The Unilever healthy snacking brand was certified as a B Corporation (B Corp) committed to being a force for good in the world when it comes to people, planet, and profits. Customers praised the company for an ongoing commitment to creating healthy alternatives to unhealthier snacks and for reimagining snacking by challenging traditional snacking conventions. The brand is guided by public health targets and a desire to play a part in tackling issues such as obesity. It has removed 160 tons of sugar from its snacks since the end of 2019, In addition, all graze snacks are a source of fiber, more than 75 percent contain fewer than 150 cal. per portion, and no graze snacks are high in salt. 

The Wall Street Journal reports that Chicago-based Kraft Heinz is in talks to sell its Planters snack nuts business to Hormel Foods in a deal potentially valued at $3 billion. Kraft Heinz has eliminated more than 1,100 products in recent months as it focuses on more successful products. Best known for its dry roasted peanuts, Planters also sells cashews, and cheez balls and curls. It may be able to find procurement savings by teaming up with Hormel, which owns nut butter brands Skippy and Justin's)

The Battle Creek, Mich.-based food company has partnered with its innovation hub eighteen94 Capital and Future Food-Tech in a search for creative microbiome (gut)-based food solutions. The three have launched the Innovation Challenge, a collaborative initiative to “give new talent in the industry a chance to shine on the virtual stage.” They are inviting start-ups to apply entrepreneurial and scientific skills and submit ideas. The Challenge focuses on food’s impact on personal health, especially in areas like new plant fibers, valorized (value enhanced) fibers from waste streams, prebiotics, postbiotics, fermented ingredients, and new non-spore food stable probiotics – all of which have the potential to improve the functioning of the human gut and human holistic health. A team of judges will assess the submissions and “select the most impactful ideas to move forward.”

The Plano, Texas-based company that specializes in protein-rich, low-sugar, dried beef snacks announced it will merge with publicly traded Andina Acquisition Corp. III (NASDAQ: ANDA) to become a public company listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol SNAX. The companies say they have agreements with institutional investors for an oversubscribed common stock private-investment-in-public equity (PIPE) of $42.5 million at $10 a share. Stryve also borrowed $10.6 million from investors “for general working capital purposes.” The bridge note for the loan will convert into common stock prior to closing. Stryve’s so-called “disruptive” snack platform features air-dried meats, mostly beef, including biltong from South Africa and carne seca from Latin America. Air-drying meat vs. cooking, as is done with beef jerky, yields a product that has 40-50 percent more protein per serving than beef jerky, the company claims. Stryve’s meat snacks are made with 100 percent uncooked beef, contain no sugar, monosodium glutamate (MSG), gluten, nitrates, nitrites, or preservatives and are keto- and paleo-diet friendly. 

With the help of a London, Ont.-based business incubator, two kinesiology students at Canada’s Western University have launched Arise N’ Go, which offers a popped water lily seeds snack. The product was inspired by Sucheta Khuranan’s family history in India and a mother trying to look out for her daughter. The water lily seeds are roasted, not cooked in oil, and are light and crunchy like popcorn; but have less fat, fewer calories and 50 percent more protein than popcorn. With three flavor combinations, they are sold in 11 stores and two markets in the London area. They are also available online. The two student entrepreneurs say they are already making plans for further expansion.

The Michigan-based breakfast cereal company is launching a healthy vegan snack line in the U.K. purportedly created by kids. The W.K Kellogg by Kids Bars comes in orange & carrot and strawberry, raspberry & beetroot flavors. The 100-calorie bars are available at Morrisons grocery stores in the U.K., retailing at £2.49 ($3.39) for a five-pack. More grocers will stock the products in the coming months. 

The Battle Creek, Mich.-based breakfast foods company’s Raisin Bran Toasted Oats and Honey is made with the traditional bran flakes and raisins plus whole-grain toasted oats and honey. Available now at U.S. retailers, the new oats and honey version has a suggested retail price of $2.99 for a 15.6-ounce box and $3.99 for a 22.1-ounce box. 

The Chicago-based snacks company has acquired the remaining interest in Hu Master Holdings, an Albany, N.Y. healthy snack and paleo chocolate maker. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Mondelez said the deal comes after a 2019 minority investment granted it a right of first offer to acquire the company. Hu markets vegan and paleo-friendly chocolate bars and grain-free crackers and has become, according to Mondelez, "one of the fastest-growing confectionery brands" sold in the natural retail channel in the U.S. The company, which has just started building the distribution of its products into more mainstream outlets, now stands a solid chance of carving out a foothold in the competitive U.S. grocery market with the help of Mondelez.

