News for professionals in the food business

NIQ Study Finds Gen Alpha Shaping Snack Preferences

NielsenIQ research shows Gen Alpha influencing grocery purchases from an early age, either directly or indirectly. About 16% of parents pick snacks that look indulgent yet deliver better nutrition, and many now favor ingredient-scanning apps over label claims, seeking products that score at least 70. Roughly 28% say they actively teach children about nutrition, while 17% report that their kids are raising ingredient questions themselves, sometimes influenced by social media. Around 19% of children request protein-rich snacks, 14% want ingredients that are natural or organic, and 14% ask for less sugar.

Better-For-You Kids Snacks Expand Across Major Retailers

The global kids snack market could exceed $168 billion within a decade, up from about $78 billion now, a CAGR of 8%, according to Future Market Insights. Granola bars lead, while cereal consumers want more nutritional alternatives to processed options. Cracker brand cadootz! debuted at Target this June with Cheddar, Sea Salt and Ranch varieties. Each 30g serving is certified organic, delivers 5g of protein and just 1g of sugar, and avoids gluten, seed oil, gums and emulsifiers. Earth's Best introduced its first organic snack line for children ages 4-8, including Crispy Sticks and Veggie Waves.

India Regulator Abandons Push For Colorful Warning Labels

India's food-safety regulator abandoned plans for colorful front-of-pack warning labels on packaged snacks and drinks after industry pushback. Executives called the labels confusing, and a senior Coca-Cola India representative said symbols alone would not meaningfully change consumer behavior. Regulators instead proposed a black-and-white nutrient table, prompting a Supreme Court challenge from health activists. Roughly 80% of India's packaged food and drink products could fall into categories containing elevated fat, sugar or salt content.

Kiddylicious Expands Toddler Snack Range With Rice Scoops

Kiddylicious, known for baby food, is growing its snack lineup by introducing Rice Scoops, an extruded product made for toddlers 12 months and up. They are gluten-free and shaped for small hands to encourage independent self-feeding. There are two savory flavors: Cheesy and Tomato & Basil. Packs of 4 x 12g, priced at £2.65, are on shelves at Tesco, Morrisons and Boots, and also sold by online grocer Ocado.

Granola Brand Nakey Bakey Secures Funding For Scottish Expansion

Granola brand Nakey Bakey, which markets its products as allergen-free, secured a £100,000 invoice facility from Bank of Scotland to expand production after winning ScotMid's Scottish Favourites competition. Victory in that contest brought a listing across Co-op stores in Scotland. Funds will go toward stock, additional production capacity at the company's Glenrothes facility, and managing longer payment terms tied to larger retail contracts. Nakey Bakey’s products avoid all 14 recognized major allergens and rely on fruit for natural sweetness.

Amazon And PHA Launch Good Good Snack Campaign

Amazon and Partnership for a Healthier America launched a campaign in August that gives shoppers $5 off a $25 purchase of participating better-for-you products, triggering a matching $5 donation to PHA. Brands in the GOOD GOOD lineup include several WK Kellogg Co products, Bel Brands USA's GoGo squeeZ and Laughing Cow, SkinnyPop and some of Amazon's own lines. Brands are donating up to $525,000 combined.

Master P Shifts Focus To Healthier Cereal Brand

Master P says his work with Snoop Cereal is at an end and his focus is now on healthier breakfast items through Miller Family Foods, a health-focused company he started in 2024. He intends to rebuild the cereal idea around oatmeal, bars, pancakes and waffles. Snoop Cereal debuted as Snoop Loopz, made and distributed through Broadus Foods and Post Consumer Brands, before a lawsuit accused Post and Walmart of restricting shelf space. No launch date, retail partners or product name have been revealed, and Snoop Dogg's involvement in the new venture remains unclear.

