CHIP INDUSTRY NEWS (New)

Current Events!

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Read My Interview From
The Daily Gazette
from November 9th, 2022.

Click here!


Read My November From
518 Profiles Magazine


Click here!



Please watch all of my videos from
The Saratoga County History Center

Click Here Or The Photo To Visit The Page!


Saratoga County man
considered top
potato chip historian
Mark Mulholland WNYT
Updated: August 1, 2022 - 6:40 PM
Published: July 29, 2022 - 4:44 PM

Please click below to watch my latest interview!


Listen to my interview with
WGY Mornings with Doug Goudie
regarding the Saratoga County History Center exhibit.


My latest exhibit at
The Saratoga County History Center


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Potato chip exhibit to open Saturday

The exhibit is open to the public 1 to 5 p.m.
Thursday through Sunday.
For more information,
go to
https://brooksidemuseum.org.


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I have recently been featured in two
Times Union Articles
Please read them by clicking the links below!

Article 1 - Vanderbilt helped invent the chip in Saratoga?
Likely a salty myth


Article 2 - Toga Chip Guy makes a second showing on History Channel


Article from Saratoga Today
Featuring, your's truly, The Toga Chip Guy!

Click Here


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Watch The History Channel's
The Food That Built America,
"When The Chips Are Down",
season 2, episode 3,
where I am prominently featured.

Click Here!


Read my feature article in
"Shorelines"
The Saratoga Lake Association News Letter.

Click Here

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Listen to my recent interview on iHeart Radio.

Click Here


History Channel Podcast

After appearing in several episodes of
The History Channel's Series
"The Food That Built America",
I have now been prominently featured
in an associated podcast.

Please visit The ACast Site to listen!


My recent interview with Julia Dunn on CBS 6.

Click Here

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Article About Me In Saratoga Today Entitled
"Who: Alan Richer, The Toga Chip Guy"


April 2nd, It starts on Page 3.

Click here to read!


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The History Channel's
"The FoodThat Built America"
that aired on
National Potato Chip Day, March 14.
Featuring the history of Herman Lay
and then rival Fritos!

Click here to watch







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Inventor of Cheetos Launches New Cheesy Vegan Snack to Disrupt Entire Category

Inventor of Cheetos Frito-Lay’s Twisted Cheetos, Dr Gino Bortone, announces a new cheesy vegan snack through Eat Well Group portfolio holding Sapientia Technology LLC, focused on disrupting the entire snack food market, estimated to reach $736 billion by 2026.
Eat Well Group, a plant-based investment company, announced it will be launching Protein Twists – a high-protein, cheesy snack, into 300 Federated Co-Operatives toward the end of December, followed by an expansion to additional Co-Operatives, select retailers, and e-commerce in the first half of 2022.

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Alaska Chip Company’s barbecue potato chips rated among the best in the country

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Alaska is known for many things, the Iditarod, and the Northern Lights to name a few. But in the near future, the state may also be known for something a bit more savory: the home of the best barbecue potato chips.
The recognition comes from America’s Test Kitchen and was recently published on their
webpage. Writer and food critic Kevin Pang sought to find the country’s best barbecue chips made by small regional companies that most people had never heard of. He tested 30 brands out of hundreds of suggestions and found six clear winners. The Alaska Chip Company’s barbecue-flavored Grizzly Chip was one of them.
Alaska Chip Company Owner Ralph Carney said he didn’t know there was a contest until he got a call that he’d won. The award surprised him, but he said the quality of their products has always been high.
“We’ve been making our potato chip for 18 years, so I’ve known it’s been good,” he said.


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Potato chips that don’t get your fingers all powdery developed by Calbee and Tokyo Banana

A revolution in chip design.

Since the dawn of the potato chip, humanity has struggled to fully control it. Like the Sirens of Anthemoessa, they draw us in with their delicious flavors and crunchy textures, only to leave us ruined on the rocky shores of stained papers and
greasy game controllers. We have tried to overcome this using technology with cute names such as
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New Limited-Edition Pringles® Flavor Gives Wendy's® Spicy Chicken Sandwich Lovers A New Reason To Drive Thru The Snack Aisle


BATTLE CREEK, Mich., May 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Look out: there's a new spicy chicken player in town, and this one packs all of the crispy, spicy flavor into one bite. The masters of flavor at Pringles® are setting their sights on Wendy's® original Spicy Chicken Sandwich. The result? A snack that allows you to enjoy the magic of Wendy's Spicy Chicken in a single Pringles crisp that fits just between your fingers, perfect for everyday and everywhere snacking moments.
90photos%E3%80%91/">Poterapper and Potechinote, but maybe this approach has been backwards all along. Perhaps we shouldn’t be trying to change the way we eat potato chips, but change the very nature of the chip itself.

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150 new jobs coming to Ross and Jackson potato chip factory

ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — More than 150 new jobs and millions of dollars in payroll are coming to Ross and Jackson counties.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted announced on Monday the approval of assistance for 10 projects set to create 946 new jobs and retain 2,485 jobs statewide. During its monthly meeting, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) reviewed economic development proposals brought to the board by JobsOhio and its regional partners. Collectively, the projects are expected to result in more than $50 million in new payroll and spur more than $296 million in investments across Ohio. Among the approvals are new jobs in Ross County.
Herr Foods Incorporated, which is a potato chip company expects to create 150 full-time positions, generating $5.3 million in new annual payroll and retaining $2.2 million in existing payroll as a result of the company’s expansion project in Jackson and Chillicothe. Herr Foods is an American brand of potato chips and other snack foods. The TCA approved a 1.192 percent, seven-year Job Creation Tax Credit for this project.

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Mister Bee named Best West Virginia Made Food Product

PARKERSBURG — A potato chip maker from Parkersburg received an award through the Best of West Virginia Contest.
Mister Bee Potato Chips was selected as the Best West Virginia Made Food Product in the contest sponsored by “WV Living Magazine.” Mister Bee, the only maker of potato chips in West Virginia, won after nationally receiving the most customer votes.
“Our team at Mister Bee could not be happier to learn that we won this designation,” said Mary Anne Ketelsen, who since 2015 has been president of Mister Bee Potato Chips. “What we have built here is very special, and it is important that our customers appreciate our small business and our commitment to quality.”
Readers of “West Virginia Living” nominated companies and products in 75 categories from July 26 to Aug. 8. The top nominees, including Mister Bee, moved to the final round of voting in September and October.

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India revokes patent for PepsiCo's Lay's potatoes

NEW DELHI, Dec 3 (Reuters) - India has revoked a patent for a potato variety grown exclusively for PepsiCo Inc's popular Lay's potato chips, according to an order issued on Friday by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPVFR) Authority
In 2019,
PepsiCo sued some Indian farmers based in the western state of Gujarat for cultivating the FC5 potato variety, which has a lower moisture content required to make snacks such as potato chips.

Withdrawing the lawsuits the same year, the New York-based company said it wanted to settle the issue amicably.
Later, Kavitha Kuruganti, a farmers' rights activist, petitioned the PPVFR Authority for revocation of intellectual protection granted to PepsiCo's FC5 potato variety, saying that India's rules do not allow a patent on seed varieties.


The new 26,000-square-foot production facility and warehouse will nearly double the size of the nearly 14,000 square feet Great Lakes Potato Chip currently operates in. A second phase of construction could add another 12,000.

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No Small Potatoes: Great Lakes Potato Chip Co. growing into new facility

TRAVERSE CITY — Corrugated columns of tasty treats do not send any mixed messages.
As the Great Lakes Potato Chip Co. finishes its 12th full year of operation, the Grand Traverse County business is preparing to dig into new digs in 2022.
The current location at 6806 E. Traverse Highway (M-72) just doesn’t slice it any more as the family-run business launched in 2009 continues to bubble up and grow. Great Lakes Potato Chip Co. will move into a new facility at 51 W. Commerce Drive in the first part of the next year.

The new 26,000-square-foot production facility and warehouse will nearly double the size of the nearly 14,000 square feet Great Lakes Potato Chip currently operates in. A second phase of construction could add another 12,000.

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Kettle Chips opens online shop with full range of snacks delivered to front door

Snack manufacturer Kettle Chips has opened its first online crisps store - following the pleas of fans around the country.
Kettle is giving crisp lovers the chance to browse the snack aisle from the comfort of their home - whether they are looking to stock up for an up-coming festive party, want to spoil loved ones or just an excuse to try new bolder flavour combinations.


Stocks include the Vegan Crowd Pleasers box which includes the award-winning Sheese & Red Onion, Lightly Salted, Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar of Modena and Thai Sweet Chilli seasonings.
The Bold Favourites box is the perfect choice for fans wanting a flavour hit, featuring seasonings such as Mature Cheddar & Red Onion, Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream, Steakhouse Barbecue and Thai Sweet Chilli.

For anyone hosting a festive get together, the Christmas Selection Box features eight bags of Kettle’s favourite core range – with the brand's limited edition wrapping paper design.
Louise Thompson, strategic marketing lead at Kettle Chips, said: “With the festive season almost upon us, now is the perfect time to launch our new Kettle Chips delivery service.

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Sweet potatoes taking on potato chips

MUSKEGO, WIS. — The salty snack category is gaining two new sweet additions: Pop Bitties Sweet Potato Chips and Jackson’s Sweet Potato Chips.

Mark’s Mindful Munchies is introducing Pop Bitties Sweet Potato Chips. Made with sweet potatoes and brown rice, the air-popped snacks are Non-GMO Project verified, vegan, certified gluten-free, corn-free and nut-free. The sweet potato chips come in two varieties.


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Campbell Soup promotes Michael Pierson to CCO for Snacks business

CAMDEN, NJ. — Michael Pierson has been promoted to chief customer officer of the Snacks division at Campbell Soup Co. In his new role, he is responsible for leading the company’s US Snacks sales teams, as well as the company’s Latin America and Global Exports businesses. He reports to Valerie Oswalt, president of Campbell Snacks.
Mr. Pierson most recently was senior vice president of sales for US Meals and Beverages. Prior to joining Campbell Soup in 2019, he was chief customer officer at Materne North America — GoGo squeez. Earlier he was senior vice president of sales/partner at Hello Delicious! Brands. He also spent two-and-a-half years at Pepperidge Farm as vice president of sales strategy and trade marketing, and more than 10 years at PepsiCo, Inc. in a variety of roles, including general manager of PepsiCo Sales — CVS Customer Team, senior director of sales strategy — US Gatorade, and director of sales, US Gatorade — Costco.


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Doritos® and Twitch Rivals North America Take This Year's Doritos Bowl to Another Level®

PLANO, Texas, Dec. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The legendary Doritos Bowl is back on Twitch Rivals, the #1 destination for competitive entertainment on Twitch, and Doritos is taking this year's competition to another level. With one epic day of gameplay on December 6 led by four top Twitch creators playing five different games, for the first time, fans will be able to watch some of their favorites play games that they've never streamed before.

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Sunchips® & Celebrity Design Expert Bobby Berk Launch Virtual "Sunchips Art Seen" Contest

PLANO, Texas, Nov. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SunChips, Frito-Lay's popular line of 100% whole grain chips, today announced its partnership with design expert and Emmy-nominated television host Bobby Berk on a new virtual art contest: SunChips Art Seen. Part of SunChips' recently launched "Be Your Own Wave™" campaign, the brand's first national campaign in four years, SunChips Art Seen hones in to celebrate individuality and originality among artists.

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Herr's Asks Fans To Find Philly's Next Favorite Chip Flavor

NOTTINGHAM, Pa., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia is known for countless iconic foods that are beloved by Philadelphians far and wide. To celebrate these classic local favorite foods, Pennsylvania-based Herr's will launch Flavored by Philly, a line of Philadelphia-inspired chips determined by the snack company's fans.
No one knows the flavors of Philly quite like the people who live there. That's why Herr's is asking their local fans to help decide what Philadelphia-inspired flavor should be made for their Flavored by Philly line of chips.


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Jackson's Celebrates Everyday Superheroes

MUSKEGO, Wis., Nov. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackson's—the Super Snack brand powered by sweet potatoes and ancestral oils—is proud to unveil their #EverydaySuperhero campaign. The campaign is aimed squarely at promoting, encouraging and spotlighting children and their everyday acts of kindness. Celebrating children is central to the Jackson's brand, and this new campaign allows customers to nominate kids who are making a positive impact in their community.

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Pringles Partners With Movember To Encourage Open Conversations Around Mental Health

For the second year in a row, Pringles is joining leading men's health charity Movember to drive more open conversations around men's mental health by expanding support in the U.S. According to a poll by researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), nearly one in 10 men reported experiencing some form of depression or anxiety, but fewer than half sought treatment. 
Thanks to fans who purchased Pringles at Kroger earlier this fall, the brand donated $150,000 to the Movember cause and will continue to drive awareness with the help of their beloved mascot, Mr. P. This month, Mr. P is shaving his iconic moustache, calling men everywhere to join him to kickstart conversation. Whether or not fans have facial hair to shave, they can join the cause by grabbing a can of Pringles, gathering their friends and encouraging open discussion about mental health.

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Utz Brands Appoints Pamela Stewart to Board of Directors


HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (“Utz” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks announced today that Pamela Stewart has been appointed as a Director on the Utz Board of Directors (“Board”). In this role, Ms. Stewart will also serve on the Board’s Compensation Committee and provide strategic input to the Utz management team.

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Utz Brands Provides IRI Retail Sales Update


HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (“Utz” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, today reported IRI MULO-C retail sales for the 4-week and 12-week periods ended October 31 and November 28, 2021. The Company is providing this interim update of Utz’s retail sales trends to correct inaccurately low previously reported syndicated data for these periods due to missing new items.
For the 4-week period ended October 31, 2021, the Company’s retail sales as measured by IRI MULO-C increased 8.7% versus the same period last year and increased 9.7% on a two-year CAGR basis versus the same period in 2019. For the 12-week period ended October 31, 2021, the Company’s retail sales as measured by IRI MULO-C increased 7.7% versus the same period last year and increased 10.2% on a two-year CAGR basis versus the same period in 2019.
For the 4-week period ended November 28, 2021, the Company’s retail sales as measured by IRI MULO-C increased 10.9% versus the same period last year and increased 10.8% on a two-year CAGR basis versus the same period in 2019. For the 12-week period ended November 28, 2021, the Company’s retail sales as measured by IRI MULO-C increased 9.7% versus the same period last year and increased 10.6% on a two-year CAGR basis versus the same period in 2019.

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Utz Brands Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results


HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (“Utz” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, today reported the unaudited financial results for the Company’s fiscal third quarter ended October 3, 2021.
“Consumer demand remains strong as our sales growth accelerated and we delivered two-year market share gains in the third quarter. Our top-line strategies are working as we drove faster growth on our Power Brands, expanded our presence in key salty snack sub-categories, improved our performance in our Core geographies and the Mass channel, and continued our geographic expansion,” said Dylan Lissette, Chief Executive Officer of Utz.
Mr. Lissette continued, “As we face rising inflation that is impacting earnings in the short-term, we continue to implement pricing actions that will have a carry-over benefit in 2022. And while we expect high inflation and transportation challenges to continue into 2022, we are actively deploying our value creation strategies, and we remain confident in our long-term growth outlook. I am incredibly proud of our dedicated team as we navigate through this dynamic operating environment.”

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Utz Brands to Acquire RW Garcia


HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (“Utz” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, announced that its subsidiaries have entered into a definitive agreement with R.W. Garcia Holdings, LLC and related entities (“RW Garcia”), to acquire the equity and certain real estate assets related to the operation of RW Garcia. Founded in 1982, RW Garcia is a family-owned and operated artisan maker of high-quality organic tortilla chips, crackers, and corn chips. All RW Garcia products are non-GMO verified, certified gluten-free, low sodium, kosher, and free of artificial additives or preservatives.

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Dip Lovers Celebrate! ON THE BORDER Chips & Dips Debuts NEW Fun, Flavorful, Restaurant-inspired Dips, and Lightly Salted Café Style Tortilla Chips


CARROLLTON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ON THE BORDER® Chips & Dips once again brings fun, flavorful, restaurant-inspired innovation to fans with their NEW Southwest Bean Dip, Jalapeño Ranch Dip and Lightly Salted Café Style Tortilla Chips -- dip lovers will rejoice!

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Utz transforms itself into a national snack powerhouse


Utz Brands is the youngest 100-year-old company in the nation. Its storied history also tells the tale of two snack manufacturing businesses that have succeeded over the years in two different but complementary ways.
Founded in 1921 by William (Bill) and Salie Utz — who believed they could make better potato chips in a simple, farm-fresh way — the Hanover, Pa., snack maker expanded organically over its first 90 years, becoming a well-respected brand nationally. Since 2010, however, Utz has made 16 acquisitions, making it one of the fastest-growing snack operators with more than $1.1 billion in annual sales.


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Q&A: Kellogg Exec Notes How Pandemic Has Altered Snacking


Nigel Hughes had an uncomfortable thought at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic.
The SVP of global research and development at The Kellogg Company feared his company might struggle in the snack space amid pandemic lockdowns, since such food had, historically, been consumed on the go.
Lo and behold, Kellogg fared just fine in 2020 and 2021, since most of its customers had no issue eating the company’s snack products – like Pringles, or Pop Tarts – between Zoom meetings while working from home. In fact, many Kellogg customers began eating products like cereal more than ever, even after breakfast hours.
“When you’re working from home, it’s amazing what becomes a snack,” Hughes said.


