Sonoma Creamery is expanding distribution of its better-for-you Tomato Basil Pizza Crisps™ by adding Costco locations in the US Northwest. They contain 13g of protein and are baked with 100% real mozzarella cheese, seasoned with tomato, basil and garlic. The crisps are also gluten-free and lactose-free. They will soon be available in Costco’s other seven regions at $9.79 for a 9.5oz bag.

Crisp Power, founded by Gilad Zilberberg, who also founded Dream Pretzels, is debuting in the US next month. The product is a crispy pretzel with 6g of carbs and around 28g of plant-based protein in each 1.7-oz serving. They contain a blend of proteins from grains and legumes as well essential amino acids to support health and muscle development. Rollout will start on Amazon, with wholesale grocers joining later in the year.

Flagship Food Group will close its La Tortilla Factory production site in Santa Rosa, California. La Tortilla Factory, founded in almost 50 years ago, grew from selling its better-for-you, organic and low-carbohydrate tortillas to northern California restaurants and retailers to national distribution. Operations at the 75,000-square-foot facility will stop on 31 March with production relocated to Flagship’s other operations in Kansas and California.

brekki, a ready-to-eat overnight oats brand, can now be purchased at select Whole Foods Market stores across the US. It’s plant-based, gluten-free and Non-GMO Project Verified, and contains oats, ancient grains and almonds as well as chia seeds, almond milk and coconut nectar. There are eight flavors - Original; Vanilla Cinnamon; Blueberries; Bananas & Maple Brown Sugar; Strawberries; Dark Chocolate; Cold Brew Coffee; Apples & Cinnamon. brekki was first launched in 2017 and is now sold on over 7,000 retailers. New flavors are to be shown at Expo West in March.

Clayton Dubilier & Rice, a private equity firm, has completed the acquisition of Shearer’s Foods, a private label salty snacks producer in Ohio that owns 10 manufacturing facilities and a distribution center in the US, and three more plants in Canada. CD&R’s investments cover a range of industries, such as health care, consumer retail and financial services. The deal follows a recent move by Shearer’s to close a production plant in Lubbock, Texas, on March 31. Terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

Pure Protein has launched Sweet Chili flavored Popped Crisps alongside its Hickory Barbeque Popped Crisps, Sour Cream & Onion Popped Crisps, and savory Cheesy Crackers. The new product can be bought on Amazon. Alex Fishman, Brand Marketing Director, says “we know people want to make better choices that won't undo the hard work they put in at the gym and in other areas of their lives. Our latest product innovations offer great-tasting, high protein versions of their favorite snacks in trending, familiar flavors for an easy win." Sweet Chili Popped Crisps are popped not fried and are gluten-free, vegan and non-GMO.

Zelish is a new snack from Trinidad-based Sunshine Snacks using peas. It is also vegan and free from dairy and cholesterol. Zelish comes in three flavors - Flambo Cheese, Cheese-a-licious and Herb Fusion – and offer 4g of plant-based protein. Parent company ABIL Group CEO and Deputy Chairman, Nicholas Lok Jack, said the target audience was the young and hip, who more conscious of what they eat. He also mentioned plans to launch the products in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, the UK, USA and Panama. 

Sensations, the crisp range from UK brand Walkers, brings two “classic flavours with a modern twist” to market, with consumers aged 55 and over on their radar. The flavors are Mature Cheddar & Chilli Chutney and Crushed Sea Salt & Black Peppercorn. Both are HFSS-compliant and will appear on shelves later in February at £1 for a 40g grab back or £2.50 for 150g sharing bags. Crushed Sea Salt & Black Peppercorn will also have a 65g PMP option at £1.25. There will be in-store displays and off-shelf features to support the launch. 

Canadian plant-based snacks company SimplyProtein® reported findings from a survey it ran. Nearly two-thirds say they want to simplify their lives, particularly in their snacking habits. Fifty four percent said convenience is key when they want a snack but are in a rush. Less than 10 percent are aware of their recommended daily protein intake. Fifty-nine percent said they increasingly choose plant-based protein. Sixty eight percent understand the benefits of protein-rich snacks but meet obstacles when looking for snacks aligned with nutritional goals, especially when looking for snacks that aren’t too high in sugar or calories. 

Healthier snacks business Creations Foods from Washington State has acquired Florida-based Highkey, which produces better-for-you cookies, wafers and bites.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Creations Foods manufactures gluten-free and plant-based snacks and is owned by Rio Investment Partner, a Canadian private-equity company. The acquisition follows Creations’s acquisition of Moon Cheese last year.

A lawsuit filed by Snoop Dogg and Master P, two rappers, alleges that Walmart and Post Consumer Brands failed to stock their cereal brand Broadus Foods on shelves but rather hid the products in storerooms to sabotage the brand. The suit also alleges that the rappers asked Post Consumer Brands to support one of the products, Snoop Cereal, but instead Post tried to acquire the brand, an approach the rappers declined. Post also offered to enter a partnership agreement with Broadus Foods, an offer that was also declined because the brand owners didn’t trust Post’s intentions. Walmart said it would respond to the allegations once it is served with the complaint; Post said there was little consumer interest in the cereal. 