CRISP POWER Launches New Honey Mustard Pretzel Flavor

CRISP POWER is adding a Honey Mustard flavor to its protein pretzel lineup, aimed at protein-focused shoppers. Each 1.75oz bag delivers 26g of protein, 10g of fiber and 6g of net carbs at 210 calories, with no added sugar or artificial flavors. Founder and CEO Gilad Zilberberg said the brand was built “to compete directly with traditional crunchy, salty snacks, but with dramatically higher protein and fiber.” The Honey Mustard launch follows the opening of a $15 million manufacturing facility in Stafford, Texas, shifting production onshore, and distribution planned through Shopify, The Vitamin Shoppe, Amazon and TikTok Shop.

Goldfish Debuts First Gluten-Free Cheese Cracker Option

Campbell's Company is introducing a gluten-free version of Goldfish crackers for the first time, with nationwide retail availability planned for November. Campbell’s says it’s among the innovations most requested by fans over the brand's history. Tiphanie Maronta, senior vice president for Goldfish Crackers, said the team focused on matching taste, texture and the cracker's familiar shape.

Seoul Launches New Kimchi And Butter Rice Chips

Seoul's metropolitan government announced two new flavors for its souvenir snack line, Seoul Snack Rice Chips: Kimchi Fried Rice and Butter Soy Sauce. They were developed with local snack maker Pungsimdang and follow the June debut of Veggie Fried Rice and Seaweed varieties. The chips use domestically grown white rice, baked instead of fried, with sugar limited to 1g and about 65 calories in each 15g bag. Packaging carries illustrations of Seoul landmarks, including City Hall and the Hangang River Bus.

Khloud Launches New Protein Chips With Collagen Boost

Khloud, co-founded by Khloé Kardashian, launched Khloud Plus Collagen Protein Chips exclusively at Walmart. Each 1.6oz bag delivers 17g of total protein, including 2g of hydrolyzed collagen, in the brand's tortilla chip format. The lineup includes existing flavors Sweet Heat, Nacho, and Buffalo as well as a new Walmart-exclusive Jalapeño flavor. R&D director Olivia Weihe said hydrolyzed collagen was chosen for its digestibility. They are gluten-free, non-GMO and made without seed oils.

Soul Fruit Brings Fruit Crisps To Waitrose Nationwide

Soul Fruit is launching sharing-size bags of two freeze-dried fruit crisp varieties, mango and dragon fruit, into 260 Waitrose stores in the UK under the retailer's BrandsNew program. Snacks contain a single ingredient, whole fruit slices, and they omit sugar, concentrates, preservatives and flavorings. Soul Fruit dates to 2021 and also sells through Ocado, Selfridges, Harrods and Holland & Barrett.

Fairfields Farm Revives Festive Chestnut And Sage Crisps

Fairfields Farm is bringing back its limited-edition Honey Roasted Chestnut & Sage hand-cooked crisps for the 2026 holiday season, following a successful debut in 2025. Available from September in 150g sharing packs, the vegan and gluten-free crisps combine chestnut flavor with honey sweetness and fragrant sage notes, positioned for festive gatherings, Christmas movie nights and entertaining. Suggested pairings include seasonal chutneys, creamy cheeses, festive meats and sweet fruits, such as figs, pears and cranberries.

Simple Mills Promotes Unchanged Recipes With Non-UPF Verification

Simple Mills’s new national campaign, ‘Announcing Absolutely Nothing,’ highlights that its crackers, cookies and bars remained unchanged after earning Non-UPF Verified™ status. 60% of its portfolio already had the verification without recipe reformulation; the remainder should gain verification later this year. Media placements include Union Square and Port Authority in Los Angeles, and also the Hamptons, with print ads, sky banners and digital boards during the summer.

SuperYou Enters Puffed Snacks Market With Power Puffs

In India, SuperYou enters the puffed snacks category with Power Puffs, expanding a portfolio that includes Protein Wafers, Multigrain Protein Chips and Minis. Power Puffs flavors are Chilli Masala, Maaad Achari, Cheesy Cheese and Pizza Party, offering up to 13g of protein per pack in 33g and 55g sizes. Power Puffs will be sold in select modern and general trade outlets in major cities, and through Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, Instamart and Zepto.

