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As well as innovating in the snacks category, Mondelēz International is also seeking startups that could appeal to its corporate venture unit, SnackFutures Ventures. Recent investments include acquisitions of snack bar brand Clif Bar & Company. Richie Gray, global head of SnackFutures Ventures, says Mondelēz chooses opportunities that are potentially ‘really disruptive’ to the snacks category as it tries to meet its ambition of being the “biggest snacking company in the world.” To Mondelēz, however, snacks include confectionery, chocolate biscuits, bars, cakes and pastries. Gray says the company is mindful of the health and nutrition aspects of snacks, underscored by its own State of Snacking report findings, but insists there’s “still a role for indulgence”, or “permissible indulgence… an indulgent moment, but delivered in healthier way, with less sugar and less fat.” When looking at a snack’s fat, sugar and salt content, it uses the nutrient profile model and Nutri-Score as
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"Mondelēz is hungry for snacks innovation: What’s its VC arm looking for?", FoodNavigator Europe , May 06, 2024
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| Companies, Organizations |
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Proper Crisps in New Zealand is reintroducing its kūmara crisps around six months after Cyclone Gabrielle decimated kūmara crops in the country, forcing it to switch temporarily to sweet potatoes grown in Australia. The snack brand has resumed its supply agreement with Kaipara Kūmara, which saw 99 percent of it crops wiped out but says its 2024 harvest “is looking good.” As well as kūmara, the crisps contain high oleic sunflower oil and sea salt, but “no nasties”.
"Proper Crisps Bring Back Kūmara Crisps", Supermarket News, May 03, 2024
A recent $20 million Series A funding round will provide the platform for Wilde Brands’ ambitions for growth in the salty snacks category. CEO and founder Jason Wright says the brand stands out as a “positive presence” in the category rather than offering the “absence of negatives” such as grain free or gluten-free. Its core line of chicken-based chips will remain, but new innovations might include tortilla chips or pretzels, but it won’t be bars or cookies. Wilde is moving beyond the natural channel to sports nutrition and is also looking at club.
"Wilde Brands seeks to deliver positive benefits to salty snacks", Food Business News, April 30, 2024
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| Controversies & Disputes |
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A report from Bite Back, an activist youth group, has highlighted the role large food businesses are taking in manipulating children through packaging, particularly targeting unhealthy foods. The report, presented to the House of Lords Food, Diet, and Obesity Committee, reveals alarming statistics such as 78 percent of foods with child-appealing packaging are unhealthy. 67 percent of character-branded products and 78 percent of products with unusual shapes or flavors are unhealthy. Bite Back calls for a re-evaluation of marketing tactics, emphasizing the moral obligation of businesses to prioritize children's health. Mondelēz International is mentioned as one of the worst offenders, with all 58 of its child-appealing products deemed unhealthy. On the positive side, just one child-targeted product from Kraft Heinz and none from Danone met the criteria for being unhealthy.
"REPORT: HOUSE OF LORDS INQUIRY -:Fuel Us, Don’t Fool Us: Are food giants rigging the system against child health?", Bite Back 2030, May 01, 2024
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| Deals, M&A, JVs, Licensing |
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Better-for-you snack company Our Home acquired Sonoma Creamery, extending Our Home into cheese snacks. Founded over 90 years ago, California-based Sonoma Creamery began making crispy snacks ten years ago, by baking cheese using rBST-free milk. The range now includes gluten-free certified and high-protein products like Cheese Crisps and Cheese O's.
"Our Home Accelerates Growth with Strategic Acquisition of Sonoma Creamery", PRNewswire, May 03, 2024
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| Products & Brands |
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Utz® and Mike’s Hot Honey® have collaborated to develop Utz Mike’s Hot Honey EXTRA HOT potato chips. They are a limited-time line, available until September, and ramp up the heat of the original Utz Mike’s Hot Honey chips launched last year. The sweet and spicy, or “swicy”, potato chips are gluten-free, kosher-certified and sold in on-the-go 2.625-ounce packs or 7.75-ounce take-home pack. Original Utz Mike’s Hot Honey potato chips became a permanent flavor in August 2023. In March this year, Utz introduced Utz Mixed Mini pretzels in Mike’s Hot Honey flavor.
"Utz Turns up the Heat With New Mike’s Hot Honey Extra Hot Potato Chips", Business Wire, May 06, 2024
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| Trends |
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A report from the Business Research Company concludes that consumer preferences will direct the path of the food ingredients market through 2028 as they seek healthier options. Ingredients such as omega-3s, beta-carotene, antioxidants, probiotics and alternative proteins and sweeteners, are seen increasingly frequently in foods. It highlighted MycoTechnology, which last year developed a natural sweetener in honey truffles, and Kerry’s Tastesense Salt, which contains no sodium and can be used in snacks.
"Consumers seeking better-for-you options to drive the food ingredients market: report", Food Dive, May 02, 2024
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