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Ballreich’s teaming up with the Buckeyes to launch new OSU-themed potato chips


TIFFIN, Ohio — Ballreich Snack Food company, of Tiffin, Ohio, has partnered with The Ohio State University by launching The Tailgate Series.
The Tailgate Series is a collection of popular tailgating flavors packed into bite-size potato chips. Flavors include Ranch, Cheddar Slider, Jalapeño Popper and Classic.
Jamie Twining, Vice President of Sales at Ballreich Snack Food Company says, “We are excited about the new partnership with Ohio State University and the unique development of four new potato chip snacks that encompass popular tailgating flavors. We have something for everyone.”

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Kazoo Snacks Water-Saving Tortilla Chip


Eco-friendly brand upcycles by-product corn germ to save 20 gallons of water per bag
The newest innovation to join the upcycled food movement, Kazoo Snacks is enabling consumers to snack with an upside. Every bag of Kazoo Tortilla Chips is made using 40% upcycled corn germ, repurposed from the corn starch industry, which produces germ as a by-product. Reclaiming and upcycling reduces Kazoo's water footprint by at least 20 gallons of water per bag. 

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Snack brand Spudsy announce $3.3m Series A funding


US sweet potato snack brand Spudsy has announced that it has raised $3.3 million in a recent Series A funding round as it looks to expand.
The round was led by private investment firms KarpReilly and Stage 1 Fund. 
Spudsy takes millions of sweet potatoes that normally end up in landfills, due to minor flaws like shape, size and colour, and transforms them into its range of sweet potato snacks which includes sweet potato fry crisps and sweet potato puffs.
These investments will accelerate its expansion into entering new sales channels and reaching new customers. The brand also plans on “utilizing these funds to develop its sales and marketing strategies and build out its DTC channel”.
Ashley Rogers, CEO of Spudsy, said: “It was really important to our team that we find partners that share the same vision, passion and goals as we do around making snacks that taste good and do good for the environment. KarpReilly and Stage 1 Fund really understand our mission and as a result of their vast network of industry experts we have been able to scale our brand at a more rapid pace.” 
The recent funding round brings Spudsy’s total amount to $6.5 million.


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How Did COVID-19 Impact the Salty Snack Category at C-Stores?


The pandemic hurt retailers in every channel, including convenience stores — yet the salty snack category has weathered the storm and then some.

For example, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) state of the industry report this year, sales of Frito-Lay legacy brands are up over the past several months, with Lay’s up 32% and Tostitos up 42%.

Being shut up indoors and largely unable to go to restaurants had large numbers of consumers desperate for tasty treats. Salty snacks — chips, popcorn, pretzels, tortilla chips and more — are satisfying at all times, and the introduction of new flavors and formats has served to excite the imaginations of consumers, especially Gen Z and millennials, and even restore a sense of control over one’s life.

The numbers bear out the fact that sales of salty snacks have topped all other snack categories during the pandemic. Research firm Mintel found that the majority of salty snack consumers eat three to four types of snacks in the salty category, while one of five consume eat at least five. Most recently, many consumers seem infatuated with flavors like ghost pepper, habanero, Tabasco, Korean barbecue, wasabi, sriracha and salted caramel.

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Frito-Lay Invests in U.S. Manufacturing Sites, Hiring Nearly 15,000 Frontline Associates in 2021


  • PLANO, Texas, October 7, 2021 – Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo and leading food manufacturer, today announced 2021 site investments to further enable the snack leader’s ability to meet strong consumer demand. The investments have already contributed to the snack leader hiring nearly 15,000 frontline sales and supply chain employees. More than 5,000 roles are actively being filled now through the end of the year.
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  • “Our strategic investments across key manufacturing sites have significantly expanded our capacity to support strong consumer demand,” said Steven Williams, CEO, PepsiCo Foods North America. “We are proud to not only invest in our locations, but also in our people through continuing to provide great jobs with strong wages and benefits to our frontline employees.” 
  • Frito-Lay has made and continues to make many substantial investments across the business. These investments fund new manufacturing lines, warehouse expansions and improve our distribution network. This further enables our ability to always provide a wide assortment of Frito-Lay products to consumers everywhere they shop; ranging from iconic brands like Cheetos, Fritos and Doritos, to emerging brands like Bare Snacks, Off The Eaten Path and Popcorners. 

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    Frito-Lay Grants $200,000 to Dallas Independent School District for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Program


  • Major DFW Employer Continues to Invest in North Texas Communities with a Hamilton-Themed Educational Program
  • PLANO, Texas – Oct. 4, 2021 – Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo and a leading food manufacturer, today announced a powerhouse collaboration with the T.D. Jakes Foundation, Dallas Summer Musicals, Dallas Independent School District (DISD), iD Tech, and the upcoming Dallas engagement of Hamilton to design a one-of-a-kind, customized, and scalable STEAM experience for DISD students and teachers. The partnership will reach 3,200 students and 200 teachers within DISD, with the program featuring aspects of social justice and a STEAM-based curriculum in a unique eight-week program themed to Hamilton, the award-winning musical.
  • “The jobs of tomorrow are dependent on the supply of highly trained and capable STEAM talent,” said Steven Williams, CEO, PepsiCo Foods North America. “At Frito-Lay, we fully support STEAM careers, education and training and food access, continuing our focus on supporting the communities in which we live and work, especially in North Texas.”

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    Kettle Brand and Pepperidge Farm maker launches programme to advance school nutrition


    Campbell Soup Co. plans to invest $5m over the next five years to foster an environment that ensures all students are well-nourished.

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    Indiana snack maker Seyfert’s closes its doors


    Seyfert’s Snack Foods has shut its doors after being in operation for more than 80 years because the company said it is no longer profitable.

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    In conversation with Frito-Lay’s Hispanic principal about strengthening the US-Latino connection and lessons learned during the pandemic


  • BakeryandSnacks talks to Antonio Escalona, senior VP and GM of PepsiCo North America’s recently created Hispanic Business Unit, about the company’s recent multi-million dollar investment in the Hispanic market and how the pandemic has swayed the company’s focus and impetus.

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    Julius Pringles gets a makeover to celebrate brands’ 30th birthday in the UK


  • To mark the brand’s UK milestone, Mr P (aka Julius Pringles) has been coaxed into the 21st century with his first makeover in 20 years.

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    Pepsi earnings top estimates despite higher supply chain costs, company raises revenue forecast


    • PepsiCo raised its full-year forecast after its latest quarterly earnings and revenue topped analysts’ expectations.
    • The company’s organic revenue climbed 9% in the quarter.
    • But growth of Pepsi’s North American beverage unit moderated during the quarter.

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    PepsiCo targets early 2022 to roll out products from joint venture with Beyond Meat


    • PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company is hoping to release new plant-based snacks and drinks made through its joint venture with Beyond Meat by early 2022.
    • Pepsi and Beyond announced the joint venture, called The PLANeT Partnership, in January.
    • Pepsi announced earlier Wednesday a new initiative called “Pep+” that is meant to change the company’s operations, with sustainability as the focal point.

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    Gov. Wolf Announces Ohio-Based Food Manufacturer Selects Pennsylvania for Business Expansion, Creating Dozens of New Jobs


    Governor Tom Wolf today announced that snack manufacturer Shearer’s Foods has chosen to expand its company in Erie, creating dozens of new jobs, retaining hundreds of existing positions, and injecting millions of dollars into the local economy.
    “We in Pennsylvania know that our commonwealth is the best place to live and do business, and Shearer’s decision to grow here in Erie is a testament to our great quality of life and friendly business climate,” said Gov. Wolf. “We look forward to seeing the new opportunities presented to northwest Pennsylvania as Shearer’s expands, creates jobs, and better serves its growing customer base.”


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    Frito-Lay® Launches Industrially Compostable Bags with Off The Eaten Path® Brand; Advances in Goal to Design 100% of Packaging to be Recyclable, Compostable, Biodegradable or Reusable across Portfolio by 2025


    PLANO, Texas, Sept. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo® and leader in snacking, today introduced an industrially compostable bag for its Off The Eaten Path® brand.
    The bags are currently available at Whole Foods Market and select retailers starting this month and are an example of PepsiCo's investments in breakthrough food packaging technology and the overall pep+ transformation. Producing the materials used for these bags creates approximately 60 percent lower GHG emissions than traditional packaging and the technology may be licensed to other companies at no cost to further the use across the consumer-packaged goods industry.  
    "Frito-Lay recognizes the important role we play in driving towards a circular economy and reducing packaging waste," said David Allen, vice president of sustainability, Frito-Lay North America. "We are investing in plans to scale circular food packaging that is recyclable, compostable, biodegradable or reusable and sharing that technology to build a more sustainable food system for us all."


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    Time To Rise™: Stacy's® Pita Chips Partners With Hello Sunshine To Amplify Female Founders


    PLANO, Texas, Sept. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stacy's Pita Chips is continuing its commitment to helping female founders be found by partnering with Oscar winning actress and producer Reese Witherspoon and the media company she founded, Hello Sunshine, to spotlight the 10 inspiring winners of the 2021 Stacy's Rise Project. New this year, Stacy's is also amplifying founders by launching FoundedByHer.org, an online business directory featuring female founders from across the United States.  

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    Jackson's Dares Snackers to Trade Up Their Chips


    MUSKEGO, Wis., Sept. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackson's the Snack Super™ brand powered by sweet potatoes and ancestral oils, today revealed its plans for taking the snack aisle by storm with flavors unlike any consumers have experienced before. Empowered by its new, state-of-the-art production facility and emboldened by its new packaging, branding, and website, Jackson's stands poised to upset the snacking status quo forever.

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    25 Best Packaged Snacks for School


    Part of Target's exclusive new line, these kettle-cooked chips are sturdy enough for dipping but thin enough for kids to bite easily. According to one of our panelists, "The ridges helped my onion dip stay on!" Parents appreciated that the product is made with just three ingredients and comes in a convenient resealable bag.

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    Herr’s reveals the summer flavor mix mystery. Did you guess correctly?


    Did you try Herr’s limited-time “Flavor Mix Mystery” potato chips this summer?

    Were you able to figure out what three flavors the company used to make up the mystery mix?

    The Pa.-based family-owned snack food company has revealed the answer.

    The Flavor Mix Mystery was - ketchup, creamy dill pickle and jalapeño pepper.

    One winner will receive $10,000 and a year’s supply of Herr’s. The winner, Herr’s said, “will soon be notified.”
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    Wyandot Snacks sends 50 pallets of snacks to Louisiana for Hurricane Ida relief


    On Tuesday afternoon, an ODW Logistics truck arrived into the Wyandot Snacks parking lot to begin loading pre-packed snack foods. While it was a normal day of loading trucks, this particular truck was heading to a different destination. After Hurricane Ida destroyed many parts of Louisiana, these bags of snacks are going to impacted families struggling with the conditions.
    By the end of the day, a total of 29,752 bags of chips, or 50 pallets worth, were loaded onto a 53-foot semi truck and shipped to Port Barre, Louisiana.
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    SNAC Honors Barry Levin, CEO, Snak King with Circle of Honor Award



    Barry Levin received the prestigious award for his outstanding contributions to the association and the snack industry. In 1979, at age 21, Barry accepted an offer to manage a one-year-old, financially challenged pork rind manufacturing plant for absentee owners. Within the first year, Barry and his two fellow employees were able to make the company profitable. Shortly thereafter, Barry had the opportunity to buy into the company, and over the following five years he purchased the balance of the stock. Snak King began by producing a single item out of a 1,200 square foot facility and now manufactures over 950 SKU’s with over 1,000 associates in California and Illinois. Barry has been a strong supporter and leader of the Association from his early days in the industry. He served as Western Regional President in 1992 and as Chairman of the Board in 2001-2002.  He also served as Chairman of SNAC’s Executive Leadership Forum Committee in 2006. 
    Reacting to increasing demands in the markets of Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, the plant will manufacture a range of PepsiCo’s snacks, including Lay’s fried and oven-baked and Doritos.t they preferred mild, light and traditional tastes.”
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    PepsiCo delves into “reshaping healthy snacking” strategy amid US$256M investment in super European plant



    27 Aug 2021 --- As part of PepsiCo’s healthy snacking focus, the company plans to invest US$256 million in a Poland-based food manufacturing plant – its largest and most sustainable in Europe. PepsiCo aims to increase sales of healthy snacks, making it the fastest-growing category in the next four years. 

    The company also expects to expand healthy snacking to a US$1 billion portfolio by 2030.
    Reacting to increasing demands in the markets of Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, the plant will manufacture a range of PepsiCo’s snacks, including Lay’s fried and oven-baked and Doritos.t they preferred mild, light and traditional tastes.”
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    “Variety vital to innovation”: Innova Market Insights sheds light on snacking habits



    24 Aug 2021 --- Taste is the single most important consideration for consumers of salty snacks, according to a new report from Innova Market Insights. The pleasure of the eating experience drives many purchasing decisions. But which types of flavors elicit a mood-boosting response differs, suggesting variety is vital to snack innovation. 

    “A total of 35 to 40 percent of consumers expressed a preference for strong, novel and varied flavors,” reports Lu Ann Williams, global insights director at Innova Market Insights. 
    “But at the same time, 20 to 25 percent said that they preferred mild, light and traditional tastes.”
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    VISTA Leadership Megastars – Ed Herr



    Ed Herr, a lifelong Nottingham resident and graduate of Oxford High School, is the Chairman and CEO of Herr Foods Inc., a leader in the snack food industry that sells its products in all 50 states and in more than 40 countries.
    Herr grew up in the business and aspired early on to dedicate his career to advancing the company. His proudest professional achievement is successfully beginning the process of transferring the company’s leadership from the second generation to the third generation and sustaining a great culture.
    Herr, who aims to inspire others by supporting and caring about their personal growth and well-being, offered his thoughts on what makes a successful leader.
    “Leadership requires a passion for people, always respecting them and valuing their opinion,” he said. “We inspire others with vision and believing in the mission.”
    Of the 12 Principles of the Scout Law — Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent — “Kind” resonates the most with Herr, who believes that the leadership model that Jesus set has had the biggest impact on his career and life.
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    Lay’s is building community soccer fields out of recycled potato chip bags



    As the next generation of young soccer whizzes in South Africa breathlessly out-dribble opponents and score mesmerizing free kicks, many of those future Cristiano Ronaldos might already be showcasing those tricks on a pitch made of potato chip bags.
    According to
    this news story by Talib Visram, chips processor Lay’s is making inroads into its impact goals by, well, putting up goals. In a project that combines environmental sustainability with community youth engagement, the salty-snack giant is partnering with its longtime Champions League partner, UEFA, and grassroots soccer organization Streetfootballworld to provide the world’s first five soccer fields made out of potato chip bags.
    For the project, known as 
    RePlay, Lay’s has committed to using an innovative new bags-to-turf technology to create playable fields. “[It’s] giving our chips packaging a second life,” says Sebnem Erim, global food brands VP for PepsiCo, which owns Lay’s. The process, developed with artificial fields manufacturer Greenfields, takes empty chip bags from local waste and recycling, then washes and shreds them, and mixes them with rubber to convert them into pellets. Those pellets form a layer, called the “Ecocept,” on the ground, on top of which an artificial turf is placed.
    He calls the development “overwhelming.”
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    Indigenous-owned, Manitoba-based potato chips brand heading to shelves across Canada



    An independent Manitoba-based, Indigenous-owned brand of potato chip will soon be on shelves across the countr


    Tomahawk Chips is the brainchild of Alfred Lea, who began the Native Canadian Chip Corporation in 2015.
    Based in Riverton, Man., the chips have until now been sold in Manitoba, Northern Ontario, California, and on Amazon.
    Most recently, Lea signed on with Calgary’s Star Wholesale Ltd., to have his chips shipped to stores across Canada.
    He calls the development “overwhelming.”
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    Route 11 Potato Chips Stays True To Its Roots



    MOUNT JACKSON — With nearly 30 years of experience, Route 11 Potato Chips wasn’t going to let the COVID-19 pandemic stop production of its well-known snack.
    Sarah Cohen, the company’s founder and president, said that although there were some “dire moments of uncertainty,” she and her staff are happy production has ramped back up and folks can once again visit the factory at 11 Edwards Way to see the chips being made.
    “We made it through the pandemic, and we never stopped producing,” Cohen said. “We determined that we were essential, and we stayed in production.”

