MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. -- Better-for-you-snacking company BFY Brands has launched two new varieties of PopCorners, the gluten-free, air-popped chips primarily made with popcorn. The varieties include PopCorners Flex Protein Crisps and PopCorners Flourish Veggie Crisps, both of which are now available at major retailers nationwide.
PopCorners Flex Protein Crisps are made with plant-based protein from soybean and cassava. They come in two flavors: Buffalo and Barbecue, both of which contain 90 calories, 10 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber and 2 grams or less of sugar per serving. The Flourish Veggie Crisps are made with vegetables and come in four flavors: Greens & Beans, Roasted Beets, Toasted Cauliflower and Harvest Kale, all of which contain 100-120 calories per serving. Both varieties are made through a unique air-popping process and are Non-GMO Project verified.
"We are always striving to do one better, and that's why we continue to challenge the status quo in the snacking category," said Paul Nardone, CEO of BFY Brands. "Our purpose in launching Flex and Flourish is to provide our fans with undeniably delicious snacks that contain high-quality, minimally processed ingredients that fit their personal wellness and lifestyle goals. We're fiercely committed to striving for the very best, whether it's our transparency in where we source our non-GMO corn to our innovative processing techniques, our No. 1 goal is to always do one better for our fans."
PopCorners was a standout snack in the convenience channel in 2018, Aaron Mace, snacks category manager for Dash In convenience stores, a subsidiary of The Wills Group, La Plata, Md., told CSP Daily News. PopCorners have seen a 45% same-store uplift over the past year for Dash-In and has become one of the chain’s top wholesale snack items.
“[PopCorners] are new for us and the convenience channel,” Mace said. “The packaging is clean and it’s a somewhat healthier snack, which consumers like.”
Founded in 1998, Middletown, N.Y.-based BFY Brands is a better-for-you snack manufacturer addressing the growing consumer trends toward healthier living and eating.
CHICAGO -- Gone are the days of breakfast, lunch and dinner being consumers’ only meals of the day. People are increasingly snacking to cure their hunger, and they don’t seem to be stopping. More than half of consumers (55%) snack between meals at least twice a day—a 5% increase compared to two years ago, according to the 2018 Snacking Consumer Trend Report by CSP sister research firm Technomic. This year brought an onslaught of new snack and candy trends to retailers, some that may continue drawing customers down treat aisles in 2019.
Here are five snack and candy trends that could set the stage for next year …
Private-label snacks have already emerged in large c-store chains, giving these brands an opportunity to compete with their counterparts.
In March 2018, 7-Eleven expanded its line of packaged bakery items with the 7-Select private-label sweet bread. The bread, which was available for a limited time only, came in three varieties: Panquecitos, miniature vanilla loaf cakes; Roles de Canela, cinnamon rolls with raisins; and Panque con Nuez, sliced pound cake with chopped pecans.
Six months later, Yesway launched its newest private-label products, Yesway Candy and Yesway Baked Goods, in Yesway c-stores nationwide. Yesway Candy features loose-bag candies such as Mini Sour Gummi Worms and Gummi Bears, while Yesway Baked Goods features Powdered Donut Holes, Blueberry Muffins and fried pies.
Tortilla chips are dominating c-store salty snacks. The category garnered more than $1 billion in sales—good for a 10.8% increase compared to 2017—making up a fifth of the entire salty snack segment, according to data from Chicago-based research firm IRI. Cheese snacks were the only snack segment to come close to tortilla chips in terms of growth, yet the category still fell behind by more than 3%.
Popular tortilla chip brands this year included Doritos’ Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy (up 875% from 2017), Paqui (up 163%), Barcel Takis (up 63%), El Sabroso Guacachips (up 23%) and El Sabroso Salsitas (up 20%). Highlighting these brands, as well as other tortilla chip labels, may spark the snacking category altogether.
Between January and October 2017, cannabidiol, or CBD, candies accounted for nearly 11% of the total candy market in Colorado, Washington and Oregon, according to Boulder, Colo.-based research firm BDS Analytics. Moreover, CBD candy grew by nearly 170% in 2017, compared to 51% for candy overall.
CBD operators are channeling consumers’ interests in cannabis by infusing various candies with CBD, which doesn't contain the psychoactive element tetrahydrocannabino (THC). CBD products entering the c-store market include Hemptail, a flavored malt beverage made with Hemp; Instant CBD strips; and CBD Lollipops.
The U.S. chocolate market is expected to reach about $23 billion in total retail sales by the end of 2018, according to research firm Packaged Facts, Rockville, Md., and it doesn't appear to be slowing down. This is partially due to the emergence of premium chocolate—products that sway from traditional chocolate bars, the research firm said.
New premium chocolate products have emerged in c-stores this year, such as Mars Wrigley Confectionery's new line of chocolate-covered nuts for its Dove brand or the Hershey Co.’s Dipped Pretzels line, which debuted at the recent 2018 NACS Show. More recently, Mars Wrigley rebranded its American Heritage Chocolate (AHC) products, such as a Gourmet Hot Cocoa, Finely Grated Chocolate, Tablet Bars and Tasting Squares.
Nonchocolate candies such as sour worms, jelly beans and gummy bears are surging. Packaged Facts foresees total retail dollar sales of the sector hitting $11 billion by the end of the year, with sales having increased 3% from 2013 to 2018.
Specifically, sour candies have erupted in the nonchocolate category this year. Products such as Mike and Ike Mega Sour Mix, Trolli Sour Brite All Star Mix and Sour Punch Wild Bites all debut at the 2018 NACS show, ready to arrive in c-stores in 2019. These lip-puckering treats may be help spark continued growth in the candy segment for c-store operators next year.
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