The Camden, N.J.-based food company decided to close the Columbus snacks manufacturing facility in phases by spring 2022 because of its age and reduced consumer demand for non-core products made there. The plant, which employs 326 people, produces candy, crackers, cookies, nuts, and bars under brands such as Snyder’s of Hanover and Pepperidge Farm. The 94-years-old plant was part of Campbell’s purchase of Snyder’s-Lance in 2018. Campbell says it will phase out the production of candy under the Lance brand and will shift production of its higher demand Lance, Emerald, and Late July snacks across the division’s manufacturing network.

Among the grocery trends expected to gain prominence in 2021 – lower alcohol cocktails, bolder spices and condiments, greater selectivity by brand and store, etc. – is a dietary trend, according to the grocery delivery and pick-up service (San Francisco). Twenty-eight percent of those who tried a high-fat, low-carb keto diet in 2020 apparently liked it. Sales trends were consistent with the survey, as products with “keto” in the name saw a 72 percent increase in the Instacart marketplace. The 10 most popular keto products in the marketplace: KetoPint Salt and Caramel Keto Bar; Think! Keto Protein Bar – Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie flavor; Birch Benders Keto Pancake and Waffle Mix; Sundae Shoppe Keto Peanut Butter Fudge Ice Cream; Sundae Shoppe Keto Cookie Dough Ice Cream; Lenny and Larry’s Keto Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie; Sundae Shoppe Keto Mint Chip Ice Cream; Epic Chicken Sriracha Protein Bar; Ratio Keto Friendly Strawberry Dairy Snack; and Ratio Keto Friendly Vanilla Dairy Snack. The Instacart report combines in-depth analysis of Instacart search and purchase activity with data from a new online Harris Poll survey.

New packaging for the Tarrytown, N.Y.-based “sleep friendly” ice cream company’s products puts greater emphasis on better-for-you night-time snacking formulated for better sleep. The revamped packaging features the company’s familiar Cravemonsters in a bolder design with a new deep blue background for stronger shelf-presence. The packaging also suggests night-time cues to the consumer, according to the company. The “sleep-friendly” nutritional profile includes more prebiotic fiber, casein protein, calcium, magnesium, and zinc compared to regular ice cream, while containing less sugar, less fat, and fewer calories. These benefits are highlighted in detail on the back of each pint. During the 18 months the ice cream has been on store shelves, consumer reviews and company interviews determined that 95 percent of reviewers ticked 4 or 5 stars. Production of Nightfood pints in the new packaging is expected to appear on store shelves starting in March. The packaging update was executed by OffWhite Co. 

The Hatboro, Pa.-based snack manufacturer has launched Seasoned Pretzel Pieces to its lineup of gourmet pretzel snacks. The pieces, made with soft red winter wheat flour, are available in three flavors: Smokey bacon and cheddar (buttermilk, onion powder, garlic powder, natural smoke flavor, and natural cheddar), Buffalo blue (hot sauce, cayenne pepper, garlic, vinegar, paprika, annatto, turmeric, and blue cheese), and cinnamon brown sugar (brown sugar, cinnamon, maple syrup, sugar, molasses, and vanilla extract). A 1/3-cup serving contains 150 calories, two grams of protein, eight grams of fat, and from zero to as much as four grams of sugar. All Pretzel Pete snacks are made from local, non-GMO ingredients and are free from artificial flavors, colors, flavor enhancers, peanuts, nuts, and sesame. Seasoned Pretzel Pieces come in multipacks that include four 10.5-oz packages for a suggested retail price of $19.50 per package. 

The Mondelez International innovation hub’s French cracker brand NoCOé meets the needs of younger consumers for snack brands that offer “values or purpose.”  According to the company, NoCOé is both carbon neutral and nutritious, free from preservatives and additives, and a source of fiber and plant proteins. The crackers are also low in sugar, saturated fat, and salt and have been awarded a green NutriScore rating of “B.” Plant-based ingredients include spelt flour, hemp, red quinoa, and pumpkin seeds. 

The Vancouver, B.C.-based health and wellness products company says the maker of granola and other plant-based foods will become a subsidiary of EuroLife, which very recently renamed itself Plant & Co Brands Inc. Holy Crap’s line of plant-based, gluten-free, and kosher products are available across Canada at retailers like Whole Foods Market and Save-On-Foods. The Canadian brand generated approximately $262,700 in revenue in the last six months, 

Market researcher Global Data says major food companies like Kraft-Heinz and Nestlé are heavily engaged in researching plant-based food technology while expanding rapidly into the space. An example of the priority is Kraft-Heinz’s recent deal to conduct research on fermented ingredients with APC Microbiome. The arrangement allows the company to try novel flavors and formulations without wasting time on internal, potentially dead-end, research. The recent surge in coronavirus cases, and the ensuing lockdowns, is pushing consumers to buy savory snacks and condiments and pushing companies to speed up development of new products, especially for at-home consumption. By focusing on ingredient and formulation innovations via the APC Microbiome partnership, Kraft-Heinz can better align with strengthening demand for “clean” and “safe” products “that will resonate with consumers during these trying times.”