    The factory’s retail store was shut down for about a year during the pandemic. Staff members sold potato chips out of the window of their break room.
    The retail space opened back up in April and the fry viewings resumed.
    The fry viewings, typically held between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, are free. Visitors can stand in the retail space to view the cooking process.
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    Great Lakes Potato Chip Co. to expand operations



    August 5, 2021

    Great Lakes Potato Chip Co. LLC received an $80,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to expand operations in Traverse City.
    According to a July announcement, the Food and Agriculture Investment Fund grant will help fund the $2.4 million, 23,160-square-foot expansion effort.
    The project will double operational capacity and create five jobs, the company said.
    “We are moving now because we have simply outgrown our current space,” Great Lakes Potato Chip Co. President Chris Girrbach wrote in an email to Michigan Farm News.
    “We are limited on growth at our current location. The current kettle chip demand is very strong from our perspective. I believe that will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.”
    As Great Lakes Potato Chip Co. tries to meet demand for its award-winning kettle chips, the company plans to expand distribution from seven states to 14 in the next five years.
    Ed and son Chris Girrbach started the company in 2009. Today, they produce eight permanent flavors of kettle cooked potato chips, including original sea salt, barbeque, and sea salt and vinegar.
    According to its
    website, the company in 2017 grew to more than 25 full-time employees and processed over 100,000 pounds of potatoes per week.
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    Pics of Potato Chips Curry go viral. This is a crime against humanity, says Internet



    Potato chips is great but why would you waste it by putting them in a curry, is what the internet is pondering upon ever since a picture of Potato Chips Curry went viral on social media. The images of this bizarre dish was posted on Facebook by a group called Kolkata Food Trotters.

    It went viral after a particular Twitter user shared a screenshot of the Potato Chips Curry post with the caption, “Minimum 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for this confession of murder.”
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    Lay’s potato chips are now available in the most craveable flavor mash-up



    What can make Lay’s potato chips even tastier? Bringing snack flavor mash-ups to the bowl, of course. When you cannot decide which snack to enjoy, Frito-Lay has created the best of both worlds.
    Snack trends evolve in interesting ways. From incorporating global flavors to bold spice, the snack aisle is crowded with all the various options.

    At the same time, classic flavors will never go out of style. Whether it is something familiar or comforting, the reality is that after the simple joys of that food satisfaction will always bring a smile.
    How are Lay’s potato chips embracing this snack flavor mash-up?
    In a recent Frito-Lay announcement, Lay’s potato chips have adopted two other popular snack flavors. If you have ever wondered what a Doritos of a Funyuns potato chip would taste like, now everyone will have an opportunity to pop open a bag.
    Two new Lay’s potato chip flavors will be available for a limited time. They are Lay’s Doritos Cool Ranch and Lay’s Wavy Funyuns Onion.
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    New Lay’s chips feature flavors of five US restaurant dishes



    PLANO, TEXAS — In a time where restaurant visits and travel are infrequent at best, PepsiCo, Inc.’s Frito-Lay North America business unit is allowing consumers to experience the flavors of five US restaurant dishes from the comfort of home.
    Lay’s is launching Flavor Icons, a new line of limited-batch potato chips inspired by dishes served at restaurants across the United States: Lay’s Nashville Hot Chicken, inspired by Party Fowl in Nashville; Lay’s Kettle Cooked New York Style Pizza, inspired by Grimaldi’s in New York City; Lay’s Philly Cheesesteak, inspired by Geno’s Steaks in Philadelphia; Lay’s Wavy Carnitas Street Taco, inspired by El Torito in Los Angeles; and Lay’s Chile Relleno, inspired by Cocina Azul in Albuquerque, NM.
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    West Virginia potato chip company expanding into other states



    PARKERSBURG — Starting in early July, Mister Bee’s potato chips will be entering a new territory for the first time in company history.

    Mister Bee’s will be featured in stores throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., through Labor Day in September honoring military personnel.

    The chips will be available to be purchased just in time for the Fourth of July, being stocked on Giant Food stores shelves starting Friday, July 2. The chips will be in specially marked chip bags that salute military personnel and a portion of every sale will be designated for the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore (USO-Metro).
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    SALTY GOODNESS



    Unsurprisingly, salty snacks experienced a slight increase in sales over the past year, as Americans stayed home during the pandemic. Chips, popcorn, pretzels, and tortilla chips are all easily available snacks to
    munch on at home, especially during movie nights, and as a result the category experienced a small uptick.
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    Campbell Snacks named official partner of the Pac-12



    LOS ANGELES - The Pac-12 announced today that Campbell Snacks, maker of some of America’s favorite snacks and baked goods including Goldfish crackers, Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels, Late July tortilla chips, Kettle Brand and Cape Cod potato chips, and Pepperidge Farm cookies and breads, has been named the Conference's official sweet and salty snack and bakery product partner, and an official partner of the Pac-12 Football Championship Game.
    “We welcome Campbell Snacks as our newest blue-chip partner,” said Steve Tseng, Pac-12 Networks Executive Vice President of Sales. “When watching Pac-12 sports with friends or family, either in-person or at home, Campbell Snacks offers an assortment of longtime fan favorites. We’re excited to have them as an official sponsor for one of our biggest events throughout the year.”
    As an official partner of the Pac-12 and the Pac-12 Football Championship Game, Campbell Snacks will be activating with media, on-site programing, hospitality, and also running a sweepstakes with its retail partners, giving consumers a chance to win a trip to the 2021 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, presented by 76®.
    The Pac-12 partnership is part of a broader national fall football campaign that Campbell Snacks will activate with retail partners from coast to coast this year. The national omni channel program will be dialed up with excitement and engagement on the West Coast with the Pac-12 and anchored with grocery retail programming at Kroger and Albertson’s stores located in the Pac-12 territory. 
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    Campbell Snacks named official partner of the Pac-12



    LOS ANGELES - The Pac-12 announced today that Campbell Snacks, maker of some of America’s favorite snacks and baked goods including Goldfish crackers, Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels, Late July tortilla chips, Kettle Brand and Cape Cod potato chips, and Pepperidge Farm cookies and breads, has been named the Conference's official sweet and salty snack and bakery product partner, and an official partner of the Pac-12 Football Championship Game.
    “We welcome Campbell Snacks as our newest blue-chip partner,” said Steve Tseng, Pac-12 Networks Executive Vice President of Sales. “When watching Pac-12 sports with friends or family, either in-person or at home, Campbell Snacks offers an assortment of longtime fan favorites. We’re excited to have them as an official sponsor for one of our biggest events throughout the year.”
    As an official partner of the Pac-12 and the Pac-12 Football Championship Game, Campbell Snacks will be activating with media, on-site programing, hospitality, and also running a sweepstakes with its retail partners, giving consumers a chance to win a trip to the 2021 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, presented by 76®.
    The Pac-12 partnership is part of a broader national fall football campaign that Campbell Snacks will activate with retail partners from coast to coast this year. The national omni channel program will be dialed up with excitement and engagement on the West Coast with the Pac-12 and anchored with grocery retail programming at Kroger and Albertson’s stores located in the Pac-12 territory. 
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    The thrill-seeking, concert-loving CEO behind Hain's rapid turnaround


    Mark Schiller, whose rare blend of humor and business savvy played a part in reviving brands at PepsiCo and Pinnacle Foods, is immersed in his biggest challenge yet: Hain Celestial.

    For years, Pinnacle Foods would gather hundreds of employees responsible for peddling its Wish Bone, Mrs. Butterworth’s and other offerings into a room for the annual sales meeting, where the buzz inevitably coalesced around a few presenters.
    One of the most popular wasn't the CEO, or a musician or comedian brought in to energize the crowd. Instead, it was an unassuming executive whose mix of marketing prowess, product ideas and "professional-quality standup" captivated the audience.
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    RIND® to Shake up the Snack Aisle with the Launch of Crispy Fruit Chips

    NEW YORK, July 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- It's crunch time!  On the heels of a $6.1 million raise announced last month, RIND Snacks®, makers of functional and sustainable fruit snacks, is giving consumers an exciting, new, and innovative way to enjoy their daily dose of fruit. Expanding outside of the traditional chewy dried fruit category, RIND® is crossing over into the large and fast-growing chips aisle with the launch of crispy, crave-able, thin-cut Fruit Chips in three vibrant and tangy flavors, including Orange, Kiwi, and Apple.
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    Frito-Lay Variety Packs Blasts Off With Aspiring Astronaut Alyssa Carson For Back-to-School Program Sending Girls To Space Camp


    PLANO, Texas, July 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As school closures due to COVID-19 had significant impacts on children's education this past year, the 2021 back-to-school season is more important than ever. To help shine a spotlight on the importance of introducing and retaining more students in STEM programs at an early age, Frito-Lay® Variety Packs is teaming up with Alyssa Carson, an aspiring astronaut and one of a just few certified Aquanauts, for the launch of its Back-to-School Blast Off campaign. As a part of the program, Frito-Lay Variety Packs will sponsor 50 girls for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to Space Camp® over the next five years.
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    Wise Foods Beats Class Action Over Artificially Flavored Chips




    By Jonathan Capriel
    Law360 (July 27, 2021, 9:01 PM EDT) -- A New York federal judge dismissed a proposed class action against Wise Foods Inc. on Monday, saying the plaintiff failed to show that reasonable customers would believe its "Cheddar & Sour Cream" chips were all natural.
    U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken threw out claims by Darlene Wallace, saying her complaint failed to show that the Pennsylvania-based company's packaging was "materially misleading." He said reasonable snack buyers would not reach a sweeping conclusion that "Cheddar & Sour Cream" labeling would indicate the absence of other ingredients, artificial or not.
    "Nothing in the label states or implies that the chips' flavor is derived entirely from cheddar and sour cream," Judge Oetken wrote. "Nor does the label indicate that the chips are flavored only with natural ingredients. A reasonable consumer would not make broad assumptions about the chips' ingredients based on the representation that they are cheddar and sour cream flavored."
    In reaching his decision, Judge Oetken cited at least two other New York decisions, Barreto v. Westbrae Natural Inc. and Pichardo et al. v. Only What You Need Inc., that reached nearly identical findings. In Pichardo, the court found that printing a principal ingredient on packaging, like vanilla, without a qualifier does not on its own lead reasonable buyers to assume it is the exclusive ingredient or that other ingredients are not added to enhance the flavor.
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    Utz Brands Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results


    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (“Utz” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, today reported the unaudited financial results for the Company’s fiscal second quarter ended July 4, 2021.
    Dylan Lissette, Chief Executive Officer of Utz said, “In the second quarter, our two-year pro forma net sales growth trends continued to improve as our Power Brands’ sales grew significantly faster than the Salty Snack Category in our Emerging and Expansion geographies, and our channels most impacted by COVID-related softness are rebounding. While consumer demand for our products remains strong, our second quarter margins were significantly impacted by higher than planned inflation across key input costs which include commodities, transportation and labor.”
    Mr. Lissette continued, “We anticipate these costs will continue to be more elevated for the remainder of the year than we previously expected. Our pricing actions and productivity initiatives are well underway, but the benefits are expected to be weighted towards the back half of 2021, lagging the near-term cost pressures. These benefits, however, are expected to have strong carry-over benefits to fiscal 2022. As we manage through these higher costs, we remain focused on the long-term health of our brands, and we continue to prioritize investments to capitalize on our growth opportunities.”
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    UTZ Brands Announces Promotions to Executive Management Team as Company Positions for Next Phase of Growth


    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (“Utz” or the Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, today announced several changes to its Executive Management Team. Today’s announcements reflect the Company’s ongoing process of evaluating capabilities needed in its management team to better position Utz for its next phase of growth.

    “As we evolve as a public company, we will continue to enhance Utz’s leadership team to accelerate our ability to grow and strengthen our organization,” said Dylan Lissette, Chief Executive Officer of Utz. “Our collective goal is to create long-term value for our stakeholders, and we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities for our Power Brands while also enhancing profitability through our value creation initiatives. We believe today’s announcements provide the Company with the optimal organizational structure to execute against our strategy, and will best position Utz to deliver on its commitment to be the fastest-growing, pure-play branded salty snack company of scale in the U.S.”
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    Hundreds of Frito-Lay workers on strike in Topeka, citing forced overtime and 84-hour workweeks


    Hundreds of striking Frito-Lay workers in Kansas are calling on one of the nation’s biggest snack makers to put an end to forced overtime and 84-hour workweeks brought on by a pandemic-era surge in demand.

    Workers at the Topeka plant have been pushed to the brink as the factory revved up operations during the pandemic according to the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 218.
    Many of the factory’s more than 800 workers are working seven days a week and up to 12 hours per shift, with just eight hours between clocking in and clocking out, according to the union’s international president, Anthony Shelton.
    “They are forcing the current workforce to work double and triple shifts,” Shelton said. “Workers do not have enough time to see their family, do chores around the house, run errands, or even get a healthy night’s sleep.”
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    Doritos® Launches "SOLID BLACK™," An Initiative To Amplify The Voices Of Black Innovators And Creators



    PLANO, Texas, June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Black voices and stories are too often unheard. In its 2020 #AmplifyBlackVoices work, Doritos recognized this and is now launching SOLID BLACK™, a new multi-platform initiative backed by action and funding designed to bolster the voices of Black innovators and creators and provide them with resources to continue driving change. In total, Doritos will invest more than $5 million as part of the SOLID BLACK campaign to amplify stories of Black joy, strength, and resilience.
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    Chip makers Better Made, Uglies finding ways to cut down on food waste


    As sustainability continues to grab a larger share of public attention, food producers are meeting the challenge by coming up with new ways to get more out of available resources.
    Potatoes, one of the most processed vegetables in the world, emit starch when cooked. When processing a vast amount, like at a potato chip factory, all that starch has to go somewhere.
    At Better Made Snack Foods, which has been located on Detroit’s east side since 1940, that starch used to go into the city’s sewer system. In the early part of the 21st century, things started changing, however.
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    PepsiCo Europe shakes up healthy snacks and beverages, pledging to slash sugar 25% in soda by 2025


    01 Jul 2021 --- PepsiCo is scaling up its healthy snacks and beverage portfolio across Europe, pledging to reduce the average level of added sugars in its beverage portfolio by 25 percent by 2025 and 50 percent by 2030. Snacks will also get a make-over with popped corn snacks proving popular, while new green tea options will be available, as well as other sugar-reduced beverages featuring new flav

    Healthier snacks are poised to be the company’s fastest-growing food category over the next four years, with an ambition to expand this to a US$1 billion portfolio by 2030.
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    GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER VISITS BETTER MADE SNACK FOODS IN DETROIT TO PRESENT SPECIAL TRIBUTES IN HONOR OF SAM CIPRIANO AND BETTER MADE’S 90TH ANNIVERSARY



    DETROIT, MI, JUNE 2021 – Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, visited with officials and employees of Better Made Snack Foods in Detroit on Monday, June 14th to present a special tribute in honor of long-time company CEO, Salvatore “Sam” Cipriano. The Governor also presented a proclamation to all of the employees in celebration of Better Made’s 90th anniversary.
    Governor Whitmer changed into food safety attire and worked at various stations throughout the plant as part of her fun “Work with Whitmer” segments. Not only did the Governor get to see how Better Made operates, but she spent time performing quality control, case packing, palletizing, and fulfilling online orders. The Governor also tasted freshly cooked original potato chips and stated that Better Made is her favorite potato chip.
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    Trends report: The latest in sweets and snacks

    Sweets and snacks of all stripes have been powerhouse products throughout the pandemic, with consumers increasingly reaching for everything from indulgent delights to better-for-you small bites. In fact, Mondelez International found that 88% of adults around the world are snacking more amid the pandemic, and 52% consider snacking to be a “lifeline.”
    Savory snacks and popcorn are having a particular heyday,
    according to The NPD Group, as people look for comfort and something salty to go along with their at-home entertainment. What other major snack and confectionery trends are currently leading the pack? 
    Combination flavors
    Blending multiple different flavors together has been a major hit in the snack space, and the National Confectioners Association counted it among the four trends they expected to see a lot of at this year’s
    Sweets & Snacks Expo. Kellogg’s Pringles brand, for example, combined sweet and spicy flavors together for its limited edition Pringles Wavy Pineapple Habanero.
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    Snacks Are Essential as Consumers Prepare to Break Out This Summer

    Chips will be a part of nearly all activities, with two out of three consumers saying they prefer classic, traditional flavors.

    PLANO, Texas — Memorial Day is the unofficial start to the summer, and however and wherever consumers choose to catch up on activities they missed out on in 2020, snacks will be a part of their plans.

    Frito-Lay's latest
    U.S. Snack Index found that eight in 10 consumers have made plans for Memorial Day, including many activities outdoors like attending a barbecue, spending time at the park, visiting the beach, traveling, or playing sports. These results are a drastic difference to 2020 when 82 percent of consumers noted they planned to stay at home alone for the holiday.
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    Silicon Chip Shortage Leads To Potato Chip Shortage: Farmers Halt Equipment Shipments To Dealers


    Readers have been briefed on the ongoing semiconductor shortage that may last a “couple of years.” The auto industry has grabbed the spotlight as the hardest-hit industry, with some of the world’s biggest manufacturers restricting production. 
    According to a new report, the worldwide chip shortage is impacting the agriculture industry that may last for a couple of years and has already impacted the price of potato chips. 
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    UGLIES CHIP IN TO HELP HEAL THE U.S. FOOD SYSTEM WITH MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT


    WOMELSDORF, Pa., April 22, 2021 – UGLIES Kettle Potato Chips reached a milestone achievement earlier this month - 5 million lbs. of cosmetically irregular potatoes grown on small farms throughout the U.S. have been upcycled to craft their kettle-cooked potato chips. As part of its mission to reduce food waste, and educate the modern consumer on produce imperfection, UGLIES Kettle Potato Chips sources ‘ugly’ potatoes that are deemed cosmetically challenged by today’s produce standards and crafts them into delicious kettle potato chips.  
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    Climate Change Threatens Potato Chip Production, Global Food Storage

    Climate change poses significant dangers to global food supplies as rising temperatures make storage more difficult, The Associated Press reports.

