News for professionals in the food business

Jackson’s Chips Launches Habanero Nacho Sweet Potato Chips With Avocado Oil

US-based Jackson’s Chips expanded its lineup of kettle-cooked sweet potato chips with a new flavor: Habanero Nacho Sweet Potato Chips with Avocado Oil. The vegan chips are made with non-GMO sweet potatoes, which are kettle-cooked in avocado oil and seasoned with habanero chilies, cheddar and Romano cheese flavors. Jackson’s products are free from artificial flavors and the top 9 allergens. The new flavor is available nationwide, priced at $1.79 for 1.5oz bags and $4.49 for 5oz bags.

Paulig’s Liven Factory In Spain Introduces New Gluten-Free Snacks Line

Paulig, a Finnish food and beverage company, installed a new ingredient line at its Liven factory in Catalonia, Spain, to manufacture gluten-free snacks for its Liven Tex-Mex brand. The line will produce 3D ‘pellets’, which are fried or expanded by air before being seasoned and packaged. It will have a capacity of up to 20,000kg of pellets per day and it will be powered by renewable energy sources like biomass and photovoltaic solar energy. It is scheduled to be operational by September 2023.

UK-based Startup Crave Will Rename Snacks Following Legal Challenges By PepsiCo And Ferrero

Crave, a UK-based free-from startup, will rename its Monster Feet chips to Noughties, Flamin’ Hot Wots’nits chips to Hot & Spicy Dawgs and Notella spread to Sir Spread-a-Lot following legal challenges by PepsiCo and Ferrero. The shape of Crave’s Monster Feet chips will also change.

Canadian Start-up Enso Debuts With BFY Indulgent Granolas, Offering Blend Of Sweet, Salty And Crunchy

Canadian startup Enso debuted with its range of better-for-you indulgent granolas. The natural granolas are slow-baked and handcrafted, and come in three varieties: Pistachio & Sea Salt, Caco nib & Hazelnut and Apple & Cinnamon. Each variety offers a combination of sweet, salty and crunchy flavors. The granolas are made using olive oil, an alternative to the commonly used coconut oil, and contain 3-4g of sugar per 30g serving. The granolas are available from the Enso’s website, priced at $12 per 9.9oz bag.

Bear Naked Expands Granola Lineup, Enhances Classic Flavors, And Partners With Gaia App For National Nude Day

Bear Naked, a US granola brand, expanded its product lineup with two new flavors: Oats & Honey and Hazelnut Dark Chocolate Chunk. Bear Naked also enhanced its Vanilla Almond Crunch and Triple Berry Crunch varieties with larger toasted clusters and more nuts and fruits. Additionally, the brand partnered with the Gaia app on National Nude Day, July 14th, 2023, to help hikers identify nude-friendly trails. As part of the collaboration, Bear Naked released a limited-edition hikers belt, which incorporates a bag of its granola and is available from the brand’s website for $23.07.

Upcycled Breakfast Brand Seven Sundays Secures $6 Million In Funding

US-based Seven Sundays, a certified B Corporation that specializes in upcycled breakfast products, secured $6 million in a recent funding round. The funding was provided by 25 investors, including private investors and venture capital firms, and will be used to increase inventory availability and expand supply chain programs, with a continued focus on upcycling food materials. Additionally, Seven Sundays aims to grow its workforce and invest in processing and packaging equipment.

Yockenthwaite Farm Partners With Parkside To Introduce Eco-Friendly Packaging For Granola Range

Yockenthwaite Farm, a UK breakfast brand, partnered with Parkside, a UK-headquartered packaging solutions provider, to introduce eco-friendly packaging for its granola range. The new bag-in-a-box format uses Parkside’s patented Park2Nature laminate material, replacing the original polypropylene bag and paper label packaging. Park2Nature is home compostable and has high barrier qualities that protect Yockenthwaite’s granolas from moisture and oxygen during transportation.

Del Monte Foods Expands Fruit Cup Snacks Range With Two New Flavors

Del Monte Foods expanded its Fruit Refreshers range with two new flavors: ‘Pineapple & Mango in Prickly Pear Flavored Fruit Water’ and ‘Peaches in Honeysuckle Flavored Fruit Water’. These on-the-go fruit cup snacks are made with real fruit, contain no artificial sweeteners, and provide 70% of the DV for Vitamin C. The products are available at major US retailers nationwide.

Poshi Partners With JetBlue Airlines To Provide Complimentary Vegetable Snacks During Flights

Poshi, a brand specializing in on-the-go vegetable snacks, has partnered with JetBlue Airlines to provide passengers with complimentary Poshi Vegetable Snacks during flights. The snacks consist of real, moist vegetables in liquid-free packaging and come in four flavors: Artichokes with Basil & Thyme, Cauliflower with Salt & Black Pepper, Asparagus with Rosmery & Oregano, and French Beans with Lime & Garlic.

