Sweet and salty has always been a winning combination, and salty snacks featuring confectionery coatings have recently seen a strong level of popularity.
Caramel corn is a key product in this product area, along with chocolate-covered popcorn. According to data from IRI, Chicago, for the 52 weeks ending February 23, ready-to-eat popcorn and caramel corn grew 3.3 percent to $1.5 billion. Confectionery-focused bright spots in the data include Crunch ’n Munch, up 4.8 percent to $30.7 million. The Conagra Brands line recently expanded its offerings to include Cookies & Cream, Brownie Brittle Crunch, and Birthday Cake products. Also, Popcornopolis soared 33.3 percent to $14.9 million. The brand recently expanded distribution of its caramel corn to Sam’s Club locations.