    Food around the world is stored outside after harvest, before processing, but rising temperatures and other altered weather patterns threaten to drive prices higher as more food is lost and producers are forced to install costly equipment to protect food stores.
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    Utz® Potato Chips Takes to the Skies With America’s Newest Airline -- Breeze Airways!

    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. is excited to partner and fly together with Breeze Airways. As a core food selection, Utz® Original Potato Chips will be served to Breeze Airways Guests on board flights.

    Breeze Airways is the new, “Seriously Nice” U.S. carrier from JetBlue founder David Neeleman, who today unveiled its network comprised of 39 nonstop routes between 16 cities located across the Southwest, Midwest, Southeast and Eastern US.
    Utz®, makers of iconic potato chips, pretzels and cheese balls, is pleased to serve as a core food selection on Breeze Airways flights. Celebrating its 100th year anniversary, Utz Potato Chips are made the same way now as they were at the beginning – made with simple ingredients, farm-fresh potatoes, and the same family-crafted flavor since 1921. They’re the perfect complement to a “Seriously Nice” Airline!
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    Utz & Ferrara to Partner on New Sweet & Salty Snack Food Variety Packs

    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. is pleased to announce a partnership with Ferrara®, a related company of the Ferrero Group, to create new and exciting snack food variety packs. Responding to the growing consumer demand for variety packs, this partnership aligns category leaders with iconic brand portfolios and significant retail reach capabilities, a powerful combination.
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    Frito-Lay to Create 160 Jobs with Rosenberg, Texas, Plant Expansion


    PLANO, Texas, June 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo and leading snack manufacturer, along with Fort Bend County, today announced a $200 million investment at its Rosenberg, Texas, site. The investment will add two manufacturing lines for Funyuns and tortilla chips, as well as increase capacity in its warehouse to enhance capabilities and enable future growth. Anticipated to be complete by 2023, the project will provide 160 new, full-time jobs.
    The Frito-Lay Rosenberg facility today employs more than 750 full-time plant and fleet associates and produces more than 117 million pounds of snacks annually.
    "We've called Rosenberg home for nearly 40 years. Throughout that time, the support of Fort Bend County has helped us invest in the right areas so that we can continue to grow and provide jobs to the community," said Laura Maxwell, senior vice president of supply chain, PepsiCo Foods North America. "The Rosenberg site has the largest footprint of any Frito-Lay facility in Texas, producing snacks for Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas and Georgia, and several other parts of the country when we hit times of peak demand. We thank Fort Bend County for bringing investments like this to life."
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    Awakened Foods, makers of Ka-Pop! Snacks and Bubba's Fine Foods, Continues To Accelerate, Announcing Investment by Private Equity Firm Clover Vitality

    LOVELAND, Colo., July 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Awakened Foods, makers of Ka-Pop! Super Grain Snacks, and Bubba's Fine Foods Paleo & Keto-friendly Snacks & Granolas, announced a significant strategic investment today from Clover Vitality.

    "We have followed Awakened and its predecessor brands for years and are excited about its products and growth. We believe Ka-Pop! and Bubba's decision to merge and vertically integrate its production strongly positions it in a rapidly evolving category. We are excited to provide funding to help it further accelerate its growth," said Alex Schneider, Co-Founder, and Manager of Clover Vitality Fund. 
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    Calbee Launches Almond Nut Chips


    FAIRFIELD, Calif., July 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Calbee America, Inc., a pioneer in plant-based snacking behind the popular Harvest Snaps brand, is bringing to market San Joaquin Almond Nut Chips, a grain-free tortilla chip. Made from sustainably grown almonds, tasty cassava flour, and simple, quality ingredients, these artisan-crafted snacks are lightly cooked in premium avocado oil to deliver a delicate crunch and satisfying chip experience. Sea salt, hickory smoked, and wasabi flavors are each certified gluten-free, grain-free, Kosher, and contain no artificial colors and flavors, no corn, and no soy. 
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    New Pringles® Wavy Pineapple Habanero Takes Your Taste Buds On A Tropical Getaway


    BATTLE CREEK, Mich., June 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pringles® is embracing the coming summer heat with a sweet and spicy trip for your taste buds. Inspired by tropical destinations like Mexico and Hawaii, the flavor geniuses at Pringles combined sweet and tangy pineapple with smoky habanero peppers and packed the bold flavor into a thick, wavy crisp for extra crunch. Riding the wave of popularity for heat, these new crisps will surprise taste buds with a spicy kick against the sweet grilled pineapple flavor and let you say "hola" to your appetite and "aloha" to thinking about any other summer snack.
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    HIPPEAS® Launches Limited-Edition Minions-Themed Snacks


    NEW YORK, May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HIPPEAS®, Organic Chickpea Snacks, is spreading the Peas & Love with the launch of its Minions-themed snacks for the summer. The limited-edition packs of HIPPEAS® Organic Chickpea Puffs in its best-selling flavor, Vegan White Cheddar, will be available in both a six-pack of 1oz bags and 10oz family size option – perfect for on-the-go travel or summer entertaining. The Minions-themed HIPPEAS® offerings will be available nationwide at HIPPEAS.comWalmart.com and in-store at Whole Foods Market and select retailers from June 1st through July 31st.
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    New Limited-Edition Pringles® Flavor Gives Wendy's® Spicy Chicken Sandwich Lovers A New Reason To Drive Thru The Snack Aisle


    BATTLE CREEK, Mich., May 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Look out: there's a new spicy chicken player in town, and this one packs all of the crispy, spicy flavor into one bite. The masters of flavor at Pringles® are setting their sights on Wendy's® original Spicy Chicken Sandwich. The result? A snack that allows you to enjoy the magic of Wendy's Spicy Chicken in a single Pringles crisp that fits just between your fingers, perfect for everyday and everywhere snacking moments.
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    Herr's Launches 'Flavor Mix Mystery' Chip Asking Fans To Guess The Mystery Combination


    NOTTINGHAM, Pa., May 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Are you a good mystery solver? Do you have what it tastes? Pennsylvania-based Herr's, the nation's largest family-owned snack maker, has created the Flavor Mix Mystery as a taste test. A challenge far and wide to find the most loyal Herr's snacker with the sharpest taste buds to guess the three flavors found on the new 'Flavor Mix Mystery' chip.
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    Frito-Lay bucks the trend of supply chain simplification


    When pandemic-driven lockdowns sent consumers home, Frito-Lay adjusted its inventory to meet increasing demand for its products.
    The snack brand temporarily culled about 21% of its SKU portfolio to keep its supply chain as efficient as possible and deliver its most in-demand products, said Laura Maxwell, senior vice president of supply chain for PepsiCo Foods North America. By last summer, SKU counts had returned close to pre-pandemic levels.
    "I'll be the first to admit, last year, when we simplified the portfolio, from a supply chain perspective, we love that," Maxwell said in an interview. "That gave us a lot of efficiency and velocity throughout the supply chain"


    Now Frito-Lay is taking an approach that deviates from supply chain's love of simplification. Maxwell called it "always everywhere." It means the brand and supply chain team embrace complexity to meet consumers where they are.
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    Utz to buy chip supplier for $41M in move to cut costs and grow its brands


    Dive Brief:
    • Utz Brands is buying Festida Foods, a manufacturer of tortilla chips, corn chips and pellet snacks, for $41 million, the company said in a statement. Festida is the largest manufacturer of tortilla chips for Utz's On The Border tortilla chip brand. 
    • Utz said the acquisition of Michigan-based Festida will improve the supply chain for On The Border and increase the company's ability to expand the geographic presence of the brand and others in its portfolio throughout the Midwest. The deal is expected to close before July.
    • Utz has been on an acquisition binge since it came public last year after merging with blank check company Collier Creek Holdings. The company has made four deals since August.
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    Lay's Recall Hits Nine States — Is Yours One of Them?


    When it comes to mindless snacking, there's nothing in the world that gets the job done like a good bag of chip. But if you're a lactose-intolerant fan of Frito-Lay products, you may want to be mindful of one particular bag of chips that's best avoided for the time being. 
    Specifically, Frito-Lay has issued a voluntary recall for 16 â…› ounce bags of its Ruffles All Dressed Potato Chips. As you might've gathered from the previous paragraph, the issue at hand is the potential presence of undeclared milk ingredients, which could certainly pose a threat to anyone with a dairy allergy or intolerance. 
    According to a company announcement shared by the FDA, the chip bags in question may have made their way to regional Sam's Club warehouses in the Southeast, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. 
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    Better Made Snack Foods names Catherine Gusmano as CEO

    Better Made Snack Foods has named Catherine Gusmano as its new CEO, the Detroit-based company announced Friday. 

    Gusmano, current chairman of the board, is a second-generation family member leading the potato chip company her father, Peter Cipriano, co-founded with Cross Moceri in 1930. She replaces her brother Sam Cipriano, who died last month at age 80. He had served as CEO for 10 years.

    The board appointed Gusmano unanimously. She will continue to also serve as chairman of the board, the company said. 
    “Cathy is open minded and approachable, and has a strong sense of ownership,” Dave Jones, president of Better Made Snack Foods, said in a release. “She’s Better Made’s matriarch and she’s looking forward to the continued growth of the company.”
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    REPORT: SNACKING SPIKED DURING PANDEMIC LOCKDOWNS

    As people spent more time at home during the pandemic, snacking rose significantly as a means to ease sadness, boredom, and stress.
    In fact, the average U.S. consumer reported eating 37% more snack foods and treats while feeling sad or depressed, according to NPD Group’s Future of Snacking report.
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    Cheetos And Doritos Go Head-to-Head In Epic Flamin' Hot Faceoff

    PLANO, Texas, April 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After years of fans debating and taking sides, Cheetos® and Doritos® will officially settle the score to see which beloved brand is truly the most loved. Will it be Team Cheetos, or will it be Team Doritos? Frito-Lay's epic "Flamin' Hot® Faceoff" campaign will ask fans to weigh in and ultimately crown a champion — not just for bragging rights, but for Flamin' Hot swag.
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    PepsiCo to scale regenerative farming plan and cut 3 million tons of GHG by 2030


    22 Apr 2021 --- PepsiCo plans to spread regenerative farming practices across seven million acres, equal to the same size of land it uses to grow crops for the F&B giant’s products by 2030. 

    This will see more initiatives like PepsiCo’s Walkers crisps using “circular potatoes” technology to turn the peelings into low-carbon, nutrient-rich fertilizer, coming online. The use of this fertilizer is expected to reduce Walkers’ carbon emissions from growing potatoes by 70 percent.

    Investments in innovative and sustainable agriculture solutions are being driven by PepsiCo’s iconic brands, many of which have already embedded the company’s Positive Agriculture approach in their lifecycle.
    Another good example is Quaker developing the “Opti-Oat” initiative, which uses over one million data points to guide farmers in how to grow the “perfect oat,” improving yields and creating a more sustainable source of oats.
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    Herr's Fire Ridged Potato Chips & Cheese Curls


    Herr's is bringing the heat with the launch of two new fiery snacks that deliver big flavor: Herr's Fire Ridged Potato Chips and Herr's Fire Cheese Curls. Both products deliver a fiery sensation that is balanced by savory and sweet notes. Herr's Fire Ridged Potato Chips have a suggested retail price of 50 cents for a 1-ounce bag, $1.89 for a 2.75-ounce bag, and $4.29 for a 9-ounce bag. Herr's Fire Cheese Curls have a suggested price of 50 cents for a 1-ounce bag, $1.89 for a 3-ounce bag, and $3.69 for a 7.5-ounce bag. The development of these new products also led Herr's to another heat-related innovation: it will soon start rolling out unified "heat meter" branding on its packaging so that consumers can easily choose between mild, medium or hot heat in many other Herr's snack products.
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    Maine Potato chip company 'Vintage Maine Kitchen' finds a new home in Pownal

    A new potato chip manufacturing facility promises to bring changes to small, rural Pownal.

    The town of about 1,500 will welcome Vintage Maine Kitchen, a small-batch, artisan potato chip company currently based in Freeport. The company will move into the ground floor of the former North Pownal General Store at 83 Fickett Road.

    The Pownal Board of Appeals unanimously approved the change last Thursday, with a few limitations to ease neighbors’ nerves. The business’ hours of operation must be between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and ingredient deliveries can only arrive between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

    Alice and Louis Hanson, who live next door to the former store, were the only opposing voices in the decision, according to a letter they wrote to the board.
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    Milwaukee has a new potato chip company, Champion Chips


    Mike Hottinger, the owner of the Peanut Butter & Jelly Deli in West Allis, was chatting with a friend who observed, "There’s not a good local potato chip being made."
    "We just sat there and pondered that," trying to think of a local maker and distributor, Hottinger said. "I sell a lot of chips with my sandwiches at the deli and you know, he’s right." None of the bags of chips he sells is made locally.
    Chris Koncki, who owns Mama's Boy Salsa, happened to make a delivery to the deli on behalf of his friend Dave Jurena's Soup Market. Hottinger and Koncki started talking chips and thought there was a void in the market they could fill. 
    So, after meetings, test batches and the purchase of a commercial fryer, the three men launched Champion Chips. The first bags went on sale Jan. 10.
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    Potato chip sales boosted by pandemic, product development


    KANSAS CITY — Potato chips have always been a favorite indulgence because they are familiar and satisfying, and they taste great. These attributes catered to consumers’ need for comfort food, driving potato chip sales during the pandemic. The category posted the most growth of all salty snack categories with an increase of almost $50.8 million in sales for the first three months of 2020, as compared with 2019, according to Information Resources, Inc. retail sales figures for the US snacking market.
    Potato chips have long been a pioneering staple on pantry shelves. As stay-at-home orders were put in place, demand for core snacks exploded as people rushed to fill their cupboards with their favorite snack foods.
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    Farm Honored for Growing Potato Chip Business


    Creating a value-added item can bring another revenue stream to a farm. For Marquart Farms in Gainesville, New York, it also has brought recognition from the New York State Agricultural Society, which honored the farm at its January forum with the 2021 Business of the Year Award.
    The farm was honored for its New York Chips product line.
    “It’s always nice to be recognized for the work we put in,” said Chad Heeb, vice president of operation and sales for New York Chips and New York Spuds. “We’re a small farm in a world where it seems ag is a second thought. There are still people out there who care where their food is grown and how it’s grown.”
    06:07 – Lithia Motors has closed on the acquisition of the Suburban Collection.
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    PODCAST: Remembering Detroit’s Prince of Potato Chips

    For our feature conversation, Potato chip expert, author and journalist Karen Dybis joins us to talk about the passing of the prince of chips. You might know him as Better Made CEO, Salvatore “Sam” Cipriano.
    But first, some news.
    00:29 – Coronavirus update, including stunningly high case positivity rates across the region and in the city of Detroit.
    02:25 – Facial recognition technology used to identify suspects in Detroit is in the news again, this time as the ACLU is suing on behalf of a wrongly arrested man.
    05:12 – Detroit’s casino revenues are rebounding
    06:07 – Lithia Motors has closed on the acquisition of the Suburban Collection.
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    Photos: New Milwaukee potato chip company uses Wisconsin potatoes


    Michael Moeller, who founded Milwaukee Chip Co. in Riverwest, recently began distributing the 1.25-ounce bags. They're sold at Black Husky Brewing in Riverwest and Nice Sandwich in West Allis.
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    Michigan Potato Chip Producers Expect Warming Temperatures to Affect Production


    Climate change could impact your chip addiction.
    Michigan produces more potatoes for chips than any other state because the outdoor air is usually cold enough to store them for months.
    But with increasing temperatures, scientists say there will be fewer days this century when potatoes and other crops can be stored long term without refrigeration.
    That could boost costs for consumers and producers.
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    High-tech potato chip making: Advanced technology produces snack chips with less oil, energy


    Grant funding from the Idaho Department of Commerce could potentially help the Idaho potato industry implement new technology enabling snack makers to fry potato chips at a lower temperature and with less oil. 
    Looking to advance Idaho’s footprint in the potato processing industry the state recently awarded an Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) grant of about $292,000 to Boise State University in partnership with Boise-based Food Physics Group. BSU will help Food Physics Group introduce pulse electric field (PEF) technology to the potato chip and snack food industry.
    IGEM grants serve as a bridge for university researchers to collaborate with Idaho private sector businesses and through these partnerships enhance, cultivate and potentially establish new economic opportunities in the state.
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    Establishing Roots: Aberdeen farm family starts potato chip business


    ABERDEEN — From field to bag to front door, an Aberdeen farm family has recently launched a potato chip business that focuses on being involved in all parts of the potato’s journey from seed to the customer’s palate.
    Roots Potato Chips, which was started in late February, is an endeavor that Aberdeen farmer Ladd Wahlen and his wife Zoey decided to pursue after experimenting with the concept in 2020.
    And although it’s only been about three weeks since its inception, the Wahlens said their company has seen great success both in-state and out of it.
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    Mikesell’s Potato Chip Co. joins area businesses in winning JobsOhio grants


    A trio of area companies has won JobsOhio inclusion grants totaling $125,000, the Dayton Development Coalition announced.

