Baking & Snack - April 2024 - 40

SNACKS
ing feedback with our agile product development
team, we are able to quickly address
trends and launch new products. "
Cara Figgins, president, Partners, a
Tasteful Choice company based in Des
Moines, Wash., suggested the new product
fog is lifting from the pandemic and supply
chain issues of the past few years.
" I think there was sort of a COVID hangover
that had lasted for a little while, " she exUtz
Brands added
excitement to the
pretzel category with its
award-winning Zapp's
line of sticks.
Utz Brands
Birthday Cake and Peanut Butter and Jam.
" Similarly, our cake pops come in nostalgic flavors
like Birthday Cake and Red Velvet, but in the singleserve
format that is easy to say 'yes' to, " Carreon said.
" Innovation is at the core of everything we do. Our
ears are constantly on the ground for emerging trends
in flavors and formats. We heard from our customers
and consumers that 'snacks on a stick' were exciting for
them, and launched our Mac Pops, chocolate dipped
macarons on sticks, which have been a source of growth
for Coco Bakery in the last six months. By constantly
engaging with our customers and consumers and sharplained.
" People have regained their enthusiasm for
bringing in new products. The buyers just needed more
time to regroup themselves. Now everyone is looking
for new items. What can they do to refresh? Are there
price points that can be competitive but with items that
bring consumers to their departments? We're seeing a
lot more enthusiasm. "
Partners is rolling out sourdough-style flatbreads for
in-store bakery/delis that come in Rosemary, Garlic
Herb and Sea Salt varieties with a clean ingredient label
that reinforces the homemade, back-to-basics focus on
the ingredients. Over the past few years, the company
has also expanded in the private label
and co-manufacturing arenas.
" We have a pretty diverse portfolio
of what we do, " Figgins said.
" Retailers are more open to looking
at new items. We seem to be getting
a lot of interest in not just the new
deli products, but also in our All
American line, which is a centerstore
snack item. "
Calbee America, Fairfield, Calif.,
is expanding the presence of its
Japanese legacy snacks and introducing
them to mainstream US
grocers. Maiko Shimano, senior
marketing manager, said those
products include JagaRico, tasty
and crunchy potato sticks made
with potatoes and vegetables that
come in Original and Hokkaido
Butter flavors. The company is also
moving its iconic Shrimp Chips,
which are wheat-puffed snacks
made with sushi-grade, wildcaught
shrimp, from the Asian and
international sections of stores to a
broader audience.
" We're
seeing a
trend toward
bold, unexpected flavor combinations, "
Shimano observed.
He added that Calbee recognized
40 Baking & Snack April 2024 / www.bakingbusiness.com
http://spartanchemical.comhow-to-buy http://www.bakingbusiness.com
Baking & Snack - April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Baking & Snack - April 2024