Unique Snacks Introduces Puffzels: A Line Of Gluten-Free, Corn-Based Puff Snacks

US-based Unique Snacks, a brand specializing in pretzel snacks, launched a range of corn-based puff snacks called Puffzels. The gluten-free snacks are pretzel-shaped, made with whole grains, and crunchy but not fried. Puffzels are free from artificial colors, flavors and transfat, and come in four varieties: Aged Cheddar, Homestyle (with a garlic and buttery flavor), Honey Mustard and Wild Buffalo. The snacks are available from the brand’s website, starting at $28.95 for six 4.8oz bags.

LesserEvil's Lil Puffs Faces Class Action Lawsuit Alleging False Advertising

LesserEvil is facing a class action lawsuit in California alleging that the company’s Lil Puffs kids snacks are falsely advertised as healthy and nutritious for children under two, despite containing high levels of saturated fats that could be harmful to toddlers. The lawsuit also contends that LilPuffs’ advertising violates federal regulations concerning nutrient content claims and disclosure statements. The case seeks to represent anyone in the US who purchased Lil Puffs during the relevant statute of limitations.

General Mills Reformulates Cereals And Will Introduce Mini Versions Of Cereal Favorites

General Mills reformulated its Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Trix, Cocoa Puffs and Cookie Crisp cereals to include 20 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance of vitamin D, doubling the amount in each serving. This decision follows the FDA’s January 2023 announcement to increase the allowed fortification levels of vitamin D in cereals. Additionally, General Mills is introducing mini versions of its Trix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Reese’s Puffs cereals this fall at select retailers nationwide.

Rivalz Snacks Debuts With Range Of Stuffed Snacks In Three Flavors

Rivalz Snacks, a US-based snack startup, recently debuted with its range of Stuffed Snacks in three flavors: Late Night Pizza, Extra Chedda’ Mac and Spicy Street Taco. The vegan and gluten-free snacks have a crunchy shell and soft filling, and provide seven essential vitamins and minerals, 4g of fiber, 8g of protein and 160mg of sodium per 28g serving. The range is available on Amazon and the brand’s website, with a six-pack of 6oz bags costing $29.99.

Pladis Makes Its Jacob's Crinkly Line HFSS-Compliant

Pladis has reformulated its Jacob’s Crinklys crisps line for HFSS compliance. They now contain 30 percent less fat and are available in the existing flavors: cheese & onion and salt & vinegar. Asli Akman, the company’smarketing director, said “we’ve also made them especially easy for shoppers to spot with unmissable ‘30% Less Fat’ flashes across our redesigned non-HFSS multipacks, along with ‘Oven-Baked’ flashes on the entire range.”

Nudie Snacks' Vegan Cheese & Caramelised Onion Cauliflower Crisps Wins Gold

Nudie Snacks, a UK plant-based snack brand, received the Gold award at the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards 2023 for its Vegan Cheese & Caramelised Onion Cauliflower Crisps. The gluten-free chips are crafted using 40 percent fresh cauliflower sourced from Scotland and provide 111 calories per 22g bag. The Cauliflower Crisps are also offered in a Katsu Curry flavor. Both varieties are available in stores nationwide, including Holland & Barrett and Planet Organic, as well as on the brand’s website, for £12.00 per 14 22g bags.

Harvest Snaps Launches Artisan Sea Salt Baked Green Pea Snacks

Harvest Snaps, a Calbee America brand, expanded its lineup of vegetable-based chips with its new Artisan Sea Salt Baked Green Pea Snacks. The gluten-free and allergen-friendly baked chips are made with milled organic whole green peas and sea salt and are advertised as having 50 percent less fat and sodium compared with potato chips. The chips are available at select Target, Sprouts Farmers Market and Whole Foods Market stores nationwide, priced at $2.99 per 3-ounce bag.

Simple Mills Launches Cheddar Pop Mmms Veggie Flour Baked Snack Crackers

Simple Mills, a US-based sustainable snack company, launched its Cheddar Pop Mmms Veggie Flour Baked Snack Crackers. The crackers are made with organic ingredients, including butternut squash, red bean, and real cheddar cheese, and have a light and airy texture. Each 50-cracker serving contains ½ cup of vegetables and is free from GMOs gluten, and added sugar. The crackers are available at US Whole Foods stores, Amazon and Simple Mills' website, priced at $5.39 per 4oz box.