    Those companies are Mikesell’s Potato Chip Co. in Dayton, Tri-State Media LLC in Wilmington and Wicked Welding Inc., found in Harrison Twp.

    The grant aims to support eligible projects in “distressed” communities and for businesses owned by underrepresented populations across the state. The coalition, JobsOhio’s network partner for the Dayton Region, supported the companies through the grant application process.
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    Cabot introducing a new line of snack products


    Cabot is teaming up with Vermont Cheese Products, Inc. to introduce a cheesy line of snack products! They will be making boxed macaroni and cheese, popcorn, and potato chips.
    Cabot and VCPI will kick-off their new snacks with easy-to-make Cabot Seriously Sharp Mac & Cheese, followed by Cabot Seriously Sharp, Pepper Jack, and Maple Cheddar popcorn flavors. Additionally, VCPI plans to introduce Habanero Cheddar, Spicy Jack Cheddar, and Smokey Bacon Cheddar popcorn flavors. There will also be seasonal variations such as Apple Pie Cheddar Popcorn in the Fall.
    Local 44’s Brittany Wier caught up with Brian Littlefield, Cabot’s National Industrial Sales Manager and Adam Farmer, CEO  the licensing firm, VCPI to try this new cheesy treat!
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    Amazon unveils Aplenty, its newest private label food brand


    Dive Brief:
    • Amazon has unveiled Aplenty, a new private label food brand set to eventually include hundreds of products across a variety of center store categories, the retailer said in an email Monday morning.
    • The brand, which is available online and at Amazon's Fresh grocery stores, launched with items including twice-baked parmesan, garlic and herbs pita chips; slow-baked cornbread crackers; and salted caramel chip mini cookies.
    • Amazon is expanding its lineup of house brands amid a deepening focus by food retailers on private label products, which promise larger profit margins than items carrying name brands.
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    Snack makers will need to adjust to more mobile consumers


    CHICAGO — A shift in the snacking category this year should bring changes in packaging sizes. Bar makers could benefit as well. E-commerce sales should continue to sail, increasingly taking up a larger share of the category.
    “What we do know is that mobility is going to be the trigger that really changes what we see in ’21 going forward,” said Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president and practice leader for Information Resources, Inc., in an April 1 webinar.
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    How the pandemic is reshaping the snacking occasion


    Several studies have shown a long-term increase in snacking, but the reasons for grabbing a bite or beverage have shifted over the past year. With the full force of the COVID-19 health crisis weighing on consumers, it’s clear that emotions are playing an even greater role in their choices.
    “Snacking habits can tend to be a little bit more malleable than other kinds of traditional habits,” said Brad Schwan, vice president of category marketing for Archer Daniels Midland. The ingredients provider has been reviewing different sources of data to get an understanding of how snacking behavior has been affected by the pandemic.
    In a recent review of the research, a few notable shifts jump out. While the number of times consumers snack throughout the day has remained steady, the overall volume has grown, according to an October 2020 survey by The Hartman Group cited by ADM. Meanwhile, 35% of consumers said they were snacking more often, and 20% have changed how they snack from the previous year.   
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    Watch: PepsiCo adds rooftop solar at New Jersey warehouse


    New Jersey-based installer Infiniti Energy Services has completed a nearly 1 MW rooftop solar array at a PepsiCo bottling warehouse in Piscataway, New Jersey, about an hour north of Trenton. The project is part of PepsiCo’s U.S. and global corporate sustainability initiatives.
    Totaling 992.8 kW, the project includes 2,482 Trina 400 W modules with Tigo rapid shutdown units, PanelClaw FR10D racking, and 12 Chint 60 kW inverters.
    PepsiCo recently doubled its climate goals and pledged to achieve global net-zero emissions by 2040. The major food and beverage company also said it met its 2020 target to source 100% renewable electricity for its U.S.-based operations.

    In addition to the rooftop array at its Piscataway facility, PepsiCo has solar panels at its global headquarters in Purchase, New York, and has other solar resources at Frito-Lay facilities in California and Arizona, as well as PepsiCo beverage facilities in those same states.
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    PepsiCo bets on vaccine-led reopenings for soda sales boost


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    Snack brand Spudsy announce $3.3m Series A funding


    US sweet potato snack brand Spudsy has announced that it has raised $3.3 million in a recent Series A funding round as it looks to expand.
    The round was led by private investment firms KarpReilly and Stage 1 Fund. 
    Spudsy takes millions of sweet potatoes that normally end up in landfills, due to minor flaws like shape, size and colour, and transforms them into its range of sweet potato snacks which includes sweet potato fry crisps and sweet potato puffs.
    These investments will accelerate its expansion into entering new sales channels and reaching new customers. The brand also plans on “utilizing these funds to develop its sales and marketing strategies and build out its DTC channel”.
    Ashley Rogers, CEO of Spudsy, said: “It was really important to our team that we find partners that share the same vision, passion and goals as we do around making snacks that taste good and do good for the environment. KarpReilly and Stage 1 Fund really understand our mission and as a result of their vast network of industry experts we have been able to scale our brand at a more rapid pace.” 
    The recent funding round brings Spudsy’s total amount to $6.5 million.


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    April 15 (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc (PEP.O) on Thursday predicted an acceleration in organic revenue growth in the second quarter, betting on a boost to soda sales from the gradual reopening of restaurants and theaters following the speedy rollout of coronavirus vaccines.
    The company, a pandemic winner, has been benefiting from homebound consumers stocking up their pantries with salty chips, sodas and oatmeal, and posted first-quarter revenue that beat Wall Street expectations.
    But with COVID-19 restrictions starting to ease, Pepsi expects its North American beverage business, a unit that aggressively competes with Coca-Cola
    (KO.N) for market share, to "perform well" and the snack unit to "remain resilient."
    "We had been losing market share in the beverage space in the past... It's getting better. We are gaining share right now," Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston told Reuters.

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    LONG-TIME BETTER MADE SNACKS FOODS CEO, SAM CIPRIANO, HAS DIED



    DETROIT, MI – Salvatore “Sam” Cipriano, CEO of Better Made Snack Foods, has died after a brief illness. He passed away early on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 from heart failure. Sam was years 80 years old. He served as CEO of Better Made for 10 years.
    Sam Cipriano was the second generation to lead Better Made Snack Foods, and made strides in taking the company to new levels of success. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the American Heart Association.
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    Lay’s Has Three New Summer-Inspired Chip Flavors That Sound Seriously Delicious


    It’s already time for warm-weather treats to make their way to shelves. Frito-Lay’s Lay’s has not just one, not two, but three flavors that will be rolling out for 2021 summer. Each one showcases a different part of the season that makes it such a fun time for flavors.
    For a limited time, you’ll be able to get Lay’s Chile Mango, Wavy Jerk Chicken, and Summer BLT chips. As you can tell just from the names alone, they involve foods that you’d especially dive into in June, July, and August. So whether you’re going for a tropical bite or something you’d find on the grill, Lay’s is clearly hitting the mark.


    Utz Brands Announces Investment to Expand Florida DSD Capabilities


    HANOVER, PA (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Utz Brands, Inc. (“Utz” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the purchase of certain distribution rights in the Central Florida region from an existing third party direct store delivery (“DSD”) distributor, National Food Corp. This acquisition of 21 DSD routes provides Utz with an opportunity to accelerate the Company’s share of the Salty Snack category across Central Florida, including Orlando, Tampa and Sarasota.
    As a large and vibrant market, Florida ranks as the third largest state for Salty Snack sales. In 2020, retail sales of Salty Snacks in Florida were $1.8 billion, increasing +7.7% over the prior year. Florida’s large consumer base combined with strong awareness of Utz’s portfolio of brands will uniquely position the Company to generate incremental sales as it develops a world-class DSD distribution system throughout the state. Utz has a growing presence in the Florida region with 2020 retail sales of $48 million that increased +16.6%, according to IRI. This represents only 2.6% of the Florida retail market, well under Utz’s national share average of 4.8%1.
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    Snack sector looks to lentils, beans and insects as ‘health by stealth’ hits limit


    As the snack sector reaches its technological limits in cutting salt and fat from products, European manufacturers are accelerating reformulating efforts using lentils, beans, other vegetables -- and even insects -- as a way of meeting consumer demand for healthier snacking options.
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    Moving snacks from Point A to Point Z: How Frito-Lay is creating a sustainable supply chain

    This article is sponsored by Frito-Lay.
    As the impacts of climate change become part of our daily lives, the PepsiCo team recognizes that with scale and resources also comes great responsibility to take bold action. PepsiCo recently announced its climate goal to reduce 75 percent of absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across direct operations and 40 percent in our indirect value chain by 2030. PepsiCo also pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, one decade earlier than called for in the Paris Agreement.
    At Frito-Lay, we are doing our part to reduce our environmental impact and help build a more sustainable business. While this is a big task, we are making progress across the organization by taking an innovative approach to transportation and manufacturing processes. 
    Frito-Lay is replacing all existing diesel-powered fleet equipment with zero-emission (ZE) and near-zero emission (NZE) technologies at our Modesto, California, manufacturing site, furthering PepsiCo’s mission to reduce its absolute GHG emissions.
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    Utz Brands Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Financial Results

    Q4 Net Sales Growth of 22.1% and Pro Forma Net Sales Growth of 6.8%
    Builds Foundation for Continued Long-term Growth
    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (“Utz” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, today reported financial results for the Company’s 14-week fiscal fourth quarter and 53-week fiscal 2020 ended January 3, 2021.
    “2020 was a transformational year for Utz. We began our new chapter as a publicly traded company, and we delivered double-digit retail sales growth, making Utz the #3 brand platform in U.S. Salty Snacks and one of the fastest growing salty snack platforms of scale. Growth was led by our Power Brands and we added three million more buyers during the year. Despite the challenges of the pandemic and the demanding environment for our team, we reacted quickly and put protocols in place to protect our associates and customers, which enabled us to deliver these strong results,” said Dylan Lissette, Chief Executive Officer of Utz. “Looking ahead, we remain excited about our opportunity for continued long-term profitable growth, as we actively deploy our value creation strategies for the benefit of our stockholders.”
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    Doritos teams up with Twitch Rivals Europe
    Twitch Rivals Europe has named its first sponsor for the streamer and esports event, with snack brand Doritos announced as an official marketing partner.
    As a result of the partnership, Doritos will launch the Doritos Disruptor Series EMEA, an event that sees Twitch creators host a number of local market tournaments with selected groups of aspiring streamers.
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    March Madness Snack Forecast for Grocers

    Same-day grocery delivery provider Shipt has a few ideas about what grocers can expect this year when it comes to March Madness snack trends.
    According to data pulled by Shipt from last year's college basketball season, there were clear favorites when it came to snack preferences. Fans used Shipt's delivery service to order more than 231,000 bags of Doritos, 136,000 boxes of Cheez-Its, 133,000 bags of Goldfish and 107,000 bags of Tostitos.
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    Herr's Fire Ridged Potato Chips & Cheese Curls
    Nature’s Eats launches new chip category innovation – the first almond tortilla chip
    â—‹ Satisfying nutty taste and crunch
    â—‹ Packed with nutritional benefits
    â—‹ Low carb, grain and gluten-free
    â—‹ Ideal snack for special diets
    In time for National Chip And Dip Day on March 23rd, Nature’s Eats, a brand of Texas Star Nut & Food Company, is launching a first to market almond chip, called Nutchos. Now health conscious consumers will have a new tasty snack option over traditional tortilla chips.
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    Herr's Fire Ridged Potato Chips & Cheese Curls
    Pringles® plucked a new flavor from the far reaches of the gaming world, answering a question pondered by many Halo fans: what would a “Moa Burger” taste like? 
    For those not fluent in the video game Halo’s lore, Moa are large, flightless bird-like creatures with two legs, wings, scales from the neck up, and a lizard-like head – similar to the extinct bird from New Zealand of the same name. The bird is native to the Halo planet called Reach and is the signature dish of a restaurant chain in that universe, so the gaming community is continually curious about what Moa might taste like in burger form. 
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    Herr's Fire Ridged Potato Chips & Cheese Curls
    Herr's is bringing the heat with the launch of two new fiery snacks that deliver big flavor: Herr's Fire Ridged Potato Chips and Herr's Fire Cheese Curls. Both products deliver a fiery sensation that is balanced by savory and sweet notes. Herr's Fire Ridged Potato Chips have a suggested retail price of 50 cents for a 1-ounce bag, $1.89 for a 2.75-ounce bag, and $4.29 for a 9-ounce bag. Herr's Fire Cheese Curls have a suggested price of 50 cents for a 1-ounce bag, $1.89 for a 3-ounce bag, and $3.69 for a 7.5-ounce bag. The development of these new products also led Herr's to another heat-related innovation: it will soon start rolling out unified "heat meter" branding on its packaging so that consumers can easily choose between mild, medium or hot heat in many other Herr's snack products.
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    Herr's Chips In To Celebrate Their 75 Years Of Snack Flavor Innovation

    NOTTINGHAM, Pa., March 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the last 75 years, food lovers have enjoyed more than 300 varieties of craveable snacks from Pennsylvania-based Herr's, the nation's largest family-owned snack maker. As Herr's transitions from second to third-generation management, the company remains at the forefront of innovation and continues to create flavor-packed snacks that have become favorites of fans near and far. To commemorate the landmark 75th anniversary, Herr's is releasing a limited-edition Homestyle kettle cooked potato chip and launching 75 days of celebrations to give back to the Philadelphia communities and fans who have supported Herr's through the years.
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    No More Snackrifice: Hilo Life Introduces Keto-Friendly Almond Flour-Based Chips
    NEW YORK, March 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilo Life, a brand on a mission to make foods a source of joy for carb counters, is announcing today the launch of a keto-friendly, almond flour-based chip. This exciting innovation delivers a crunchy texture and bold flavor with 3 grams net carbs and 9 grams protein per serving1. Available in three popular snack flavor profiles, Nacho Cheese, Ranch and Spicy Salsa, the tortilla style chips were developed for carb-conscious snackers who have 'Nosh-talgia' and miss traditional chips.
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    Ka-Pop! Snacks and Bubba's Fine Foods Merge to Create a Powerhouse Healthy CPG Company: Awakened Foods™
    LOVELAND, Colo., March 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ka-Pop! Snacks, makers of Ancient Grain Popped Chips & Puffs, and Bubba's Fine Foods, makers of Paleo & Keto-friendly snacks, granolas, and private-label goods, announced a merger agreement today. This new company, operating as Awakened Foods, will compete in the fastest-growing food trends in the $110B global healthy snacks market and the $38B global cereal/granola market.
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    Frito-Lay Adds Flavor to the Fun as Official Salty-Snack Chip Partner of Six Flags
    PLANO, Texas, March 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The thrill is calling, and the snacks are answering. Frito-Lay is now the Official Salty-Snack Chip partner of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the world's largest regional theme park company and the largest operator of waterparks in North America. Beginning this spring, and as we head into the warm summer months, park guests can enjoy their favorite Frito-Lay snacks as they experience record-breaking roller coasters, unforgettable rides and thrilling water attractions in a safe, outdoor environment.
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    Herr's Chips In To Celebrate Their 75 Years Of Snack Flavor Innovation
    NOTTINGHAM, Pa., March 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the last 75 years, food lovers have enjoyed more than 300 varieties of craveable snacks from Pennsylvania-based Herr's, the nation's largest family-owned snack maker. As Herr's transitions from second to third-generation management, the company remains at the forefront of innovation and continues to create flavor-packed snacks that have become favorites of fans near and far. To commemorate the landmark 75th anniversary, Herr's is releasing a limited-edition Homestyle kettle cooked potato chip and launching 75 days of celebrations to give back to the Philadelphia communities and fans who have supported Herr's through the years.
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    Anthony Davis Joined by Jayson Tatum and T-Pain to Help Ruffles Rally Fans to Own Their Ridges
    PLANO, Texas, Feb. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ruffles®, Official Chip of the NBA and one of the marquee brands from PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division, has launched an electric new campaign, Own Your Ridges™, featuring eight-time NBA All-Star, Anthony Davis. A brand famous for the ridges on its chips, the campaign is intended to inspire fans to unapologetically embrace what makes them unique — their "ridges."
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    Kellogg's Reinvents Two Fan-Favorite Cracker Brands: All-New Club® Crisps and Town House® Dipping Thins
    BATTLE CREEK, Mich., March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kellogg's Crackers is offering two delicious new ways to make the most of your snack breaks with the introduction of Club® Crisps and Town House® Dipping Thins. Both varieties are thinner and crispier versions of fan-favorite brands, giving snack lovers more opportunities to customize their snacking experiences throughout the day.
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    Utz Brands doubles down on digital ads to grow snack sales, retain customers

    Utz Brands CEO Dylan Lissette told CNBC Friday that the company is increasing its marketing spend on digital advertising to reach new customers and grow snack sales.
    “We’re putting a lot of money there. As we go forward into 2021 [it will be] about a 60% increase,” he said in a “
    Mad Money” interview with Jim Cramer. “But as we look beyond that, we’re going to be putting even more in.”