Determined to stick to its strategic goal of three to five percent profitable growth in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Paris-based food and beverage company is creating two new “macro-regional” chief executive officers, a new chief operating officer, and a new chief financial officer. Véronique Penchienati-Bosetta and Shane Grant were appointed macro-regional chief executive officers of Danone International and Danone North America, respectively. Henri Bruxelles was appointed COO of end-to-end design to delivery, a new position. Cecile Cabanis will retire as executive vice-president of finance, technology and data, cycles, and procurement in February 2021, and will be replaced by Juergen Esser, CFO of Danone’s Waters and Africas divisions. The company will also begin a review of assets where performance is not aligned with the rest of the business. The review will start with the company’s operations in Argentina and the Vega brand. 

Coca-Cola Japan and Kikkoman have partnered to deliver a ready-to-drink dashi-based beverage served in a can. Dashi is a cooking stock used in Japanese dishes like noodles and the savory pancakes known as okonomiyaki. Go: Good Mmm! Delicious Japanese Dashi is basically a canned serving of dashi, whose recipe was developed by Japanese food manufacturer Kikkoman. It contains bonito, kelp, and flying fish extract to deliver an umami-flavored beverage. The drink, which can be enjoyed hot or at room temperature, will be released with a re-release of its predecessors in the Go: Good line: canned corn potage, shrimp bisque, and minestrone soup drinks. 

The Swiss multinational says e-commerce sales, driven by COVID-19, increased 48 percent over the first nine months of the fiscal year to reach 12.3 percent of total company sales, up from 8.5 percent in the same time of the previous year. CEO Ulf Mark Schneider said the results indicate that Nestlé is “coming of age” in the digital era of food and beverage, thanks mostly to health concerns brought on by the pandemic. Out-of-home sales, which accounted for about 10 percent of total Nestlé sales before COVID-19, decreased 31 percent. The slide moderated to 26 percent in the third quarter from 55 percent in the second quarter. CFO Francois-Xavier Roger, noting that coffee, pet care, nutrition, and water are most suited to online buying, said Nestlé’s online sales are largely from the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, China, and Japan. Nestlé also upgraded its fiscal-year guidance to about three percent organic sales growth from about two percent.

As soon as it knows what it wants to market, the Island Park, N.Y., food and snack maker will introduce plant-based gourmet snack foods to its product lines in 2021 to meet demands of health- and environment-conscious consumers. The company says it is working out plans with co-packers and other marketing associates to “decide on the best possible specific product choices.” Immediate emphasis will be on gourmet cookies and snacking, two of the company’s bestselling lines. The company's established sales division will handle marketing with the help of partner store sites, and ecommerce channels, including Amazon.com. CEO Paul Adler said he and staff “have been aggressively investigating the best options to add to our product lines so that we can give our valued customers the choices they want most.”

Health-conscious consumers increasingly opt for snacks that offer nutritional benefits, full transparency, and are “free from” ingredients perceived to be either useless or harmful. So, snack developers are innovating with a focus on natural, familiar ingredients that also offer nutritional benefits; One of these is almonds, which deliver essential nutrients that may be hard to come by in a total plant-based diet, including protein and calcium. In addition, most consumers think of snacks as an indulgence, so mouthfeel and flavor are important. A crunchy ingredient like almonds complements products with softer textures, and roasted almonds pair well with sea salt or high cacao chocolate to add a more premium product positioning. Market data show that almonds continue to be the leading nut used in global new product introductions, with particularly strong growth in the bakery, snack, and confectionery categories.

CEO James Quincey told investors at a Barclays conference recently that his company is determined to emerge from the pandemic with more customers and a more engaged, slimmed down organization. Coke restructuring during the pandemic crisis involved streamlining its portfolio and its global organization. The changes, which include easing its customer supply chain through reduced SKU management, offer a “golden opportunity” for the No. 13 consumer goods company to accelerate the focus on portfolio winners that attract and keep customers globally.

The Canadian cereal and snack maker’s new line includes two granolas and two RTD oatmeal cups containing several functional ingredients. The “superfood” line includes Golden Turmeric Superfood Granola, a “cookie-like” granola with clusters made from gluten free oats and cashews, as well as turmeric (anti-inflammatory) and avocado oil; and Smoothie Bowl Superfood Granola strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and super greens spirulina, barley grass, wheatgrass, broccoli, chlorella, kale, and spinach. 

The company plans to invest $30 million in the Closed Loop Leadership Fund, a private equity fund of Closed Loop Partners, to help support the shift from virgin plastics to food-grade recycled plastics across the U.S. The goal is to upgrade U.S. recycling infrastructure and secure access to food-grade recycled plastics. It is the first investment from Nestlé’s sustainable packaging venture fund, which was established earlier this year as part of its CHF 2 billion ($2.2 billion) sustainability commitment. The company plans to make 100 percent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, and reduce its use of virgin plastics by one third. Closed Loop will use the money to finance acquisitions of companies advancing circular economies in the U.S.