Norse Roots Extends Beef Tallow Into New Snacks

Norse Roots, known for its beef tallow potato chips, introduced Beef Tallow Tortilla Chips in Original Sea Salt and Beef Tallow Veggie Straws in a new Ragnarok Ranch flavor, with more flavors in development. Retail availability is growing through partnerships with select Hy-Vee and Albertsons stores, alongside a Costco deal on exclusive items including Beef Tallow Fry Sticks and club-sized Veggie Straws. Christian Nelson of Norse Roots said its mission combines great taste with simple ingredients and dependable quality.

Harvest Snaps Adds Two New Veggie Snack Flavors

Calbee's Harvest Snaps is adding two new flavors, Sea Salt & Vinegar and Garlic Butter, to its baked veggie snack lineup, continuing its push in the BFY snack segment. Farm-picked green peas are the top ingredient, with each serving delivering 4-5g of protein and 3g of fiber. Both flavors carry Non-GMO Project Verification and gluten-free certification, and contain none of the common allergens found in soy, nuts, wheat or eggs. The new flavors are due on shelves in September.

Thai Snack Maker Debuts Cherry Blossom Fish Cracker

Thailand's Tae Nguan Tai Co., Ltd introduced a Cherry Blossom flavor fish cracker under its QRU brand, joining the Fufu line's existing original and spicy varieties. It pairs real fish with a floral cherry blossom scent for a sweet, crispy bite unlike typical savory fish crackers and comes in a 35g pouch with a 12-month shelf life. Gen Z and millennial snackers are the primary target, as well as families and office workers. Tae Nguan Tai is pursuing distribution deals across Asia, and exports to Europe and the Middle East.

Three Family Brands Launch Better Together Back-to-School Campaign

Dr. Praeger’s, Bakeful and Wave Kids teamed up on Better Together, a seasonal campaign meant to help parents put together healthier lunches, snacks and drinks as school resumes. Dr. Praeger’s supplies veggie-focused items such as Mac & Cheese Stars and its Littles line, Bakeful contributes baked treats including Donutful mini donuts and Muffinful mini muffins made with cage-free eggs and reduced sugar, and Wave Kids offers a lightly fizzy beverage sweetened with organic agave and coconut water powder instead of artificial ingredients. Activities planned through fall include creator partnerships, community events and family sampling opportunities.

Ferrero Group Signs Deal To Acquire Purely Elizabeth

Ferrero Group agreed to acquire Purely Elizabeth, a Boulder, Colorado-based wellness brand offering granola, oatmeal, cereal and an expanding protein range. Giovanni Ferrero, president of Ferrero International, said the move builds on last year’s purchase of WK Kellogg Co. and strengthens the company’s position in BFY foods. Elizabeth Stein, who launched Purely Elizabeth in 2009, will remain in her role, leading the standalone unit within Ferrero Group. Ferrero plans to back further product development, operations and distribution while keeping the brand’s identity intact.

Pretzelized Teams With Crayola For Back-To-School Snack Launch

Pretzelized introduced the Pretzelized x Crayola Sea Salt Pretzel Snackers Multipack, a limited-edition collaboration priced at $7.99 and on sale at Target and Whole Foods, ahead of the school year. Each package holds 10 individually wrapped pretzel bags in colorable artwork, and four Crayola crayons. Kelsey Skura, Pretzelized's VP of sales, said the brands wanted to offer something useful, fun and unexpected. The product is certified Kosher and Non-GMO.

Cerealto Sheds Pasta Business To Focus On Snacking

Cerealto ended its 2025 financial year with sales of €574 million, up 9.3% year on year. It divested its pasta division in February to concentrate on breakfast and snacking. Over four years the company invested more than €170 million, including €53 million last year on expanding production capacity. Acquisitions include Hill Biscuits in the UK and US-based Fresca Foods, which CEO Bosco Fonts describes as “an innovation machine”. Fonts points to rising demand for low-calorie, high-protein, high-fiber products tied partly to GLP-1 medication use, pushing brands toward smaller, nutrient-dense formats. Cerealto plans a further €75 million investment in new industrial projects in Spain and the US.