US Snack producer Our Home announced a definitive agreement to acquire the R.W. Garcia® and Good Health® brands from Utz Brands, including three manufacturing facilities. Aaron Greenwald, Our Home founder and CEO said the acquisitions “will diversify Our Home brands across a variety of salty snack categories." The deal will mean Our Home will now own five manufacturing facilities enabling greater vertical integration and will reinforce its commitment to offering innovative products to health-conscious consumers. R.W. Garcia’s portfolio includes tortilla chips, corn chips and gluten-free crackers, and a dedication to non-GMO and sustainability. From Good Health, Our Home will acquire fun and flavorful snacks for different occasions, offering snacks pretzels, veggie chips, fries, popcorn and puffs.  

Seabrook, a crinkle-cut crisp brand manufactured by Calbee UK, has run the ‘Brilliant By The Bagful’ creative and it’s back on the ITV network from early February with the second installment. It features a look at the British characteristic of being ‘too polite’ and includes four scenes highlighting Brits in danger of missing out on eating the snacks. It will be supported by in-store point of sale as well as digital advertising targeting shoppers that live close to stores that stock the products. 

Weetabix brand Weetos is launching Chocolate and Honeycomb flavor, which the brand says is HFSS compliant, high in both fiber and vitamin D. Asda in the UK is the first retailer to sell the product, in 420g packs, with a roll out to other stores planned a month later. In-store promotions and merchandizing will accompany the launch, which will also see a £2.00 promotional price compared with the RRP of £3.29.

Once Upon a Farm, a company focused on kids’ nutrition, has added three new organic products to its lineup. All three are Non-GMO Project Verified and contain no added sugar. Fruit & Veggie Puffs are unsweetened finger snacks for toddlers, with avocado oil and sorghum. They come in three flavor variants: strawberry, sweet potato and coconut; apple, sweet potato and coconut; and mango, carrot and coconut. Coconut Melts are bite-sized and made from real fruit with added probiotics, but without artificial flavours, sweeteners or juice concentrates. There are three variants: mango, banana and vanilla; strawberry banana; and mixed berry. Tractor Wheels Toddler Soft-Baked Bars contain wholegrain oats, fruit and vegetables and come in three flavor combinations: apple, sweet potato and spinach; banana, pumpkin and cauliflower; and strawberry, pumpkin and beet. They will be available to US consumers from March.

S’NOODS, a snack brand from Netflix show Snack vs Chef, will be launched in stores this month. It was created by Lauryn Bodden and comprises pasta that is air-popped or baked. There are three flavors: Cavatappi Carbonara, air-popped chips coated in Parmesan flavor with smoky meat-free pancetta notes; Rigatoni Basil Pomodoro, an air-popped chip with flavors of roasted tomatoes, caramelized garlic, red pepper flake, basil and Parmesan; and Spicy Miso Ramen, clusters of ramen, baked and tossed in seasoning that includes miso, ginger and porcini mushrooms. They are non-GMO, certified gluten-free and contain 2g of protein, 3.5g of fat, and 120 calories per serving. The products will be sold online at eatsnoods.com, in over 50 retail locations by through retail partners Foxtrot and Pop Up Grocer and in more the 20 local New York retailers. 

Family-owned pretzel manufacturer Stellar Snacks is gaining national traction. Made with better-for-you ingredients, the snacks are being supported by $137 million of investment over a decade. Co-founder Gina Galvin said that there are three key criteria involved in the brand’s innovation: delicious taste; health benefits; and inclusiveness across a broad audience. The snacks are vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified and Kosher, and made in its peanut-free facility. They are also free from MSG, corn syrup, dairy, trans-fat and anything artificial. Monk fruit is the sweetener, with zero calories. Sales started in the natural specialty channel, and it has secured airline partnerships, including Alaska Airlines. The interview concluded with the statement from Gina Galvin: “Stay tuned for exciting product innovation launching soon!” 

Serenity Kids is debuting a Grain-Free Puffs for babies variety in December. White Cheddar with Cauliflower & Spinach puffs are made using grass-fed white cheddar and organic vegetables. They are also free from grains, gluten, nuts, rice and added sugars. Serenity Carr, co-founder and CEO, said the line “is a natural extension of our pouches. We wanted to keep providing nutrient-dense, healthy options for babies as they grow up. They can snack on these puffs anytime throughout the day without parents worrying about the ingredients." Serenity Kids avoids ingredients with antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides, fillers or major allergens. The Clean Label Project reviewed the pouches and is now reviewing the puffs for the Purity Award. The Grain Free Puffs can be bought at Whole Foods nationally and on MySerenityKids.com for $4.99. 

A vitamin regularly found contained in breakfast cereal and other foods could be linked to heart disease, according to a study from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Researchers found that 4PY, a chemical created as the body breaks down excess niacin, frequently added to fortified foods to lower cholesterol, is strongly associated with cardiac conditions, heart attacks and strokes. Dr Stanley Hazen said the conclusion is “not that we should cut out our entire intake of niacin [but] a discussion over whether a continued mandate of flour and cereal fortification with niacin could be warranted.” Niacin can be found in many breakfast cereals, such as Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Ready Brek, Weetabix and Shreddies. 

In an article that looks at how consumer preferences are moving towards healthier snack options, representatives from several brands outline how their businesses are dealing with these trends. Consumers are increasingly seeking out snacks that offer both flavor and health benefits and brands need to offer a variety of flavor options to address this, including experimenting with unique and unconventional flavor profiles that appeal to health-conscious consumers. Transparent labeling and communication of nutritional benefits is also key to building trust with consumers.