Company: KIND Snacks

Website: www.kindsnacks.com

Introduced: October 2020

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail Price: $1.39-$1.69

Product Snapshot: In a move consistent with a history of disrupting categories, KIND Healthy Snacks (KIND) has elevated the energy bar category with the release of KIND Energy: a bar that provides sustained energy from whole grains. The product line's first ingredient, oats, contributes complex carbohydrates—the preferred nutrient for sustained energy. Each bar also contains 35 percent less sugar than the top-selling energy bar. KIND Energy is set to reinvent a category that frequently contains higher amounts of sugars along with protein powders or artificial sweeteners.

"Since day one, KIND has been committed to balancing health and taste and adhering to our KIND Promise to craft snacks with a nutritionally dense first ingredient," says Daniel Lubetzky, founder & executive chairman of KIND. "KIND Energy honors this promise and is consistent with how we've always entered categories—with an eye toward disruption and a goal of elevating people's overall experience."

With the introduction of KIND Energy, KIND is embarking on a mission to educate people on the proper time to consume energy bars—as opposed to snack bars that tide you over between meals. According to third party study, 75% of respondents eat the top-selling energy bar before activities like relaxing at home, sitting at their desk, or running errands.1 Given that energy bars are typically higher in calories, larger in size, or higher in carbohydrates, they should be eaten before physical activity.

"Energy bars are typically higher in calories, carbohydrates and sugar and should not be eaten before being sedentary as your body won't be challenged to metabolize the energy efficiently," says Stephanie Csaszar, MS, RD and nutrition expert at KIND. "While KIND Energy has 35 percent less sugar than the top-selling energy bar, it should still be eaten before physical activity for this reason. An ideal snack for when you're less active is our KIND Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt bar which leads with heart-healthy almonds and contains only 5 grams of sugar."

As part of this launch, KIND is introducing the KIND Energy Pledge: a commitment to eat energy bars only before physical activity. When individuals sign the pledge, they will be asked to submit a photo or a receipt of an energy bar purchase (either KIND Energy or any other energy bar on the market). The first 1,000 individuals to sign the pledge will receive $100 to use towards a future fitness-related expense.

The KIND Energy Pledge is supported by more than a dozen nutrition and fitness experts including renowned sports dietitians, personal trainers, exercise physiologists and fitness group instructors.  "Energy bars should not be treated as regular snacks because of their distinct nutritional profile," says Leslie Bonci, MPH, RDN, CSSD, LDN, Kansas City Chiefs dietitian and owner of Active Eating Advice, Inc. "The higher carbohydrate content is meant to help your body utilize the energy most efficiently to optimize performance, not to sit around."

KIND Energy delivers 100 percent whole grains from oats, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth and millet and 10 grams of protein. It's available at www.kindsnacks.com and retailers nationwide, with a suggested retail price of $1.39-$1.69 per bar.