2022 Snack & Bakery Outlook: Supply-chain perspectives

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:00:00 -0500

SF&WB connected with several industry suppliers to gain their current market perspectives for the coming year.

State of the Industry 2021: Pretzels continue to crunch

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0400

The hard pretzel category grew steadily in the past year as consumers stuck at home continued to snack, although fortunes varied significantly from brand to brand. During the past year, consumer focus on cleaner labels and healthier ingredients has ramped up, while manufacturers have continued to experiment with a wider variety of flavors. Pretzel product and ingredient makers predict those trends will continue.

The Best New Snack & Bakery Products of 2019

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 12:26:00 -0500

In 2015, we launched the "Best New Snack & Bakery Products" of the year contest to honor outstanding new snack and bakery products entering the industry, with the online SF&WB audience voting for their favorites.

TH Foods brings creative snacking options to specialized diets - and mainstream Americans

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0400

Serendipity is a wonderful phenomenon. Flash back to 2004. The gluten-free diet trend was just hitting the U.S. market with sudden force. Over the next several years, gluten-free would grow at an annual rate approaching 30 percent, forever leaving its imprint on the food industry.

Strategies for food production infrastructure maintenance

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0400

Several aspects of snack and bakery production facilities require regular maintenance in order to preserve the safety of works, and the final product.

Fueling private label snack and bakery sales through innovation

mkvidahl@gmail.com (Melissa Kvidahl Reilly) — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0400

By all accounts, the private label sectors of the snack and bakery markets are doing quite well. Overall, across all food and beverage categories, store brands accounted for about half of all sales growth recorded in major U.S. retail channels

Oven, proofer customers seek connectivity, capacity, energy efficiency

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0400

When it comes to equipment like ovens and proofers, internet connectivity, wider and larger machines, artisanal production methods, shorter bake times, reversible belts, energy efficiency and improved cleaning and sanitation are all top considerations in today’s market.

Improving sustainability and performance in snack and bakery packaging materials

pinballelite@comcast.net (Neal Lorenzi) — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0400

Sustainability has become a major driver in the development and application of new packaging materials used in the bakery and snack market along with advances that extend shelf life.

Exploring next-generation desserts

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0400

As noted in our June 2019 SF&WB "State of the Industry: Bakery" coverage, desserts categories at retail are seeing mixed results. One bright spot was refrigerated cheesecakes, a category that grew by 4.5 percent in dollar sales to $320.5 million for the 52 weeks ending March 24, 2019, per IRI, Chicago.

Innovations in fleet management

pinballelite@comcast.net (Neal Lorenzi) — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0400

New routing and scheduling software integrated with telematics systems provides fleet managers with the tools they need to improve the delivery process.

Consumers seek simple, clean-label, good-for-you grains

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 10:38:00 -0400

Grains are a fundamental ingredient for snack and bakery products. With consumers seeking better-for-you snacking options, grains, which fit squarely into plant-based trends, provide a great combination of flavor, texture and nutrition.

2019 Bakery of the Year: St Pierre Groupe

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0400

Every so often, the primary aspects of a life fall together so perfectly that it appears that the proverbial fates are smiling upon destiny.

Efficient water management for snack and bakery facilities

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0400

Effective and forward-thinking approaches toward water management can help snack and bakery processors save money, produce more efficiently and draw on less energy, resulting in reduced environmental impact.

Vote now for the Best Healthy School Snacks of 2019

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 09:48:00 -0400

Review the healthy snack and bakery products nominated and vote today for your selection as the top healthy school snack of the bunch. Stay tuned for the results of this contest, which will be released near the end of September, along with an exclusive look at the winning product.

Formulation strategies for developing better-for-you snacks and baked goods

mkvidahl@gmail.com (Melissa Kvidahl Reilly) — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0400

There's a reason why better-for-you is trending and "perfect-for-you" isn't. According to the August 2018 "U.S. Better for You Eating Trends" market report from Mintel, just 7 percent of consumers say they're strict with themselves to make sure their diet is as healthy as possible, and just three in 10 say they maintain a healthy diet most of the time.

Updated dough mixers add capabilities to improve snack and bakery production

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0400

Snack and bakery manufacturers have a range of parameters in mind when they're in the market for new or improved dough mixers.

