The company has launched more than 20 new products so far this year.
It looks like a Dorito, but with fewer carbohydrates and more protein.
Hilo Life, a keto-friendly snack brand launched recently by PepsiCo, in March introduced tortilla-style chips formulated with defatted almond flour. Flavors include nacho cheese, ranch and spicy salsa. A serving contains 3 grams of net carbohydrates, 9 grams of protein and no added sugar. (A serving of Cool Ranch Doritos, by comparison, has 18 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of protein. It is not a significant source of added sugars).
“We connected directly with consumers who follow a keto lifestyle to learn what they were missing, and a top request was a carb-conscious chip that tastes like the snacks they used to love,” said Amanda Cheung, brand director for Hilo Life. “We also identified almond flour as a very popular ingredient and used that insight to develop something truly unique that delivers on protein content and 3 grams net carbs. We recognized a delicious opportunity to innovate and bring our consumers a keto-friendly snack with the flavors and textures they crave.”
Hilo Life is part of PepsiCo’s Hive portfolio, a business unit established several years ago to create and grow innovative and differentiated brands, including Stubborn Soda, Maker Oats and Health Warrior.
In late 2019, Hilo Life quietly debuted with the online-only introduction of low-carbohydrate cheese and nut snack mixes. Earlier this year, the products began appearing on retail shelves nationwide at Sprouts Farmers Market and Woodman’s Markets stores and select Hy-Vee stores.
The brand was developed to tap into “noshtalgia,” said Ms. Cheung, describing a feeling consumers experience when adopting a keto lifestyle.
“It's about missing the little things when you're eating low-carb, from the crinkle of opening a chip bag to the feel of a satisfying crunch and even licking the cheese dust off your fingers,” she said.
Hilo Life products are available on Amazon.com and hilolife.com.
PepsiCo has big plans for its Evolve brand of active nutrition products, the company announced in March. The brand was part of the company’s acquisition of CytoSport in April 2019 from Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn.
The initial relaunch will feature reformulated ready-to-drink (RTD) plant-based shakes. Reformulated powders are scheduled for later in the year, and reformulated bars are expected as early as 2022. The brand is relaunching in the wake of several trends, including consumers the company defines as “active wellness-seekers” looking for a way to make incrementally healthier choices that are more sustainable and the continued rise in outdoor activity over the past year.
“We reformulated Evolve to deliver on protein and micronutrients, while not compromising on taste, as we know that our consumer is interested in making incrementally healthier choices that align with their overall lifestyle,” said Laura Gardner, senior director of the company’s active fitness portfolio. “Evolve contains a good source of calcium, iron, vitamin B12 and zinc, which are an important part of any diet, but are particularly important for those whose diets are light in, or lack, meat, eggs and dairy.”
Ms. Gardner defines Evolve’s target audience of active wellness seekers as consumers who derive energy from staying active and getting outdoors.
“These consumers are seeking products with ingredients that help maintain their health and wellness and are increasingly interested in products that have a lower impact on the environment,” she said. “Our vision with Evolve is to make delicious plant-based protein accessible to all, making it even easier to integrate into wellness seeker’s everyday active lifestyles.”
The RTD shakes come in three flavors: double chocolate, vanilla bean and berry medley. All three have 20 grams of plant protein and 10 grams of plant fiber, but the berry medley has the added attribute of immune support that is derived from the inclusion of vitamin C and zinc in the formulation. The products are packaged in 11.16-oz bottles and have a suggested retail price of $2.99. Another RTD shake format is available in 11-oz cartons, comes in a fourth flavor, cafe mocha, and has a suggested retail price of $8.99 for a four-pack.
The plant-protein powder will come in two varieties, double chocolate and vanilla bean, and a 16-oz package retails for $24.99. The bars will be available in three flavors — almond cherry, trail mix and peanut butter — have 10 grams of plant protein and a suggested retail price of $2.49. All the products are Non-GMO Project verified.
“Evolve uniquely fits within our sports and fitness-focused brands as a plant-based pea protein line that includes ready-to-drink protein shakes, powders and bars,” Ms. Gardner said. “It is positioned alongside Gatorade, Propel enhanced water and Muscle Milk, all of which address different active occasions. Evolve’s consumer, the ‘active wellness seekers’ derive energy from staying active and getting outdoors.”
Evolve was introduced in 2013 by CytoSport, Inc. as a protein shake for women interested in sports nutrition products. PepsiCo’s relaunch highlights how the market for sports nutrition products has changed and broadened.
“Evolve is breaking through due to a number of factors, including our unique positioning that connects the brand to the outdoors,” Ms. Gardner said. “Americans have a renewed appreciation for spending time outside and Evolve meets that mindset. Our new visual identity and redesigned bottle invite consumers to experience the feeling of the outdoors. Our ongoing support of the National Park Foundation, and eye on sustainability efforts, cement our positioning as a brand that believes in the simplicity of the outdoors and what it provides us.
“The ingredients inside the bottle set us apart as well. Our products are formulated to deliver on protein and micronutrients and include functional ingredients, while also not compromising on taste, which is something our competitors may not be able to claim.”
In March, Brisk brought a new product to market for the first time in more than five years: Brisk Zero Sugar Lemon Iced Tea.
The beverage boasts the same flavor of Brisk’s original lemon-flavored iced tea but with no sugar, according to the company. Each 1-liter bottle contains 10 calories and 30 mg of caffeine. The original variety contains 190 calories, 23 mg of caffeine and 49 grams of sugar per 1-liter bottle.
Brisk is a tea and juice brand managed by the Pepsi Lipton Partnership, which PepsiCo and Unilever PLC started in 1991.
To support the launch, Brisk worked with sneaker artist Dan Gamache to create custom, hand-painted sneakers inspired by the new beverage. The brand also released video content spotlighting Mr. Gamache and four up-and-coming artists: multimedia artist duo Riiisa Boogie and Rezones, photographer Mark Elzey, and graffiti artist Epic Uno.
“At Brisk, we celebrate creative individuality and work to amplify voices of emerging talent, whether through our bottle labels — each one created by a different artist — or inventive campaigns aimed at supporting up-and-coming creators,” said Katrina McDonald, senior marketing director of the Pepsi Lipton Partnership. “Our new Brisk Zero Sugar Lemon Iced Tea product and programming shows that greatness can always be achieved, even when starting from zero. We hope it inspires artists to embrace the possibilities that come with starting fresh and seeing where their creativity takes them.”
Brisk Zero Sugar Lemon Iced Tea is available nationwide in 1-liter bottles and in 12-packs of 12-oz cans in select markets.
Apr
2024
May
More product innovation introduced at the show, including new plant-based offerings.
New introductions debut in the pantry aisles and refrigerated sections.