Better-For-You Snacks Market To Exceed $52 Billion In 10 Years

A study from Future Market Insights values the BFY snacks market at $42.1 billion this year and projects growth to $52.3 billion by 2036, a CAGR of 2.2%. Bakery snacks lead with about 30.5% share, supported by familiarity as well as protein, fiber and reduced-sugar formulations. Offline channels account for roughly 72.5% of revenue. India is expected to grow fastest at a CAGR of 9.5%, followed by Brazil and China.

Goldfish Refreshes Nostalgic Ad Campaign With New Focus

Goldfish reworked its long-running ‘The Snack That Smiles Back’ platform for back-to-school season, partnering with Mischief @ No Fixed Address on a campaign across paid, earned and owned media, using nostalgia to reach parents. Stop-motion-style animation spots highlight real cheese, no artificial flavors or colors, a baked not fried recipe, and run between six and 30 seconds.

Go Raw Achieves Non-UPF Snack Certification Milestone

Go Raw earned Non-UPF Verified certification for its Organic Sea Salt Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds, becoming one of the first snack products recognized under the program. The brand already carries USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified credentials. Refreshed packaging featuring the seal rolls out in November. Go Raw, founded in 2004, sells three seed-based lines: Sprouted Seeds, Snacking Granolas and Snacking Crisps.

WK Kellogg To Remove Artificial Colors From Cereals At Accelerated Pace

WK Kellogg is speeding up plans to remove artificial colors and the preservative BHT from its entire cereal portfolio, with reformulated products expected late this year. Popular brands affected include Froot Loops and Apple Jacks. Natural colors from fruit and vegetable juices along with other plant sources will replace artificial versions, following investment in manufacturing capacity and extensive consumer testing. WK Kellogg already removed artificial colors from school foods and paused new product launches containing them since January 2026.

UC Davis Study Questions Avocado Oil Snack Labels

A University of California, Davis analysis found that 48 of the 54 processed foods claiming avocado oil as their only oil component did not pass authenticity checks. Items purchased during 2025 and 2026 included chips, mayonnaise and dressings. Most tested chips showed oil profiles inconsistent with pure avocado oil. Brands identified as failing included Boulder Canyon and Siete kettle chips. Misbranded foods can trigger federal warning letters or recalls.

Albert Heijn Launches Hamsterchef Snack And Meal Range

Netherlands-based grocer Albert Heijn introduced AH Hamsterchef, a 17-product range spanning breakfast through dinner and snacks, aimed at helping young families eat better. Joyce Bierman, VP of brand creation, said the company is particularly targeting families with children because “eating habits are often formed at a young age.” Albert Heijn highlighted a Markteffect survey that found over half of parents choose convenience rather than healthy eating when they are busy even though 84% agree nutritious food is important for their kids.

Target Unveils New Autumn-Inspired Savory Snack Lineup

Target is rolling out an autumn-inspired lineup of savory snacks under its Good & Gather brand ahead of the fall season. New items include Stuffing Flavored Wavy Potato Chips, Stuffing Seasoned Pretzels, Pumpkin Spice Tortilla Chips and Purple Sweet Potato Pie Puffs.

Que Pasa Launches Four New Organic Tortilla Chips

Nature's Path Organic Foods' tortilla chip brand Que Pasa is adding four new flavors in Canada: Hot Honey, Chipotle BBQ, Nacho and Jalapeño Lime. They are produced from Non-GMO Project Verified organic corn. All four varieties are certified organic, gluten-free and made without synthetic colors, flavors or dyes. The new flavors are hitting shelves now at Loblaws, Save-On-Foods and Sobeys stores throughout Canada.

