The classic pretzel, likely dating back to the Middle Ages, draws its simple inspiration from three basic ingredients: water, flour and salt. Pennsylvania Dutch communities in the U.S. eventually popularized the pretzel and brought to life the hard, crunchy, shelf-stable snack we know today.
While today’s pretzel market—frozen soft pretzels and hard shelf-stable types—continues those time-honored traditions, new levels of innovation currently seek to capture more market share via new product formats and flavor profiles that range from salty to savory and sweet.