour replacement, but it can also popped and is used in crackers and chips Chasin chose to air pop them without oil. The startup raised $62,000 through the Republic crowdfunding platform and has also been backed by Kathleen King, an angel investor. The products are currently sold by Compass Group in five regions, and can also be bought on the brand’s direct-to-consumer site and on Amazon.

Plant-based ‘junk’ food brand PeaTos has recently expanded distribution into more than 2,000 CVS Health and hundreds of H-E-B retail locations nationwide, following a recent transition to become a 100 percent plant-based brand through proprietary technology. PeaTos hopes to challenge the PepsiCo Frito-Lay’s category monopoly by creating products that offer the flavor of junk food snacks like Cheetos and Funyuns but with the benefit of better-for-you nutrition. PeaTos replaces the traditional corn base with peas to offer more protein and fiber than the leading salty snack counterparts but with fewer calories, and less fat and sodium. It currently offers two varieties: Crunchy Onion Rings (Original or Pizza) and Crunchy No-Cheese Curls (Original or Fiery). PeaTos is now available at more than 6,700 retailers nationwide, including Kroger and Sprouts, and online at Peatos.com, SamsClub.com and on Amazon. 

Snacking company Pladis is updating the recipe for Jacob’s Twiglets to make the snack non-HFSS. Though the new Twiglets recipe contains 60 percent less salt, Pladis claims the new recipe has performed well during comprehensive consumer testing. This reformulation comes alongside a redesign of the entire Jacob’s Twiglets portfolio. The new look will put greater emphasis on the health benefits of Twiglets, such as its high fibre and wholegrain content, as well as communicating that the product is oven-baked, not fried.

Indian BFY snack brand Snaqary was founded two years ago by two mothers who wanted to create tasty yet healthy snacks for their children. Snaqary makes organic, plant-based snacks made from traditional Indian ingredients including bajra, jowar, pulses, seeds and nuts. Snaqary sells a variety of products including sev, bajra puri crisps and roasted seed mixes. 

The International Food Information Council’s 2022 Food and Health Survey revealed that consumers are more stressed out and are trying to become healthier through diet changes. Slightly more than half of all consumers say they are following a diet or eating pattern, increasing to 52 percent from 39 percent in 2021. The top four eating patterns consumers say they are following are clean eating, mindful eating, calorie counting and plant-based. Stress is inevitably affecting these eating choices. 56 percent of consumers reported feeling at least somewhat stressed during the last six months. IFIC found 54 percent who tried to alleviate stress through eating have made healthier food choices. However, one in four consumers claim they always or often eat when they feel stressed. Of those who have felt very stressed in the last six months, nearly three in 10 snack at least three times a day.