Vitalia Debuts New Air-Popped Elements Crisps Snack Line

Macedonia-based BFY brand Vitalia introduces Elements Air-Popped Crisps, a new snack made using extrusion instead of deep frying. Its chickpea, corn, rice and quinoa blend yields a gluten-free, fiber-rich chip with less total and saturated fat than standard fried chips. There are four options - Mediterranean Sea Salt, Smoked Paprika, Sour Cream & Garden Onions and Garam Masala & Golden Curry – with the latter containing 10g of plant-based protein per serving. Vitalia’s portfolio spans granola, protein balls, keto truffles, oat cookies, crackers, seeds and rice cakes, sold through Vitalia’s website.

Asda Creates New Cereal For UK Food Charities

Asda is giving away almost 200 tonnes of a newly developed breakfast cereal made from porridge oats and muesli in its own-label range, working with Alliance Food Sourcing and redistribution charity Felix. Production and packing occur during quiet periods at Asda’s Talford factory, and the cereal then moves through Felix’s depots and 16 independent partners. A Felix survey of 4,000 working families found nearly one in ten report their children going to school hungry at least weekly.

Nestlé Launches New Functional Cereals For Healthy Aging

Nestlé is rolling out new products under its Shreddies and Shredded Wheat brands, including a Shreddies Peanut Butter flavor and Shredded Wheat’s Happy Heart and Active varieties, arriving on UK shelves this month. Shreddies Peanut Butter is described as rich in fiber and iron with five added vitamins; Happy Heart supports heart health with fiber and vitamin B1; and Active provides calcium and vitamin D for muscle and bone health. Research partner Lumina Intelligence ranks healthy aging as consumers’ second-highest global priority after sleep, with 83% now buying foods with added benefits worldwide.

Gimme Seaweed Debuts First Live-Action Video Ad Campaign

Gimme Seaweed’s new brand campaign is timed for back-to-school season and marks its debut in live-action video advertising alongside fresh photography and digital content across connected TV, social, podcasts and its website. It updates the company's longtime tagline from “Seaweed? So Good!” to “Gimme. So Good”. Co-founder and chairman Stephen Broad said the shift reflects seaweed's growing everyday relevance in lunchboxes, post-workout routines and family meals.

Adya Organics Launches Sattu Crisps For Monsoon Season

Sattu Crisps from Adya Organics are a healthier snack option for the monsoon season, when consumers typically seek crispy, spicy and indulgent food. Made from stone-ground sattu, prepared from roasted Bengal gram, they are free from maida or synthetic additives and provide plant-based protein and fiber. The crisps are positioned as an alternative to fried snacks, suitable for pairing with chai during the rains, as a midday office snack or for travel.

Simply Roasted Launches New Root Vegetable Crisps Range

Simply Roasted expanded into root vegetable crisps with Sea Salt and Sweet Chilli flavors made from sliced sweet potato, parsnip and beetroot, priced at £2.65 for a 93g pack. They contain 30% less fat than fried vegetable crisps, using the brand's roasting process to deliver natural color and flavor without frying. Retail plans include Whole Foods Market, Amazon and a direct-to-consumer website this month, followed by Ocado in September.

Zenko Launches Roasted Edamame As New High-Protein Snack

Zenko’s roasted edamame come in four flavors: Himalayan pink salt, seaweed, sriracha and wasabi. They are positioned as a natural alternative to more processed protein options, delivering 40g of protein per 100g of product. Alongside an existing retail presence in Europe, the near-term focus is on Asia Pacific, including Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Southeast Asia, with the Middle East to follow once market conditions improve.

Quest Nutrition Launches Four-Flavor Fiesta Pack At Walmart

Quest Nutrition’s new Fiesta Pack variety bundle, sold exclusively through Walmart, brings together four protein chip flavors: Salsa Verde, Mexican Street Corn, Chili Lime and a Walmart-exclusive Spicy Queso flavor. Each bag delivers 18-20g of protein and 3-4g of net carbohydrates, matching the usual profile of Quest Protein Chips. Walmart is selling the Fiesta Pack for $9.48, 18% cheaper than a comparable bulk bundle from Quest Nutrition's website. Quest Nutrition rarely releases new variety packs beyond warehouse retailers like Costco.

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