Baking & Snack - April 2020 - 50

TORTILLAS

TORTILLA CHIPS follow overall category trends
The global tortilla chip market will have a compound annual
growth rate of 4.41% from 2019 to 2025, according to Million
Insights. And in the United States, IRI research shows sales
of tortilla chips increased by approximately 3.1% during the
52 weeks ended June 16, 2019. Driving this product forward
are some of the same trends that are giving growth to the
tortilla category: healthier formulations, alternative base
ingredients, meal incorporation versatility and new flavors.
Quest Nutrition, Los Angeles, turned the entire taco into
a snack with Loaded Taco Tortilla Style Protein Chips. While
they provide a crunchy taco shell flavor, they also incorporate the tastes of taco toppings.
"Americans consume more than 4.5 billion tacos every
year, so in our quest to offer better-for-you versions of the
most craveable foods, we knew we had to make a tacoflavored chip that delivered on taste with no nutritional
compromise," said Suzanne Ginestro, chief marketing officer of Quest Nutrition.
Last year, chickpea snack producer Hippeas, New York,
added tortilla chips to its portfolio. Made with chickpea
flour, corn flour, sunflower oil, pea fiber and sea salt, the
chips come in Straight Up Sea Salt, Rockin' Ranch and
Jalapeño Vegan Cheddar assortments.
"They're made with the nutritional profiles our consumers
demand: organic, gluten-free, plant-based, and they taste
great," noted Joe Serventi, chief executive officer, Hippeas.
Taco Bell, Irvine, Calif., is known for its taco shells and
wraps, but in 2018, it moved into the chip category with
Fire, Mild and Classic flavors, which are vegetarian, kosher
and gluten-free.
"We've seen our fans incorporate chips into entrees,
sprinkled on salads and, of course, enjoyed as the best
grab-and-go snack," said Jennifer Arnoldt, senior director of
retail engagement and experience, Taco Bell. "We're excited
to show our fans that we're constantly innovating when it
comes to giving them access to the Taco Bell flavors they
know and love in unexpected new ways."

ter menu. The flour tortilla is filled with scrambled
eggs, chorizo, diced potatoes, pico de gallo, cilantro and chipotle mayo.
St. Louis-based Panera Bread refreshed its
breakfast menu to include three new whole grain
breakfast wraps. The combinations include maple-glazed bacon with scrambled eggs and gouda
cheese; chipotle chicken with scrambled egg, avocado and peppadew peppers; and the vegetarian
Mediterranean with scrambled egg white, roasted
tomatoes, spinach and feta cheese.
"Our focus on breakfast isn't just about a single
item or category; it's about looking at the market
and bridging a gap for guests," said Blaine Hurst,
chief executive officer of Panera. "People are compromising between convenience and quality in the
morning, and we know that's a problem Panera
can help solve."
Restaurants aren't the only outlets viewing tortillas as a profitable opportunity. According to
TIA data, dollar purchases in 2018 by marketplace
type were as follows: 48% retail, 24% restaurant,
21% schools and government institutions, and 7%
other. From supermarkets to c-stores to specialty
stores, the recent product releases featuring tortillas are increasing.
January brought two more filled tortilla products to the frozen retail aisle: Buffalo-Style
Chicken and Cauliflower & Broccoli Cheddar
pockets from Mikey's, Bethlehem, Pa. They join
the company's snack-like Pepperoni Pizza and
Cheese pockets, and breakfast Egg & Cheese and
Egg, Ham & Cheese pockets. Michael Tierney,
founder and CEO of Mikey's, wanted to deliver a
frozen product that was free from the six of the
top allergens, better-for-you and convenient, and
the result included a tortilla as the carrier.
The demand for international cuisine includes
c-stores as well. A recent Foodservice IP study reported that 18% of consumers who visit a c-store in
the morning purchase a breakfast burrito. In 2018,
7-Eleven acquired Texas c-store chain Stripes, along
with its Laredo Taco Co. brand, which has been added to other 7-Eleven c-stores. Laredo Taco features
handmade tortillas, protein and salsa made in-house
daily as well as a salsa bar.

An alternative approach
Consumers aren't only attracted to a tortilla's filling; rather, the wrap must also speak for itself.
Above: Factors driving increased tortilla chip sales included healthier
ingredients and snack pairings with dips.
©brent Hofacker - stock.adobe.com

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