Burts Introduces New Beef & Mustard Flavor To Its Range Of Ridge Cut Chips

Burts, a UK-based brand specializing in hand-cooked British potato chips, is expanding its range of Ridge cut chips with a new Beef & Mustard flavor. The addition is made with real organic beef and joins the existing varieties of Steak Surf & Turf and Reaper Chilli & Lime. The entire range is vegan and free from gluten, and there are no artificial colors and flavors. The new flavor will be available from the brand’s website in 40g bags starting September 2023.

Rhythm Superfoods Launches Crispy Seasoned Shishito Peppers Snack

Rhythm Superfoods, a US plant-based snacking brand, launched its Crispy Seasoned Shishito Peppers snack at the NYC Summer Fancy Food Show. The ready-to-eat peppers are seasoned with garlic, onion, and salt, and then crisped at a low temperature. The snack is non-GMO and offers a rich source of vitamins A, B6 and C. Approximately 1 in 10 of the peppers are spicy. The snack is available from Whole Foods Market stores nationwide and the brand’s website, priced at $27 for 4-1.4oz bags.

Kellogg's Japan And Kirin Holdings Launch All-Bran Immune Care Cereal

Kellogg’s Japan and Kirin Holdings, a Japanese beverage and pharmaceutical company, partnered to launch All-Bran Immune Care, a functional cereal that promotes immune support and improved intestinal health. The cereal incorporates Kirin’s LC-Plasma, a proprietary ingredient reported to be vital for a healthy functioning immune system, and arabinoxylan, a fermentable dietary fiber derived from wheat bran. Arabinoxylan is claimed to regulate stomach conditions and improve bowel movements. All-Bran Immune Care is available for purchase on Amazon Japan.

Proper Crisps Expands Vegetable Range With Two New Flavors: Sweets & Beets And Garden Medley

Proper Crisps, a New Zealand brand specializing in natural hand-cooked chips, expanded its vegetable range with two new flavors. ‘Sweets & Beets’ combines sweet potato and beetroot, while ‘Garden Medley’ features sweet potato, beetroot, carrot and parsnip. Both flavors are also made with high oleic sunflower oil and sea salt. The chips are available at Woolworths Health Aisle, Independents, and Health Food Stores nationwide, priced at $7.20 for a 100g pack.

For Good Granola Launches Sweet Curry Granola At NYC's Summer Fancy Food Show

For Good Granola, a US-based start-up specializing in gluten-free no-oat buckwheat granolas, launched its Sweet Curry granola at NYC’s Summer Fancy Food show. The granola combines buckwheat groats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, maple syrup, and coconut and a blend of spices including coriander, cumin, turmeric and black pepper. It is available on the brand's website, offered in 10 oz. bags priced at $11.40.

Study Finds Blood Sugar Meter Helps Assess Potato Quality For Crisp Production And Acrylamide Levels

A three-year study by researchers from SINTEF and Norwegian food packaging company Produsentpakkeriet found that measuring glucose concentrations in potatoes using a blood sugar meter offers a quick and accessible way to determine if the potato’s sugar content is suitable for crisp production. Higher sugar content in less mature potatoes is associated with increased acrylamide levels, harmful chemicals formed during high-temperature cooking, which are linked to health risks. The study recommends monitoring glucose content to assess the potatoes' readiness for harvesting.

Dollar Sales Of BFY Snacks Rise In 2023 Amid Inflationary Price Increase

According to NielsenIQ, the dollar sales of better-for-you snacks experienced a significant increase in 2023, mainly due to higher prices resulting from inflation. However, NielsenIQ also noted that inflation dampened unit sales within the category. Additionally, Circana's ‘The Snacking Supernova’ report revealed that 54 percent of consumers view snacks as a crucial part of their healthy eating plan throughout the day and identified a rising demand for BFY snack options that offer rich and flavorful experiences.

Deliveroo Report Predicts Food Technology Advancements By 2040: BreathTech, AI-Powered Diets And 3D-Printed Meal Plans

Deliveroo published its ‘Snack To The Future’ report, outlining predictions regarding advancements in food technology by 2040. The report suggests BreathTech will be integrated into personal devices, enabling individuals to analyze their breath to make optimal food choices for maintaining health & well-being. The report also argues the ‘Me-gan’ diet, powered by AI, will provide personalized diets tailored to individual nutritional needs. Furthermore, the report contends that 3D-printed meal plans will allow individuals to create perfectly portioned and nutritionally balanced meals.

Gluten-Related Disorders And General Health Awareness Anticipated To Drive Growth Of Gluten-Free CPG Market

Julia Hecht, Director of Innovation and E-commerce at Hippeas Snacks, highlighted that the gluten-free CPG market is anticipated to grow due to the rise in gluten-related disorders, as doctors begin to recommend gluten-free diets more frequently, and increasing general health consciousness.

Past Issues

Companies, Organizations