Robotics makes inroads to snack and bakery packaging operations

pinballelite@comcast.net (Neal Lorenzi) — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0400

New robotics technology is helping to improve primary and secondary packaging applications in snack food and wholesale bakery operations. Areas of innovation include end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), robot learning, sanitation and space optimization.

Consumers seek adventuresome flavors and better-for-you options in salty snacks

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0400

Salty snacks are a staple of any American gathering; the big game is on TV, so make sure there is plenty of chips, tortilla chips and salsa to go around.

Warehouse software builds a connected environment

pinballelite@comcast.net (Neal Lorenzi) — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0400

Software is a key component of warehouse management systems (WMS) that create today's connected warehouse. It enables centralized management of tasks such as tracking inventory levels and stock locations, order fulfillment, and shipping and receiving.

Healthy snacking and plant-based foods fuel growth of nuts, seeds and inclusions

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 10:27:00 -0400

Nuts and seeds are growing in popularity due to an increase in healthy snacking and consumer interest in plant-based products. According to Innova Market Insights, 7 in 10 U.S. consumers sought healthier snacking options in 2018.

State of the Industry 2019: Tortilla chips evolve to fit better-for-you needs

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 08:00:00 -0400

Tortilla chips are a party staple. And while traditional versions still soundly resonate with the masses, chip manufacturers have been experimenting with new and interesting flavors, as well as better-for-you versions like organic options and chips based on vegetables or legumes.

State of the Industry 2019: Snack mix and nut inspirations for category growth

mkvidahl@gmail.com (Melissa Kvidahl Reilly) — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 08:00:00 -0400

According to the "Top 10 Trend Predictions for 2019" from SPINS, Chicago, internationally inspired innovation in nuts and seeds is gaining ground. SPINS says that nuts and seeds are watch-worthy because they're not only protein-rich and easy to eat, but they deliver antioxidants and long-lasting energy.

State of the Industry 2019: Puffed and extruded snacks find growth through product diversity

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 08:00:00 -0400

Puffed and extruded snacks cover a lot of ground: from cheese snacks to multigrain chips and pork rinds, they dominate the snack aisle. And they span a wide range of snacking occasions, from fun and indulgent to mindfully better-for-you.

State of the Industry 2019: Pretzels offer more varieties to drive sales

pinballelite@comcast.net (Neal Lorenzi) — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 10:36:00 -0400

Many snack producers are adding interesting flavors and ingredients to their pretzels. Recent product introductions include pretzel nuggets filled with peanut butter and dark chocolate, as well as more gluten-free options.

State of the Industry 2019: Popcorn delivers on healthy and indulgent options

edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 09:00:00 -0400

Ready-to-eat (RTE) popcorn continues to find a willing audience at both ends of the dietary spectrum, with both health-forward and indulgent options seeing growth.

State of the Industry 2019: Frozen snacks and appetizers grow through diversity

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 09:55:00 -0400

The frozen snacks and appetizers category has seen steady growth over the past few years thanks to the combined avenues of convenience and culinary diversity manufacturers are bringing to market. These products nicely accent the category, finding a home alongside longtime staples that likewise continue to see growth.

State of the Industry 2019: Innovating to drive cracker category growth

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 09:46:00 -0400

Crackers maintain far-reaching appeal. But while the category benefits from increased consumer interest in snacking, crackers have experienced intensified competition from other foods within salty snacks and beyond.

State of the Industry 2019: Chips add a healthy level of spice

mkvidahl@gmail.com (Melissa Kvidahl Reilly) — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 09:34:00 -0400

Potato chips are a staple snack and meal accompaniment, a natural pairing with burgers and hot dogs on the grill, or with a sandwich at lunch. And sales are on the rise.

State of the Industry 2019: Defining the future of snacking

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 13:12:00 -0400

Nearly everyone in the United States has a snack at least once a day, and the frequency of snacking is on the rise. Snacking, for an increasing percentage of the population, is a lifestyle, with multiple eating occasions replacing mealtimes.

State of the Industry 2019: Tortillas offer health attributes and big flavor

mkvidahl@gmail.com (Melissa Kvidahl Reilly) — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 08:00:00 -0400

No longer relegated to taco night, tortillas are playing a major role in Americans' meal plans, both at home and when dining out.

Featured Stories