For many Americans, the new year comes with the annual resolution to improve their health by exercising daily and eating better, including better-for-you snacks. Many people quickly discover that the second course of action is easier—and more fun—than the first, thanks to all the nutritious new products appearing in grocers’ snack aisles. Even enduring favorites like popcorn are sporting healthier ingredients, single-serve sizes and new flavors.
This past holiday season, for instance, some ready-to-eat (RTE) popcorn manufacturers launched popcorn flavors inspired by the tastes of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Gaslamp Popcorn, San Diego, added Peppermint Candy to existing holiday flavors Apple Crumble Pie, Pumpkin Spice Pie and Holiday Cookie, all introduced in 2014. “Grocery chains and consumers let us know that Apple Crumble Pie and Pumpkin Spice Pie are great for before and during Thanksgiving, so they’re kind of the fall flavors,” says Martin Neumann, vice president of sales and marketing, Gaslamp Popcorn. “The Peppermint Candy and Holiday Cookie fall into the holiday season. They’ve all taken off and done really wonderful.”