10 Snack Bar Launches We’re Watching

CHICAGO — Indulgent, healthy, plant-based, caffeine-enhanced ... there’s seemingly no end to the variety of snack bars that have been unleashed on retailers over the past year. And it seems to be paying off. Snack bar sales grew 9% in units and 17% in dollars in convenience stores during the 13-week period ending Aug. 8, according to IRI, making the product segment one of the darlings of center store.

Here’s a look at 10 snack bars launched during the past year that we’re keeping an eye on ...

Kind Healthy Snacks released Kind Energy about a year ago. The snack bar provides sustained energy from whole grains, chocolate and peanut butter, according to the New York-based company. Kind Energy’s first ingredient is oats, but the bars also contain quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth and millet. Each bar has 10 grams of protein and 35% less sugar than comparable energy bars, the company says. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chunk and Peanut Butter varieties are available. The bars have a suggested retail price (SRP) range of $1.39 to $1.69.

That’s it., Los Angeles, launched the Keto Kick Coffee Energy Bar early in 2021. The snack bars are made with six whole ingredients, including 95 milligrams of caffeine from Fair Trade, single-origin Ethiopian coffee beans. Both plant-based and Keto-certified, Keto Kick is available in Chocolate and Vanilla flavors, with each bar certified USDA Organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, kosher and free from the top 12 allergens. It contains 45 calories, 5 net carbs and 8 grams of fiber per serving.

On the indulgent side, Nestle will debut Nestle Rallies Nut Butter Bombs, a chilled snack made with creamy almond and cashew nut butters, premium chocolate and peanuts, with less added sugar than other chocolate nut butters, the Vevey, Switzerland-based supplier says. Two flavors include Brownie Almond Butter and Salted Cashew Butter with a third, Raspberry Peanut Butter, slated to be released in early 2022. One package contains three bite-sized nut butter bombs for an SRP of $2.49.

With 190 calories or less and 6 or 7 grams of protein, Clif Bar Duos—a 2021 CSPBest New Products Contest winner—are smaller energy bar ideal for fueling fitness routines and daily physical activity, the Emeryville, Calif.-based company says. Duos are available in two flavor combinations: Chocolate Brownie + Crunchy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Brownie + White Chocolate Macadamia Nut.

One Fruity Cereal is a limited-edition protein bar that offers fruity cereal in a convenient format. The bars contain 20 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar. The launch was inspired by consumers seeking nostalgic foods to connect to childhood memories, maker One Brands, a Hershey company based in Charlotte, N.C., said.

The Kellogg Co.’s RxBar, Chicago, introduced its first plant-based protein bar. RxBar Plant contains 10 grams of plant-based protein in place of the brand’s signature egg whites. The bars are made with no added sugar and real, simple ingredients such as dates, nuts and whole-grain oats. Flavors include Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter.

Think High Protein Crisp Bars, available in Chocolate Crisp and Lemon Crisp flavors, are designed to be a multipurpose nutritional workout accompaniment or meal replacement option, the Los Angeles-based company said. Each gluten-free bar contains 15 grams of protein and 2 grams of sugar, with 150 calories or less.

Lenny & Larry’s, Sherman Oaks, Calif., is debuting its first nutrition bar, The Complete Cookie-fied Bar, which contains 12 grams of plant-based protein, 5 grams of prebiotic fiber and 6 grams of sugar. The soft, chewy bar is topped with Lenny & Larry’s signature crunchy cookie pieces. It is now available in Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Almond Sea Salt flavors, with a Cookies & Creme flavor rolling out in the fall. Single bars are available for an SRP of $1.99.

With a mix of dark chocolate and rice crisps, Jesse’s WakeUp! Bar contains 250 mg of plant-based caffeine, with a single bar equivalent to three espresso drinks. Jesse’s WakeUp! Bar contains 110 calories, and is vegan, Kosher-certified and Non-GMO, as well as soy-, egg-, dairy- and gluten-free, said the New York-based company.

General Mills Convenience, Minneapolis, introduced protein bars featuring cereal flavors Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Golden Grahams. Each bar features 20 grams of protein and 2 grams of sugar. The multitextured, individually wrapped bars deliver a taste of each cereal brand and are available for an SRP of $2.99.