The bite-sized savory crackers from the London, U.K.-based snack food start-up are made with cricket flour, a sustainable source of protein, which the founders claim is “a great way to eat insects without the yuck factor.” Company founders Edoardo Imparto and Francesco Majno say their mission is to make consumers aware of the benefits of insect-based snacking to the planet and people’s health. “Small Giant Crackers are the best way to try insects for the first time – and fall in love with them,” says Majno. The oven-baked snacks, available in three umami flavors in 40-gram packs, are made with 15 percent cricket flour. Other ingredients include extra virgin olive oil and wheat flour.

Nestlé CEO Ulf Mark Schneider told investors recently that the company has no plans to “right-size” its business in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but it is definitely “rethinking” categories like coffee and water and will adapt wherever possible in the out-of-home business. That means less hotel and restaurant business “for a while going forward,” Schneider said. But he noted that many more consumers have ordered in from restaurants and dark kitchens during the crisis, so “there's almost like a blurring of the lines between what is in-home consumption and what is out-of-home consumption.” Nestlé’s out-of-home sales declined by as much as 60 percent in the first half of the year as offices, restaurants, and hotels closed. The company’s year-to-date profit increased 18 percent to 5.9 billion Swiss francs ($6.5 billion); earnings per share increased 22 percent to 2.06 Swiss francs ($2.29). 

Three of the Ohio-based gourmet rice snacks company’s products will be featured in August Variety Fun snack boxes: sweet chili, salsa fresca, and sea salt & black sesame. Riceworks snacks are made with whole grain rice without artificial flavors or preservatives. They contain nine grams of rice per serving, zero grams of trans fats, zero cholesterol, and are non-GMO, vegan and celiac friendly. The Variety Fun snack subscription service features a wide selection of both classic and healthy snacks, including old favorites and start-up brands.

The baby food company’s new Gerber Organic BabyPops is a popcorn-shaped puffed corn and oat snack created as a “self-feeding” treat for “crawlers” and toddlers. Available in peanut, tomato, and banana raspberry flavors, the snack contains no added sweetener or salt. All variants are flavored with fruits and veggies and are made with organic peanut flour. A pediatric nutritionist said: "Of course, parents should always discuss the introduction of peanut and other food allergens with their doctor and follow their doctor's instructions." BabyPops are available nationwide at Target stores and will soon be available online at Target.com. They will be offered at Albertsons and Safeway retail locations in November. 

Calif.-based plant-based snack start-up AKA Snacks has launched its flagship sprouted almonds product. Palmonds are soy–free, gluten–free, dairy–free, paleo, and vegan, made from sprouted – not roasted – almonds that are dehydrated and flavored with organic spices, coconut sugar, and coconut aminos, a condiment typically used as a savory alternative to soy sauce. Palmonds, which deliver 10 grams of plant–based protein per serving, are available in salty sweet, cinnamon sugar, sweet barbecue, and spicy nacho flavors, each containing between 250 and 280 calories. AKA Snacks is named for founder and CEO Ashley Kathleen Allyn, who created the brand after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

New York City-based Three Wishes cereals, founded in October 2019 by a husband-and-wife entrepreneurial team, has launched a new flavor, cocoa, which joins cinnamon, honey, and unsweetened flavors. Three Wishes cereals are high protein (eight grams per serving) and low sugar (three grams from monkfruit and cane sugar). The grain-free breakfast cereals are made with chickpeas, pea protein, and tapioca, are gluten–free, and free from wheat, dairy, soy, oats, corn, rice and peanuts. The cereals are available on the company website and on Amazon, and in select retailers across the country. 

Chicago-based snack company Blake's Seed Based’s niche market is consumers with food allergies who need snack bars free from the top eight allergens. It’s a big market: more than 32 million people in the U.S. live with food allergies, 90 percent of whom are affected by the top eight allergens. But company founder Blake Sorenson is positioning his company to attract more than people with food allergies, so he is now focusing marketing on the general health benefits of seeds, while appealing to those looking for an alternative to nut–based and granola bars. Consumers are getting more savvy about seeds, which "are still trending," says Sorensen, and his seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, and flax) pack a lot of nutrition per serving (i.e., healthy fats, protein, and fiber). Launched as an online brand, the products can now be found in 1,000 brick–and–mortar stores nationally, often positioned next to category giants such as KIND. Still, the new pandemic-driven stay-at-home lifestyle has forced the company to rethink and strengthen its Direct-to-Consumer marketing strategy: it is building a new website to reflect the change in course.