    The company, which sells a range of salty snacks including potato chips and pretzels, is looking to capitalize on pandemic-era lockdowns that have left consumers eating at home. The company’s portfolio includes brands like Zapp’s, Golden Flake and Boulder Canyon.
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    Pepsi says revenue jumped 8.8%, sees 2021 results meeting long-term targets

    • PepsiCo topped Wall Street’s estimates for its fourth-quarter earnings and revenue.
    • The company is anticipating mid-single-digit growth in organic revenue in 2021 and high-single-digit growth in core earnings per share.
    • Pepsi benefited from the continuation of pandemic snacking trends, as well as strong sales of its drinks.
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    Boosted by lockdowns, U.S. potato sales hit record in 2020

    Total potato sales at retail were at five-year record highs for both dollar and volume sales in 2020, according to Potatoes USA.
    Potatoes were consistently one of the highest performing produce items in terms of year-on-year growth, as consumers looked to purchase longer-lasting fruit and vegetables during the lockdowns.
    Dollar sales increased by 16% compared to 2019 and all categories, except deli-prepared sides, grew by double-digit dollar sales.
    Dehydrated recorded the highest sales increases in dollars by 30% and volume sales by 25%. Canned and bottled saw the second-largest dollar increase at 29%, and frozen had the second-largest volume increase at 23%.

    The largest growth in dollar and volume sales for potatoes occurred from April through June - the onset of the pandemic - although all months grew by over 9% for both metrics.
    Fresh sales increased by almost 21% in dollars and 15% in volume. All types increased in dollar and volume sales by at least 6%.
    Within the fresh category, medley potatoes had the highest dollar and volume sales increase with dollar sales by 34% and volume sales by 38%.
    While all package sizes saw double-digit growth in dollar sales, one-pound through four-pound bags saw the largest increase, growing by 24% in dollars and 19% in volume.
    Five-pound bags make up 47% of all package sizes bought at retail, and grew in dollars and volume sales by double-digits compared to 2019.
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    Utz Brands, Inc. Shares Success With Its Team!

    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. is pleased to announce an approximately $6 million-dollar profit sharing contribution for Utz Associates. Started over forty years ago, the Utz 401K Profit Sharing Plan is committed to supporting Utz Associates and their families based on the company meeting a range of corporate and operational goals. Since 2000, the 401K profit sharing contributions for Associates has exceeded $75 million dollars.
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    Utz Celebrates National Potato Chip Day With Promotions and Sweepstakes Galore!

    Cereal Giant POST invests in PeaTos revolutionary snack brand. (Photo: Business Wire)
    February 02, 2021 05:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
    LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Less than six months after raising $7M in a Series A round, PeaTos®, the revolutionary snack chip brand, announced that it has secured Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POST) to lead its $12.5M Series B round. The funds will enable PeaTos to continue driving its mission to revolutionize America’s favorite chips by adding nutrient-dense peas to the traditional corn base and replacing the artificial colors and flavors with more natural ingredients. PeaTos has experienced explosive growth and received widespread acclaim due to its unique approach of creating a better form of “junk food”, one that has all the flavor and fun of traditional snacks like Cheetos® and Doritos®, but all the nutrient claims of better-for-you options.
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    Rapidly Growing Disruptive Snack Brand PeaTos® Secures Cereal Giant Post Holdings to Lead $12.5M Series B Round

    Cereal Giant POST invests in PeaTos revolutionary snack brand. (Photo: Business Wire)
    February 02, 2021 05:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
    LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Less than six months after raising $7M in a Series A round, PeaTos®, the revolutionary snack chip brand, announced that it has secured Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POST) to lead its $12.5M Series B round. The funds will enable PeaTos to continue driving its mission to revolutionize America’s favorite chips by adding nutrient-dense peas to the traditional corn base and replacing the artificial colors and flavors with more natural ingredients. PeaTos has experienced explosive growth and received widespread acclaim due to its unique approach of creating a better form of “junk food”, one that has all the flavor and fun of traditional snacks like Cheetos® and Doritos®, but all the nutrient claims of better-for-you options.
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    Utz retires century-old Husman's snack brand

    Dive Brief:
    • Snacking company Utz Brands announced it will discontinue the 102-year-old Husman’s snacks brand, which it acquired along with Snyder of Berlin from Conagra in 2019, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. For more than 15 years, Husman’s had been produced in Pennsylvania and sold there and in Ohio. An Utz spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Food Dive that since it has owned the brand, sales have been “steadily declining” in an extremely competitive snack market, and it made the decision based on consumer demand and retailer feedback. 
    • The spokesperson said that this February, Utz will introduce other snack brands and begin producing new products at the same factory where Husman’s chips were made. The Utz spokesperson noted that the discontinuation of the Husman's brand will not affect its workforce negatively, adding that “we have added positions and plan to add even more.”
    • The last several months have been eventful for Utz. Since August 2020, the company was acquired by blank check company Collier Creek Holdings, it went public on the New York Stock Exchange and it has closed on three acquisitions. This latest move further accelerates the company’s portfolio restructuring as it reinvents itself to compete in the competitive snacking category.
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    Pringles® Releases Out-Of-This-World 2021 Big Game Flavor Stacking Ad

    BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the biggest snacking day of the year approaches, the Pringles® brand is ready for take-off and releasing its fourth consecutive Big Game spot. Fans were given a SNEAK PEEK via the Pringles social channels, and the brand is now debuting the full spot HERE.
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    Spreading the PEAS & Love: The Craftory Invests $50M in HIPPEAS® Organic Chickpea Snacks

    NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HIPPEAS® Organic Chickpea Snacks has raised $50M from The Craftory Limited. The Craftory is a revolutionary investment house that is a notably counter-corporate and anti-traditional VC. The brand intends to use the funds to boost innovation, expand production, increase distribution, and amplify its positive impact. The financing consisted of direct investment and secondary purchases of shares from existing HIPPEAS® shareholders, including CAVU Venture Partners.
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    More Snacking and Smaller Gatherings at Home Expected for Super Bowl LV, Frito-Lay U.S. Snack Index Finds

    PLANO, Texas, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Super Bowl celebrations will look different this year, but snacks will continue to be a welcome guest. According to results from Frito-Lay's latest U.S. Snack Index1, a poll focused on consumers' snacking habits – more than 40 percent of Americans are snacking more than they did last year as the Super Bowl LV broadcast is still expected to be the most-watched event of the year. With eight in 10 Americans planning to tune in, Frito-Lay estimates even more snacking – a 21 percent increase from Super Bowl LIV – during this year's game.
    Retail sales data shows Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest snacking days of the year, but snack consumption has seen a significant uptick since the onset of the pandemic. With half of consumers (50 percent) saying they look forward to eating the snacks they love but don't eat every day during the Super Bowl, Frito-Lay is preparing to meet increased demand – producing more than 70 million pounds of snacks in the week leading up to the game.
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    The PLANeT Partnership: Beyond Meat and PepsiCo jointly pilot plant-based snacks and beverages

    27 Jan 2021 --- Beyond Meat and PepsiCo have linked up in a significant move that will create and scale up an array of plant-based selections for the snacks and drinks aisles. The meat alternatives player and beverage giant have coined their new joint venture operations The PLANeT Partnership. 
    FoodIngredientsFirst reached out to the companies for insights into the project, which will leverage Beyond Meat’s food processing technologies and PepsiCo’s marketing and commercial capabilities. The financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.  
    However, Beyond Meat’s shares jumped 17.7 percent to US$186.83 today following the announcement yesterday.
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    Startup keys in on post-pandemic snack trends

    LONDON — Mindful Snacker is looking for opportunities to make snacking healthier and tastier.
    The UK-based brand is owned by Pilot Lite Group, a global venture management company, and is spearheaded by Tara Quick, a former marketing executive and self-confessed foodie. Ms. Quick also brings experience working with startups. Prior to joining Pilot Lite Group’s new snacking venture, she worked with brands including Moyee Coffee, The Other Bar and Three Jones Pizza.
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    Frito-Lay to run trio of Super Bowl ads for first time

    Dive Brief:
    • PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division for the first time will run three campaigns during the Super Bowl, premiering TV commercials for Doritos, Cheetos and its portfolio of snack brands. The portfolio campaign will feature the most NFL stars ever in a PepsiCo spot, per an announcement emailed to Marketing Dive.
    • Peyton and Eli Manning, Troy Aikman, Deion Sanders and other football luminaries will appear in the Frito-Lay portfolio ad. The company also will run spots for Doritos 3D Crunch, the cone-shape tortilla chips that the snack brand reintroduced last month, and for Cheetos Crunch Pop Mix, a new product from the Cheetos brand.
    • Frito-Lay's expanded Super Bowl play comes as parent company PepsiCo revamps its marketing around the big game. The company's Pepsi soda brand, the regular Super Bowl halftime show sponsor, will eschew an in-game commercial this year, and is instead promoting headliner The Weeknd in a multichannel campaign that includes national TV ads, digital content and a microsite, along with in-store activations.
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    Cheetos Crunch Pop Mix

    Cheetos introduced Crunch Pop Mix, a combination of traditional Cheetos Crunchy and Cheetos Popcorn. The new snack ties into recent food and snack mashup trends that emerged during 2020, including the infusion of snack mixes into mealtime occasions.
    PF-Favorite-Products-badge
    "2020 was a year unlike any other in that we saw the incredibly popular introduction of Cheetos Popcorn in January, quickly followed by world-changing events that affected every industry differently," said Rachel Ferdinando, SVP and CMO, Frito-Lay North America. "For our brands, we saw trends like Cheetos recipe searches skyrocketing 190%. So now we're thinking with that lens through everything we introduce to the world. Hopefully Cheetos Crunch Pop Mix can provide a small moment of joy and bring a few smiles this year."
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    With Hundreds of Potato Varieties in U.S. Govt. Spends Millions to Develop More

    Although there are already hundreds of different types of potatoes in the United States, the government wants additional varieties and is spending $2.5 million to develop more kinds. It appears to be a concocted potato emergency and American taxpayers will come to the rescue by funding an essential Potato Research Program. The goal, according to the federal agency doling out the cash, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is to establish new potato varieties with a high value to the nation’s commercial potato industry. It will be accomplished through a process known as varietal development and testing research that uses conventional breeding and/or biotechnological genetics to develop improved potato varieties, according to the grant announcement.
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    WHAT WILL AMERICANS EAT DURING THE SUPER BOWL?

    Super Bowl parties may look different this year, but food will still be a major part of them.
    Frito-Lay estimates a 21% increase in snacking vs. previous Super Bowls as more consumers plan to watch at home in smaller gatherings.
    “Super Bowl is as much about enjoying a fun, shared national moment with our favorite foods and beverages as it is about the football game,” said Mike Del Pozzo, Chief Customer Officer, Frito-Lay North America in a press release. “Americans continue to look for familiarity and comfort in their favorite foods as the pandemic has continued, and we expect that trend to remain in the weeks leading up to game day.”
    Potato chips are usually the top snack of choice, but during the game, 68% of surveyed adults agreed that chips and dip are the must-have snack. And for the third year in a row, salsa is the most popular dip to pair with Super Bowl snacks, followed by cheese dips and spreads, French onion dip, and guacamole.
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    FOOD INDUSTRY BUGGING OUT OVER INSECT PROTEIN

    The edible insect market, which surpassed $112 million in 2019, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 26.5% from 2020 to 2027 to reach $4.63 billion by 2027, according to Research and Markets.
    Companies are banking on this unique way to produce protein. Here’s a closer examination of why companies are so intrigued by the edible insect market.
    The Future of Food Supply?
    The market’s rapid expansion is largely due to sustainability. Insects can be grown with limited natural resources and a relatively small environmental footprint. Other factors at play include the growing emission of greenhouse gases from livestock and poultry, high nutritional value of insects, and a low risk of transmitting zoonotic diseases.
    Insect production for food and animal feed is on its way to becoming more mainstream. Archer Daniels Midland and InnovaFeed plan to begin building what will be the world’s largest insect protein facility this year in Decatur, Illinois, reported Forbes (Dec. 31, 2020).
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    Highely Demand of potato chip in 2020 - 2027 | Kiwi Food, Balaji Wafers Pvt Ltd., Lay's, Bikaji Snacks

    The Potato Chips Market is expected to have a highly positive outlook for the next five years 2018-2026. This Research Reports emphasizes on key industry analysis, market size, Share, growth and extensive industry dynamics with respect to with respect to drivers, opportunities, pricing details and latest trends in the industry.

    The global Potato Chips market analysis further provides pioneering landscape of market along with market augmentation history and key development involved in the industry. The report also features comprehensive research study for high growth potential industries professional survey with market analysis. Potato Chips market report helps the companies to understand the market trends and future market prospective, opportunities and articulate the critical business strategies.
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    Lay’s Game Day Chili potato chips set to hit shelves in January 2021

    When it comes to watching sports, it’s all about paying attention to the game and eating snacks.
    Lay’s is releasing a new flavor that you can snack on while watching football. Soon, football fans will be able to buy the limited-edition Lay’s Game Day Chili potato chips, Delish reported.
    The brand’s newest limited-time flavor includes the classic combination of chili, tomatoes, onion, peppers, garlic, and Tex-Mex spices.
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    Mister Bee receives federal funds for project improvements

    PARKERSBURG — West Virginia’s only potato chip maker has received a federal loan financing for renewable energy systems and other improvements.
    On Tuesday, officials announced the West Virginia Potato Chip Co. LLC, makers of Mister Bee potato chips, has received $250,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
    The project includes a new warehouse, a water recycler, a new energy-efficient fryer and potato washer, energy-efficient lighting and other energy-efficient equipment, said Mary Anne Ketelsen, owner of the potato chip company. The savings in energy and other costs will be more than $31,000 a year, she said.
    The long-term viability of the company also is enhanced, Ketelsen said. Installations so far have already improved operations and resulted in additional employees, she said.
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    Innovation pays off for potato chip makers

    Potato chips have always been a favorite indulgence because they are familiar and satisfying, and they taste great. These attributes catered to consumers’ need for comfort food, driving potato chip sales during the pandemic. The category posted the most growth of all salty snack categories with an increase of almost $50.8 million in sales for the first three months of 2020, as compared with 2019, according to IRI retail sales figures for the US snacking market.
    Potato chips have long been a pioneering staple on pantry shelves. As stay-at-home orders were put in place, demand for core snacks exploded as people rushed to fill their cupboards with their favorite snack foods.

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    Lay’s potato chips honors Canton woman’s efforts to spread joy

    DETROIT – For years Zaman International founder and CEO, Najah Bazzy, has dedicated herself to helping women, children and refugees.
    The non-governmental organization has helped more than 250,000 women and children by providing basic necessities, education and job training.
    Now Bazzy is getting recognized for it in a very unique and unusual way. You could see her face soon at local grocery stores.
    Lay’s potato chips is honoring Bazzy. She was selected as part of the 30 smiles initiative to be placed on Lay’s potato chip bags.
    “One of the things I always said is I want you to see my smile, not just my scarf,” said Bazzy.
    Zaman International operates out of the Hope For Humanity Center, a 40,500-square-foot facility in Inkster.
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    Pringles Highlights Stackability Amid Bright Colors for New Packaging Design

    For the first time in 20 years, Pringles has updated its unmistakable can with a fresh, new look that features bold hues and a clean design, highlighting the snack's flavors and stackable shape. To complement the can's new look, Pringles also streamlined its mustached mascot to better highlight the flavors in every can and showcase his new range of emotions to match. With a sleeker look including a more dynamic mustache, sharper bow tie, sparkling eyes and expressive eyebrows, Mr. P's "Glow Up" puts the focus on the irresistible taste in every Pringles crisp and stack.
    "We spent the last two years in research and design to create a modern look for the cans and Mr. P's style that reflects the bold flavor in every Pringles crisp and stack," said Gareth Maguire, senior director of marketing for Pringles. "While the look may be new on the outside, I'm proud to say that it doesn't change the irresistible taste that's always been on the inside of every Pringles can and celebrates the unique snacking experience that is part of every bite."
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    A Healthier Way to Chips

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    What even are plantains? Plantains look like large bananas, but they’re very different in many ways. Unlike the banana, which is more sweet, the plantain itself is more starchy and similar to a yucca or potato. Plantains must be cooked and are an essential ingredient in most cuisines found in parts of Central and South America, The Caribbean, Africa and Southeast Asia. Carrying such a unique flavor and being so versatile, plantains make for the most delicious sweet and savory chips!

    These chips, unlike your traditional view on chips, have no trans fat, 0% cholesterol, all-natural flavors, are gluten-free, and have an overall lower fat content than other chips. So looking for a healthier alternative to chips without having to compromise on flavor? Turbana Plantain Chips are the choice for you. We’re selling 7-oz bags of these chips for only $2.69 at your local
    Ocean State Job Lot. Get yours today and start snacking healthy.
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    Potato utilization dips 5% for 2019-20 marketing year

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    A near-double digit gain in potato retail sales wasn’t enough to offset a decline in foodservice sales during the 2019-20 marketing year.
    Showing a 5% decline in the utilization of all potatoes, the domestic sales and
    U.S. potato utilization report for July 2019 to June 2020 marketing year was released by Potatoes USA in December.
    “Despite the 9% increase in sales through retail, the decline occurred due to the 13% decrease in sales to the foodservice sector and 2% decrease in exports,” the report said.

