CLEVELAND — Probiotics maker Ganeden has partnered with Skokie, Ill.-based Georgia Nut, one of the largest contract manufacturers of confections and snacks in North America, to develop healthy snacks.

“We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Georgia Nut,” said Joe Bradley, sales director of Ganeden. “With a shared commitment to innovative product development, Georgia Nut and Ganeden will be working together by leveraging the processing and packaging capability of Georgia Nut, and the significant probiotic expertise of Ganeden, to create fresh, on-trend probiotic product concepts, by means of novel delivery systems.”

In the United States, snack food sales increased by nearly 30% from 2007-12, according to Mintel. A recently released report from Nielsen states globally consumers spent $374 billion annually on snack foods between 2013 and 2014, a year-over-year increase of 2%.

“Georgia Nut is truly excited to unite with such a preeminent player in the probiotic industry,” said Kurt Thorsen, vice-president of sales and marketing at Georgia Nut. “We see this alignment as a real value to the industry and our mutual customer base as we collaborate to create innovative, delicious and functional snacks and confections.”