Snack World - May 2012 - 31

continues that legacy and provides delicious options for the whole family.” Cheddar and Southwest Ranch are the newest additions in Kellogg’s Special K Cracker Chip lineup. Described as “light, crispy and perfectly seasoned,” the cracker chips contain 110 Cal per 27-chip serving, which also contains up to 3 g fat with 0.5 g saturated fat, 3 g fiber and 2 g protein. The chips retail in a 4-oz box, which contains about three and one half servings. Kellogg’s also rolled out Cheez-it Mozzarella crackers with creamy, 100% Mozzarella cheese. “These products reflect our commitment to invest in the future and our clear insight into the needs of consumers,” Davidson said earlier this year. This trend toward better-for-you snacks echoes throughout the industry. “Perceptions of snacks’ nutritional properties can have as much to do with what’s absent as with what’s present,” said John Rodwan, editorial director, BMC Information Services, a division of Beverage Marketing Corp., which produces an annual Snack Food in the US report. “Almost every snack food company — PepsiCo, Kraft, ConAgra, Campbell, Blue Diamond and on and on — pledged to reduce the sodium content of salty snacks and took steps toward that end.” Pita Bites from Sensible Portions, Boulder, CO, also got in on the act with more than $5.8 million in sales, a 65.8% increase, with units and volume each up 64.6%. The company calls itself “the next generation in healthy foods,” with its portion control packaging of all natural snacks, that include pita bites that contain no cholesterol or trans fat. Nine crackers provide

120 Cal, 30 of which come from fat. Flavors are Garlic and Chive, Sea Salt, and Black Olive Feta, available in 5-oz pouches and boxes and 2-oz boxes. Portion control is another ubiquitous trend throughout the snack food industry. “The proliferation of 100-Cal packs, to which virtually every major company has contributed, exemplifies the use of packaging for functional and marketing purposes,” Mr. Rowdan said. “By preparing single-serving units with low calorie content, snack makers appeal to consumers watching their waistlines or worried about their children’s caloric intake without having to develop wholly new products.” Innovation and new products are a big deal in crackers, too. The Kellogg Company introduced Cheez-It Pepper Jack baked snack crackers, bite-sized crackers made with 100% real cheese. Meanwhile, Snyder’s-Lance, Inc., Charlotte, NC, announced three varieties of Lance Cracker Creations, an allnatural, premium line of sandwich crackers. The company’s Granola Chocolate, Granola Peanut Butter and 5 Grain Peanut Butter Lance Cracker Creations offer whole grains and began shipping in April. “We can’t wait for people to try the new varieties of Cracker Creations, which received outstanding results and comments in customer taste tests,” said Alvaro Trinidad, senior brand manager. “The Granola varieties offer a delicious new twist on the sandwich cracker category, and 5 Grain Peanut Butter is a flavorful and filling snack.” — Bob Gatty

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May 2012

Snack World

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Snack World - May 2012

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