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Mars Snacking identifies next gen student food innovators

IFTSA has announced finalists for its 36th annual product development competition.

Mars Snacking identifies the next gen of student food innovators — Courtesy of IFT

Last year's IFTSA and Mars Product Development Competition finalists.

The Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA), a student-governed community of members of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), announced the finalists for the 36^th Annual IFTSA and Mars Product Development Competition. As part of the product development competition sponsored by Mars Wrigley (now Mars Snacking), each participating school’s team develops a new food idea, including snack, bakery, and candy items, and carries the concept through marketing and product, much like a commercial product development team.

At the finals being held at IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo July 12-15 in Chicago, each team will present their product through an oral presentation and a tasting session by an expert panel of judges, who will evaluate the product on factors including shelf life, profitability, and flavor.

The six finalists will compete for a grand prize of $3,000 with the winning team also receiving a mentorship opportunity with Mars Snacking.

Last year’s winner was Cornell University for NoriNom, a shelf-stable premium snack inspired by sushi flavors in a crunchy, bite-sized format. In 2024, Chapman University won for SOL – Spice of Life, a vanilla chai-flavored, shelf-stable, ultra-high-temperature, dairy-based wellness beverage.

“For more than 35 years, the IFTSA and Mars Product Development Competition has empowered students to apply scientific knowledge and creativity toward building a more innovative and sustainable food system and allowed them to build the technical and professional skills needed to thrive in and contribute to the evolving food industry,” says Christina Ginardi, IFT director of academic engagement. “In addition, this unique competition allows student to strengthen the link between research, innovation, and real-world impact while also encouraging creativity, collaboration, and innovation throughout all stages of product development.”

Here are this year’s finalists:

Cornell University: GoKara

GoKara is a globally inspired, functional snack pack pairing upcycled okara crisps with a creamy, cultured soy dip.

April Huang (captain)
Sonia Su
Waritsara Khongkomolsakul
Anne Brooks
Estefany Arroyo Davila
Shijie Qin
Jocelyn Blachar
Nua Mayalarp

Louisiana State University: Cloud Dippers

Cloud Pockets are frozen, ready-to-steam dessert pockets with a soft glutinous rice shell and a warm, molten jaggery-based center, aiming to deliver a fresh-from-steam experience in minutes.

Aakankshya Dhakal (captain)
Dikshya Shilpakar
Sheetal Jha
Shubhi Mishra
Neelam Shrestha

McGill University: Mangoodle

Mangoodle is a reimaging of dessert in an unexpected format: instant ramen. Inspired by mango sticky rice, Mangoodle consists of a mango-coconut broth paired with naturally purple noodles and garnished with a variety of crunchy toppings.

Cole Arnold (captain)
Jacky Lau
Blanche Babin
Catherine Kowalczyk
Lorelai Vela Cardoso
Zachary Aubin
Samuel Uline
Cynthia Su

The Pennsylvania State University: ChiaFold

ChiaFold is a frozen handheld snack which balances the comfort of traditional “heat-and eat” snacks with the nutritional integrity of a clean-label, “better for you” treat that is a good source of fiber. Its flaky and crispy pastry shell contrasts with a gooey chia pudding center that provides a one-of-a-kind Pawpaw flavor.

Janine (Merkle) Ganshorn (captain)
Rory Campagna
Danielle Stroinski
Ashley Gruman
Gopi Yalavarthi
Isato Shabazz
Maria Wirfel
Ellie Chiou

University of Manitoba: Rooties

Rooties is a chocolate bar made using an upcycled product (barley malt rootlets). This product is targeted as a healthy and nutritious option for those looking to increase fiber and protein intake.

Sherwin Santiano
Santiago Rivera Alba
Kemashalini Kirusnaruban
Maria de los Angeles Garofalo Chuchuca
Zainab Husain

University of Wisconsin-Madison: FourCast Chews

FourCast Chews are a fun, nostalgic, sour gummy snack featuring four seasonally themed shapes and flavors: spring peach, summer pineapple, fall apple, and winter cranberry-spice, each with a complementary juice-filled center. Made with clean-label ingredients including natural colorings, tapioca fiber, and pea protein, they deliver nearly 5 g of fiber per serving in a vegan, Whole Foods-certified snack that blends childhood nostalgia with better-for-you nutrition.