    The utilization of the U.S. crop also was reduced slightly by a 7% increase in imports, according to the report.
    The decline in utilization happened at the end of the marketing year in 2020, according to the report; sales to foodservice, retail, and exports, were all up for the July through December 2019 period.  
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    Utz Brands to acquire Insignia Portfolio Company Truco Enterprises

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    Not that long ago, America’s best-known food brands were launching quirky online shops as a novelty. Now, they’re practically a necessity. Hidden Valley Ranch, Franzia boxed wine, Taco Bell… The list of non-clothing companies catering to diehard fans by selling leisurewear suddenly goes on and on. And for the 2020 holiday season, you can add Frito-Lay to that list.

    Today, the snack giant announced that their website
    Snacks.com—already a hub for buying their edible products online—is now offering “holiday bundles” in a first-ever holiday shop section. There, fans will find sweaters, beanies, socks, scarves, and onesies from Frito-Lay brands including Cheetos, Doritos, Tostitos, Lay’s, and Smartfood.
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    Utz Brands to acquire Insignia Portfolio Company Truco Enterprises

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    Snacks producer Utz Brands Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) is buying tortilla chips maker On the Border from Insignia Capital Group for $480 million to expand its presence in the snacks category. The acquisition gives Utz a new growth channel and expands geographically in snacks, while it gives On the Border the opportunity to expand in more convenience and grocery stores. Mergers & Acquisitions spoke with Utz CEO Dylan Lissette about the industry trends and the company’s acquisition strategy.
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    Utz Brands to acquire Insignia Portfolio Company Truco Enterprises

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    Insignia Capital Group has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Truco Enterprises ("Truco" or the "Company"), a leading maker of tortilla chips, salsa and queso sold under the On The Border ("OTB") brand, to Utz Brands (NYSE: UTZ), for a total purchase price of $480 million. The deal is expected to close in December 2020 and is subject to customary closing conditions including the receipt of regulatory approvals.
    Insignia Capital Group invested in Truco in 2014 to help the Company expand its distribution footprint and launch new product innovation. Together, Insignia and Truco made significant investments in sales and R&D that tripled adjusted EBITDA over the past six years. "It has been a true pleasure partnering with the Truco team to generate this exceptional outcome for all of the Company's stakeholders," said David Lowe, CEO of Insignia Capital Group. "We believe Utz will be an exceptional steward of the brand as Truco executes on its next phase of growth."
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    How US Military Invented America’s Favorite Snacks

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    From instant coffee to Cheetos, packaged cookies and energy bars, the U.S. military helped invent many of the snacks Americans love to eat.    
    The effort accelerated during World War II, when military scientists needed to develop compact yet nutritional ways to feed the troops.   
    “There was a tremendous need for the military to develop modern rations, and it ended up not only inventing a bunch of new food processing techniques but putting in place a food science research system that exists to this day,” says food writer Anastacia Marx de Salcedo, author of "Combat-Ready Kitchen: How the U.S. Military Shapes the Way You Eat". “Out of that came a lot of new techniques and food, and after the war, those were incorporated into snack and convenience foods.” 
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    Snacks Among the Essentials Consumers Plan to Stockpile This Winter

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    PLANO, Texas — As the winter holidays approach, consumers are gearing up by stockpiling snacks — a result of the uneasiness brought on by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
    According to Frito-Lay's latest U.S. Snack Index survey, 66 percent of consumers say they keep more snacks stocked at home than before the coronavirus outbreak. Going into the winter, 54 percent of shoppers are planning to stock up on essentials, with salty snacks the No. 5 category consumers are looking to stash away.
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    PeaTos® Launches “Junkless” Onion Chips to Rival Funyuns® at 215 Sam’s Clubs Across the United States

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    LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PeaTos® snack chips, the company that’s changing the way America snacks, one crunch at a time with its brazen “junk food without the junk” strategy against rival Frito-Lay®, announced today that it is launching PeaTos® onion flavored Rings at 215 Sam’s Clubs stores nationwide as of November 1. The company will debut a 10oz pack of fan-favorite Classic Onion Rings. This move is the latest from a brand that has received glowing reviews from editors at Forbes, Today Show, Dr OZ, The Los Angeles Times, and Vogue to name a few. They have exciting partnerships as well with Best-selling Author and Sports Nutritionist Natalie Jill, Hungry Girl, and others coming up in 2021.
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    Frito-Lay Rolls Out Snack-Themed Ugly Sweaters

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    Last year, Anna Kendrick professed her love for snacking and all things Christmas when she debuted her own rendition of the Sound of Music’s “My Favorite Things.” The spot, which featured branded lines like “Bright yellow Lay’s bags and noses frostbitten,” was such a hit that Frito-Lay decided to recycle it for this year’s holiday season.
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    Frito-Lay survey: 300% surge in online holiday food shopping with snacks at the top of grocery lists

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    With the holidays approaching, half of US shoppers surveyed by Frito-Lay said they will be shopping for their holiday groceries online this year (up from 15% in 2019) with snacks being a top item for 77% of surveyed consumers.
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    Mrs. Fisher’s Thanksgiving Hot Bag sale returns

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    ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - Mrs. Fisher’s is returning their Thanksgiving Hot Bag sale this holiday season.
    This year you can go to the drive up, curb side or walk into Mrs. Fisher’s retail store to stock up on pound bags of regular salted potato chips for $3. There is no limit to how many bags you can buy, according to
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    Ballreich’s teaming up with the Buckeyes to launch new OSU-themed potato chips


    TIFFIN, Ohio — Ballreich Snack Food company, of Tiffin, Ohio, has partnered with The Ohio State University by launching The Tailgate Series.
    The Tailgate Series is a collection of popular tailgating flavors packed into bite-size potato chips. Flavors include Ranch, Cheddar Slider, Jalapeño Popper and Classic.
    Jamie Twining, Vice President of Sales at Ballreich Snack Food Company says, “We are excited about the new partnership with Ohio State University and the unique development of four new potato chip snacks that encompass popular tailgating flavors. We have something for everyone.”

    5B%7B%5C%22surface%5C%22%3A%5C%22messaging%5C%22%2C%5C%22mechanism%5C%22%3A%5C%22attachment%5C%22%2C%5C%22extra_data%5C%22%3A%7B%7D%7D%5D%22"> Mrs. Fisher’s Facebook event page.
    “We are back to frying with shortening and these potato chips taste great! We also have our holiday chocolates and candies available, hoodies, beanie’s and Mrs. Fisher’s face masks. We hope to see you and thank you for supporting local!” Mrs. Fisher’s Facebook post said.
    The sale will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 25 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1231 Fulton Ave. in Rockford.
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    Kwik Trip announces Glazers potato chips, calls them ‘big news’

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    MADISON, Wis. — Kwik Trip announced “big news” Monday: Glazers Potato Chips.
    The idea of Glazers Potato Chips initially started as a joke. Kwik Trip posted about the idea for April Fools Day three years ago.
    lol i found out it was possible to make glazer flavored chips
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    Kellogg introduces Pringles Scorchin’

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    “We've launched spicy flavors in the past, but Pringles Scorchin' is our first dedicated collection,” said Gareth Maguire, senior director of marketing for Pringles. “As we created this collection, we knew spice was important, but we also wanted to preserve the insanely accurate flavors our fans have come to expect from our products. I'm proud to say, we have succeeded on both fronts to offer the perfect balance of bold flavor and spicy heat that builds over time.”
    Pringles Scorchin’ will be available through a limited release in retailers nationwide beginning in December with a full release planned for 2021. The chips will retail for $1.99 per 5.5-oz can.
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    How Strong Design Transformed One Kettle-Chip Maker Into A Blue-Chip Brand

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    In late 2017, Utz Quality Foods acquired Boulder Canyon, a Colorado-based manufacturer of salty snacks. Founded in 1994, the brand had been an early entrant in the better-for-you potato chips category—and, more than 20 years later, was still adopting a design aesthetic better suited to the 1990s. Moreover, as Boulder Canyon added new flavors and product lines, the retail experience became confusing for consumers; the brand lacked a sense of uniformity, and consumers found it difficult to navigate within the brand’s portfolio.
    Adding to Boulder Canyon’s branding challenges was an influx of flavor-centric new entrants—plus thriving incumbents, such as Kettle Brand and Cape Cod potato chips. Perhaps not surprisingly, Boulder Canyon’s sales had begun to slip; in October 2017, sales had declined by 29% compared to the same period in 2016. Like many smaller players who attract big-league benefactors, it was time for Boulder Canyon to grow up—starting with a significant makeover.
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    Boulder Canyon Thin & Crispy Chips Are Cooked In Avocado Oil

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    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (“Utz” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 27, 2020.
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    Boulder Canyon Thin & Crispy Chips Are Cooked In Avocado Oil

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    Utz Brands, Inc.’s Boulder Canyon brand is debuting Thin & Crispy chips cooked in avocado oil, according to the company.
    Featuring a buttery flavor and extra-crispy bite, the chips are available in classic sea salt and cheddar sour cream varieties.
    “As a trailblazer in better-for-you snacking, Boulder Canyon looks to the great outdoors for inspiration. We seek paths that will take us to new taste adventures and to snacks you can feel good about. We’re thrilled to share something so new and refreshing with our loyal fans and adventure snackers alike,” says Mickey Burnett, vice-president, marketing craft & BFY brands at Utz.
    Available in six-ounce bags, the new chips have a SRP of $3.49 and ship 12 packs per case.
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    Ka-Pop! Snacks Unveils New Updated Look and Packaging

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    ERIE, Colo., Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ka-Pop! Snacks, the makers of sorghum-based chips and puffs, is pleased to announce fresh new packaging. The new-look reflects the company's continued commitment to healthy eating, a clean label, and the joy of snacking for all.  This bold, heroic new look is sure to pop off shelves – a critical part of the design strategy considering new COVID-19 shopping behaviors.
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    Stacy's Pita Chips Help Female Founders Get Found: New Limited-Edition Stacy's Bags Feature QR Code with Geotargeted Women-Owned Business Directory

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    PLANO, Texas, Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the biggest challenges for female founders? Being found. According to the Rise of the Female Founder survey conducted earlier this year by Stacy's Pita Chips, 67 percent of consumers wish it were easier to find products and services from female-founded businesses and 79 percent think it is important to see more female-founded businesses in their communities. That's why Stacy's is launching its newest packaging innovation featuring a QR code that, once scanned with a mobile phone, will direct consumers to nearby female-founded businesses – making it easier than ever to support female entrepreneurs.
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    Discovery Science - Super Factory at Frito-Lay’s Perry, Ga. Plant

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    September 29, 2020

    In May 2019, Discovery Science filmed at our Perry, Ga., site and highlighted the rigor that goes into making our iconic Lay’s potato chips. PFNA SVP of Supply Chain, Laura Maxwell, spent the entire day with a film crew from Discovery Science / Science Channel in Perry where she was able to tell our seed-to-shelf story and demonstrate what makes Frito-Lay such a snacking powerhouse. The Perry site team was outstanding in helping coordinate the shoot and ensuring Frito-Lay’s operational excellence and product quality could be fully highlighted for this exciting media opportunity.
    Discovery Science has just released the episode as part of a five-part series called “Super Factories.” You can watch it here:  https://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/super-factories/

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    Tesco and Kellogg’s launch carton recycling trial

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    Utz transforms itself into a national snack powerhouse


    Utz Brands is the youngest 100-year-old company in the nation. Its storied history also tells the tale of two snack manufacturing businesses that have succeeded over the years in two different but complementary ways.
    Founded in 1921 by William (Bill) and Salie Utz — who believed they could make better potato chips in a simple, farm-fresh way — the Hanover, Pa., snack maker expanded organically over its first 90 years, becoming a well-respected brand nationally. Since 2010, however, Utz has made 16 acquisitions, making it one of the fastest-growing snack operators with more than $1.1 billion in annual sales.


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    Tesco and Kellogg’s have announced a new trial to collect cartons at the supermarket’s stores.
    Working with the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE UK), the five-month trial across England and Wales at 11 stores will see recycling points set up to test how prepared customers are to return the packaging to stores for recycling.
    Cartons used to pack products such as fruit juice, lunchbox-sized drinks, soups, passata and custard will be included, with the companies highlighting the fact that only 68% of councils collect the packaging at kerbside.
    This trial is part of Tesco’s ‘4 Rs’ plan for packaging – Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – and builds on ACE UK’s national carton Bring Bank network.
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    Morton Salt Pours Out Modern New Look On Packaging

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    CHICAGO, Oct. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Morton Salt, one of America's favorite and most enduring brands, has debuted a fresh new look on packaging to bring more flavor to its entire line-up of retail products. The eye-catchingly bold and contemporary design refreshes the iconic brand that consumers have known and loved for generations, while making its products more shoppable in today's dynamic digital and in-store environment.
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    Mikesell's Snack Food Company adds new flavors to their lineup

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    DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) -- Two new flavors are being added to Mikesell's Snack Food Company's potato chip line up: Salt & Lime and Pepperoni Pizza Puffcorn.
    “At Mikesell’s it’s all about bringing fans something innovative that’s deliciousand still fits into what they expect from a well-loved product like Mikesell’s Snacks,” said President, Luke Mapp. “We are really excited to have our fans taste these new products and share them with those they care about.”
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    BOULDER CANYON® DEBUTS NEW THIN & CRISPY POTATO CHIPS MADE WITH
    AVOCADO OIL!

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    HANOVER, PA (BUSINESS WIRE) – Thin chip lovers, look no further: BOULDER CANYON® brings adventurous, flavorful snack food innovation to those seeking a better-for-you experience with their new Thin & Crispy potato chips.
    These classically thin-cut potato chips are cooked in avocado oil and feature a unique buttery flavor with an extra-crispy bite. In a sea of kettle-chip options, BOULDER CANYON rises above the rest, offering their audience a choice of kettle and non-kettle chips cooked in better-for-you oils. BOULDER CANYON Thin & Crispy potato chips are available in Classic Sea Salt or rich Cheddar Sour Cream.
    As the leader of potato chips cooked in better-for-you oils, BOULDER CANYON continues its impressive track record of providing simple and healthier snack foods options. BOULDER CANYON has risen to be a fast-growing salty snack brand with the number one potato chip SKU in the natural channel, BOULDER CANYON Avocado Oil Sea Salt Potato Chip.*
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    Kellogg’s aids visually impaired consumers with smartphone playback cereal boxes

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    New Salty Snacks from Frito-Lay
    New chip varieties include Tostitos Hint of Guac, Baked Ruffles Flamin’ Hot and Rold Gold Recipe No. 4 Zesty Buffalo

    Frito-Lay launched three new products to take game day to the next level. Introducing Tostitos Hint of Guac, Baked Ruffles Flamin’ Hot and Rold Gold Recipe No. 4 Zesty Buffalo—all available now.
    Product details:
    • Tostitos Hint of Guac: These tortilla chips are lightly seasoned with an amount of guacamole flavor and spice in every bite. Made for dipping with a TOSTITOS salsa. SRP: $4.29 (12oz)
    • Baked Ruffles Flamin’ Hot: The newest Flamin’ Hot variety with 65% less fat. With ridges made for any dip or occasion, these are a combination of crunch and heat. SRP: $3.29 (9.75oz), $1.89 (2.75oz)
    • Rold Gold Recipe No. 4 Zesty Buffalo: Rold Gold’s three-braided pretzel twists that bring consumers a zesty buffalo kick. Pretzel twists are seasoned for a maximum flavor experience. SRP: $5.99 (16oz)

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    Kellogg’s aids visually impaired consumers with smartphone playback cereal boxes

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    12 Oct 2020 --- Kellogg’s is partnering with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and Co-op supermarket to launch a trial of cereal boxes featuring UK-first technology for blind and partially sighted people. The cereal boxes allow a smartphone to detect and playback labeling and allergen information to the user.

    Kellogg’s introduced the technology on Coco Pops boxes in almost 60 Co-op stores across the UK to mark World Sight Day.
    The trial comes after research from RNIB revealed 9 in 10 blind and partially sighted people feel that information on food packaging is difficult or impossible to read.


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    Cape Cod Potato Chips brings back limited edition pink himalayan salt & red wine vinegar flavor for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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    We’re proud to partner with the Campbell Soup Foundation to create parks for people in Camden, New Jersey. Campbell Soup Company has been based in Camden for over 150 years and has been an active partner in the community since the beginning. Campbell’s Vice President of Community Affairs and President of The Campbell Soup Foundation, Kim Fortunato, shares why they’re supporting our work in their hometown.
    In 1869, Joseph Campbell and Abraham Anderson went into business together in Camden, and our company has been headquartered here ever since.  In 1953, The Campbell Soup Foundation was founded and today the Foundation’s grantmaking focuses on three strategic areas: increasing access to healthy food, encouraging healthy living, and nurturing Campbell neighborhoods by transforming the physical spaces where people live, learn and play. At Campbell, we believe in the power of collaboration to address our communities’ most pressing needs. That’s why we support The Trust for Public Land, an organization that is building and expanding parks and green spaces to connect and strengthen Camden’s neighborhoods. We are excited to share the
    great work we’re doing together.


