Baking & Snack - September 2015 - 162

NEW PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

STALKS
Mediterranean Snacks aims for busy,
health-minded snackers with its new bean-based product.

Protein-packed BeanStalks When the leaders of Mediterranean Snacks, Boonton,
are gluten-free and non-GMO, NJ, decided to develop a new product, it wasn't hard for
making them marketable to the them to find inspiration in four big consumer trends.
health-conscious snacker.
Consumers are snacking more, looking for less gluMediterranean Snacks
ten, steering clear of GMOs and seeking a protein punch.
Mediterranean Snacks took that information and created BeanStalks, a bean-based, crunchy snack that boasts
healthy specs.
"The core message on this new product is that
BeanStalks are a delicious gluten-free and non-GMO
snack with giant crunch, made from nutritious beans,"
said Lonnie Williard, vice-president of marketing for
Mediterranean Snacks.
With snacking on the rise, especially among busy
consumers looking for a quick bite that minimizes guilt,
BeanStalks are primarily marketed toward millennials and moms. "Basically 'starving snackers' with high
snacking frequency," Ms. Williard said. "The secondary
target is 'female healthy snackers,' who prefer buying
natural foods and have a high commitment to health, especially women searching to add variety to their snacking choices for themselves and their family."
The base ingredients for BeanStalks are cannellini
beans, green peas and pinto beans. Each serving of 24
stalks contains 4 g protein and 100 Cal.
"Americans are seeking out items with protein," Ms.
Williard said. "In addition, sales of gluten-free and
GMO-free snacks have increased significantly the past
few years. By making the main ingredient beans, we de-

162 Baking & Snack September 2015 / www.bakingandsnack.com

livered a crunchy, salty chip that met those objectives."
And while the better-for-you aspects of BeanStalks
are paramount, Ms. Williard also said the company
wanted to make a snack with wide appeal. That meant
developing a trio of tried-and-true flavors - Sea Salt,
BBQ and Cheddar - and making sure the bean snacks
delivered a substantial crunch.
"In snacking, it's all about the crunch, so we worked
very closely with our suppliers to innovate and develop
the right crunch," Ms. Williard said. "We specifically
launched with mainstream flavors to appeal to a broad
audience, so folks can confidently set them out at a party
or playdate for a salty, crunchy, healthier snack."
Mediterranean Snacks soft-launched the product at
Natural Products Expo West in March to gauge customer interest and buyer response. After some slight refinement, the full launch occurred at both Sweets & Snacks
Expo in May and Fancy Food Show East in June.
"We have been shipping to trade customers and distributors, and the interest has been overwhelmingly positive,"
Ms. Williard said. "Buyers are quickly authorizing the item
for shelf re-sets. It is off to a strong start out of the gate."
BeanStalks are packaged in 3.5-oz pouches that retail
between $2.99 and $3.49 each. Mediterranean Snacks is
also launching single-serve 1-oz bags of each flavor for
grab-and-go availability and portion control. The snacks
are available on Amazon and appeared in retailers across
the country in late summer.
- Ryan Atkinson

http://www.bakingandsnack.com

Baking & Snack - September 2015

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