KANSAS CITY — Better-for-you formulations are gaining more space in retail snack aisles as food manufacturers continue to tap into snacking trends.
Clean label snack company Harvest Snaps launched its newest offering and its first foray into children’s snacks with the introduction of Harvest Snaps Kids Crispy Fruit Snacks. Available in apple, banana, grape and strawberry flavors, the formulation is free from added sugars and artificial flavors and preservatives.
“By introducing this kid-centered brand extension and launching these single-ingredient, crispy fruit snacks, we aim to appeal to our current customers, while attracting new, health-conscious families to our products,” said Maiko Shimano, director of marketing at Calbee.
Also looking at better-for-you formulations within the children’s foods category is sports and active nutrition company Ready. The Kids Whole Grain Protein Bars feature 6 grams of protein, 8 grams of whole grains and 20% less sugar than comparable whole grain snack bars, according to the company.
Taking its Little Bites brand in a new direction is Entenmann’s. Bimbo Bakeries USA, a subsidiary of Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV, introduced lower-sugar Little Bites to Entenmann’s brand. The new variety comes in two varieties — apple cinnamon and chocolate — and contains less sugar compared to other options on the market, according to the company.
“We’re thrilled to introduce the new lower sugar mini muffins to our product line, which have been designed to provide families with the delicious taste they know and love, with less sugar,” said Lia Arakelian, brand manager for Little Bites. “We recognize the need for more better-for-you snacking options for children and adults, and we’re proud to be introducing these new lower-sugar offerings.”