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    Cape Cod Potato Chips brings back limited edition pink himalayan salt & red wine vinegar flavor for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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    • Cape Cod Potato Chip is bringing back a limited edition flavor in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
    The flavor is the pink himalayan salt & red wine vinegar and is only available in October.
    It’s the fourth year in a row the company has partner with the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to bring the chips to shelves and provides a donation to the organization. Five percent of proceeds, or 12 cents of every purchase, benefits cancer research, the company said.


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    Perseverance and Perspective: Jackson’s Lasting Impact

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    In This Episode:
    Megan Reamer never imagined she would own and operate a snack company, especially after taking 12 years off from working to care for her four children. Reamer’s brand, Jackson’s Honest, was born out of the necessity for nutritional changes that her eldest son required to cope with his rare autoimmune disease. After intense trial and error of different diets, Reamer and her husband found Jackson’s condition responded well to “healthy fats” — a discovery that lead to the first-ever coconut oil based chip brand. This innovation filled a gap in the snack industry sought after by health enthusiasts and other equally desperate parents. With no CPG experience and a sick child, Reamer used this promise of positive change for others to fuel the mission and growth of Jackson’s Honest — encouraging health and happiness through great tasting snacks. Through channeling her authentic vulnerability and leaning on a supportive community of customers, farmers and other snack industry leaders, Jackson’s Honest grew from the Reamer’s small kitchen in Denver, Colorado to multiple manufacturing facilities. For women looking to chase their passions and to make a lasting positive difference in the world, Reamer emphasizes the importance of being comfortable being uncomfortable and channeling  perpetual optimism in the face of an unrelenting reality.
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    Lawsuits Abound Over Misleading Food Labels

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    MONTCLAIR, N.J., Sept. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ParmCrisps, the nutritionally on-trend snack brand, has once again broken through the confines of the cracker category. The brand is eager to announce its newest line, Plant-Based ParmCrisps, made from 100% dairy-free cheese. Plant-Based ParmCrisps will come in two timeless flavors: Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper, and will be a first-of-its kind product that caters to the plant-based lifestyle.
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    Lawsuits Abound Over Misleading Food Labels

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    Food companies have been in hot water recently over their product labels either misleading consumers or not providing enough product information.
    Frito-Lay
    Frito-Lay faces at least two lawsuits over the flavor of its chips. After West Coast lawyers recently sued Ruffles over its cheddar and sour cream-flavored chips, a New York firm has filed a suit over its baked version with an identical theory, reported Legal Newsline (Sept. 23).
    The latest suit, filed Sept. 11, says the company shouldn’t refer to the chips as cheddar and sour cream flavored and shouldn’t put a dollop of sour cream and a wedge of cheese on the bag.
    “Consumers are misled by the Product’s representation as ‘Flavored’ because this gives them the impression that actual sour cream is the source of the flavor,” the lawsuit says. “However, the Product’s sour cream flavor is provided by artificial flavor, in the form of synthetic diacetyl.”
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    Good Health Introduces New Organic Cheese Snacks

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    Good Health, a member of the Utz Quality Foods family of brands, is launching Good Health® Organic with the introduction of Baked Cheese Puffs and Baked Cheese Fries! They’re made with real cheese, the key ingredient from Organic Valley®, the nation’s largest farmer-owned organic cooperative, and one of the world’s largest organic consumer brands.
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    New Lay’s snack bags feature inspiring D-FW community members in support of Operation Smile

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    The thing about a genuine smile is that when you see one, you can’t help but join in. Lay’s understands that now, more than ever, celebrating each other and sharing joy is vital. And that’s where their 2020 collaboration with Operation Smile comes in.
    In its mission to spark joy and bring smiles to people across the country, Lay’s has a series of new potato chip bags that features the stories — and smiles — of incredible people, all to benefit an extremely worthwhile cause. The 70 unique designs showcase 30 “Everyday Smilers” who were nominated by their peers for the extraordinary work they do in their communities benefiting the homeless, veterans, youth, elderly and more.

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    STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN AND CEO RAMON L. LAGUARTA

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    All of us at PepsiCo are devastated by the passing of Don Kendall. Don was the architect of the PepsiCo family. He was relentless about growing our business, a fearless leader, and the ultimate salesman. He believed in business as a way to build bridges between cultures, laying the foundation of our commitment to Winning with Purpose and defining the values that we refer to today as The PepsiCo Way. In many ways, he was the man who made PepsiCo, PepsiCo.
    Don was an inspiration to all of us leaders at PepsiCo, from his endless passion to live and make a difference in the world; to his creativity and entrepreneurship; his belief in building bridges between cultures through business; his capacity to connect people and build relationships; his respect for diversity; and his support for the less privileged.


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    Pringles® Trial New Recyclable Paper Tube in UK via Partnership with Tesco

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    The famous Pringles can is set for a environmentally friendly makeover as the company has revealed it is currently trialling a new recyclable version.
    The new can is made of recycled paper and has been launched in partnership with Tesco.
    It is currently available to buy across supermarkets in East Anglia.

    It’s the first time that Pringles has made any changes to its famous tin can, which has been used since the brand was launched in 1967 in the US.
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    Pringles® Introduces First Ever Interdimensional Stack With Trifecta Of Collectible Rick And Morty-Inspired Flavors
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    BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Sept. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pringles® is continuing its partnership with Adult Swim's award-winning series, Rick and Morty™, with an expanded collection of limited-edition flavors inspired by the hit show.  In addition to the coveted Pickle Rick crisps, the two newest flavors, Honey Mustard Morty and Look at Me! I'm Cheddar & Sour Cream, are rooted in the show's cosmic absurdity captured by the quirky cast of characters.
    After two years of budding popularity, the Flavor Stacking craze pushes fans to find new, creative ways to enjoy their favorite Pringles crisps, unlocking endless dimensions of flavor. To add a little Rick and Morty flair to any stack, all fans need to do is combine with their favorite Pringles flavor, stack them and take a bite. And if you're bold enough, pair all three flavors for the ultimate Rick and Morty sandwich stack.
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    Pepsico Russia has officially started construction of a savory snacks plant in Novosibirsk
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    PepsiCo has laid the 'first stone' for the future plant for the production of savory snacks in the Industrial and Logistics Park of the Novosibirsk Region.
    The ceremony was attended by the Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Andrei Travnikov and the President of PepsiCo Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the Caucasus and Central Asia, Neil Sturrock unveil the first stone of Pepsico's Novosibirsk plant.
    The plant in Novosibirsk will become PepsiCo's third plant for the production of salty snacks in Russia. In total, there are more than 20 subsidiaries of the company in Russia. PepsiCo has invested over USD10 billion in Russia. 
    The agreement on the construction of a new enterprise was signed between PepsiCo, the Novosibirsk Region and the Investment Development Agency of the Novosibirsk Region in 2019 at the Sochi Investment Forum. The investments will total about 12 billion rubles (USD 160 million).
    PepsiCo will also launch an agricultural program in the region so the plant can process local potatoes. All Lay's chipsin Russia are made exclusively from potatoes grown in the country. Pepsico Russia cooperates with more than 50 agricultural enterprises in 15 regions and processes about 400 thousand tons of potatoes each year. 
    The first two lines of the plant will start production at the end of 2021. The new plant will have a production capacity of more than 60 thousand tons will produce Lay's ® chips and croutons of the 'CrunchTeam' brand.
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    Lay's 'Smiles' packaging returns as counterpoint to masked and unhappy faces
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    Dive Brief:
    • Lay's potato chips, which is PepsiCo's Frito-Lay unit, is bringing back its limited-run "Smiles" packaging with more than 70 new designs of its chip bags that show the smiles of 30 people who are helping their communities, according to details shared with Marketing Dive. These "Everyday Smilers" include people who have helped others facing homelessness, hunger or limited access to healthcare services, among other causes.
    • Because the pandemic disrupted a planned photo shoot with the "Everyday Smilers," Lay's asked them to take selfies on their smartphones and submit them digitally. Lay's used computer-generated imagery (CGI) technology to enhance the amateur selfies and transfer them to its packaging.
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    ON THE BORDER® Tortilla Chips
    Expands Position in Attractive Tortilla Chip Sub-Category

    Utz Brands to Acquire

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    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (“Utz” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, announced that its subsidiaries Utz Quality Foods, LLC (“UQF”) and Heron Holding Corporation have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Truco Enterprises (“Truco”), a leading seller of tortilla chips, salsa and queso under the ON THE BORDER® (“OTB”) brand, from Insignia Capital Group for a total purchase price of $480 million, subject to a customary post-closing purchase price adjustment. The acquisition includes all rights to the ON THE BORDER® trademarks for use in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of snack food products in the United States and certain other international markets. The transaction represents an acquisition multiple of approximately 9.2x estimated fiscal 2020 Truco Adjusted EBITDA of $50 million excluding estimated synergies, and 8.4x estimated fiscal 2020 Truco Adjusted EBITDA including run-rate cost synergies of at least $5 million, in each case including approximately $20 million in net present value from expected tax assets resulting from the transaction. Utz expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings in 2021 and beyond. The transaction is expected to close in December 2020 and is subject to customary closing conditions including the receipt of regulatory approvals.
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    Utz Brands Appoints Shannan Redcay to Senior Vice President of Innovation and Value Creation as It Looks to Accelerate Product Innovation and Growth

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    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seeking to further accelerate innovation as consumer snacking continues to rise, Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) announced it has appointed Shannan Redcay to the role of Senior Vice President of Innovation and Value Creation. She is charged with advancing the brand’s innovation initiatives including Utz’s entry into new potential categories, forms and formats and ultimately delivering consumer-led innovation that capitalizes on emerging trends.
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    Rice and Lissette Families Deepen Contribution to Hanover, PA Community Following Public Listing of Utz Brands

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    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following the transition of Utz from a privately held to a publicly traded company in August, the Rice and Lissette families – part of the third and fourth generations of the Utz family legacy – have announced their intent to make a significant philanthropic contribution of part of the family’s interest in Utz to The Rice Family Foundation, with a commitment to making additional donations in the future as well.
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    PeaTos Closes $7M in Funding
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    Snack brand PeaTos yesterday announced the close of a $7 million funding round, which included a $3 million convertible note from 2019. The round was led by financial services firm Jackson Springs Management Partners (JSMP) and venture capital firm Connetic Ventures
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    Frito-Lay Headlines Return To NFL Kickoff With Star-Studded Commercial Featuring Tom Brady, Ezekiel Elliott, Rob Gronkowski, Dak Prescott And Many More
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    To that end, Frito-Lay North America is rolling out its 2020 NFL Kickoff campaigns, anchored by a star-studded TV commercial creatively themed "'Twas the Night Before Kickoff," relating the sense of wonder and excitement of the night before Christmas from the original iconic poem to the night before NFL Kickoff. Think Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in pajamas giddy with glee. The portfolio campaign leads Frito-Lay's return to NFL Kickoff that also includes programming from Tostitos, the Official Chip & Dip of the NFL.
    Frito-Lay's headlining portfolio campaign features a who's who of current and former NFL stars, including Brady and Gronkowski, Tony Romo, Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Katie Sowers and Marshawn Lynch, who provides a one-of-a-kind narration to the newly created classic. In support of Tostitos, Doritos, Cheetos and Lay's under Frito-Lay, the $17 billion snacks division of PepsiCo, the spot is created by Frito-Lay's internal creative agency and directed by Peter Berg, renown Hollywood director with a personal passion for football with credits such as "Friday Night Lights."
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    Utz Quality Foods and Collier Creek Holdings Complete Business Combination to Form Utz Brands, Inc.

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    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Quality Foods, LLC (“Utz” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, and Collier Creek Holdings (“Collier Creek”) (NYSE: CCH, CCH.U, CCH WS), a special purpose acquisition company, today announced that they have completed their business combination. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of Collier Creek and was approved at a special meeting of Collier Creek shareholders on August 27, 2020. Per the terms of the business combination agreement, Collier Creek and Utz have combined to form Utz Brands, Inc. (“Utz Brands”), a leading pure-play snack food platform in the U.S. The common stock of Utz Brands will trade under the ticker symbol “UTZ” on the New York Stock Exchange beginning August 31, 2020.
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    The Dirty Reason Why a San Antonio Tortilla Company Has “Sanitary” in its Name
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    Mexican cuisine, though broadly popular in Texas today, has long been the target of denigrating epithets and imagery. Think “Montezuma’s revenge.” Or descriptions of, say, an enchilada platter as a heavy, greasy “gut bomb.” And let’s not forget Taco Bell’s talking chihuahua. A personal favorite is the wildly sensationalistic accusation in a 1910 El Paso Herald op-ed article that “Death Lurks In Tortillas.” For centuries, travelogues, newspaper dispatches, and government regulations associated Mexicans and their dishes with danger. Among the best documented victims were San Antonio’s chili queens. These women set up food stalls in the city’s plazas, including near the Alamo, as far back as the 1880s. At first, they were welcomed, garnering favorable mentions in travel guides and magazines. But local opinions changed. The vendors and their food were eventually viewed as potentially perilous to one’s health. Politicians regulated the chili queens out of business by the 1940s. And you can hear echoes of this history in a word that’s still used in the name of at least one tortilla business: “sanitary.”
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    PepsiCo’s North American incubator programme awards top spot to upcycling snack startup
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    Spudsy – which is on a mission to save one million imperfect sweet potatoes by 2021 – has been awarded the $100,000 grant from PepsiCo’s second annual North America Greenhouse Accelerator Programme.
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    Lawyers fight dismissal request of Frito-Lay in case over cheddar and sour cream chips

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    SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Class action lawyers have fired back at Frito-Lay’s allegation that their case over potato chips lacks any evidence.
    The Desai Law Firm filed its response to Frito-Lay’s motion to dismiss on Aug. 21 in California federal court in a case that alleges bags of cheddar and sour cream-flavored Ruffles should have the words “artificially flavored” on their fronts.
    “The Products’ label makes representations to noe of its ‘distinguishable characterizing flavors,’ cheddar cheese, through the orange colored chips, the block of cheese, the word ‘Cheddar’ and orange label,” the response says.

    Class action lawyers are fighting to keep a case against Frito-Lay alive despite allegations their cases lack key evidence. The Desai Law Firm alleged the company's cheddar and sour-cream flavored Ruffles chips should have an "artificially flavored" claim, reported Legal Newsline.
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    Mister Bee receives federal funds for project improvements
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    PARKERSBURG — West Virginia’s only potato chip maker has received a federal loan financing for renewable energy systems and other improvements.
    On Tuesday, officials announced the West Virginia Potato Chip Co. LLC, makers of Mister Bee potato chips, has received $250,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
    The project includes a new warehouse, a water recycler, a new energy-efficient fryer and potato washer, energy-efficient lighting and other energy-efficient equipment, said Mary Anne Ketelsen, owner of the potato chip company. The savings in energy and other costs will be more than $31,000 a year, she said.
    The long-term viability of the company also is enhanced, Ketelsen said. Installations so far have already improved operations and resulted in additional employees, she said.
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    You’ll Love These New ‘YAHS! - As In TORTIYAHS!®

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    HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Quality Foods, LLC., who repeatedly brings unique and flavorful innovation to its diverse snack food portfolio, is excited to announce its newest creation, Guacamole flavored TORTIYAHS!® tortilla chips.

    Inspired by growing demand for avocado flavored foods, the Kitchen Specialists at Utz Quality Foods created something unique and different with Guacamole flavored TORTIYAHS!® tortilla chips. These Guacamole flavored ‘YAHS! can be eaten alone or dipped in salsa, they’re unforgettably tasty!
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    Put It on Our Tab: Lay's Celebrates New Flavor Icons Chips with Cash Giveaway and $125,000 Donation to Beloved American Restaurants

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    July 27, 2020

    PLANO, Texas, July 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In these uncertain times, America can always count on Lay's to up the ante on flavor – now introducing Lay's Flavor Icons, perfectly recreating the taste of iconic restaurant dishes in potato chip form. To "return the flavor" and acknowledge the economic impact of COVID-19, Lay's has enacted a $25,000 Gratitude Fund for each restaurant as a thank you for their inspiration in the kitchen and ongoing support of their local communities.

    Beginning today, fans can find Lay's Flavor Icons at retailers nationwide – and have a chance to win some cash of their own. Simply visit www.LaysFlavorIcons.com and enter the code from any marked bag (including other favorite Lay's flavors) now through September 10 for a chance to win $1,000.

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    Cheetos releases official Mac n' Cheese as Kraft goes after breakfast market

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    Mac and cheese is having a moment.
    Earlier this week, Kraft
    launched a contest for fans to win limited-edition boxes of the classic dish rebranded for breakfast, after it was revealed that parents have been serving mac and cheese to their children for breakfast during the pandemic.
    Now parents can have more interesting flavors to choose from for their kids' first meal of the day.
    On Wednesday, Cheetos -- owned by PepsiCo -- announced it was releasing its own flavors of mac and cheese.
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    Premier Lacrosse League Team with Utz Quality Foods
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    LOS ANGELES, CA (July 16, 2020) - The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) announced today a partnership with Utz Quality Foods, LLC ahead of the upcoming PLL Championship Series, starting on July 25th.
    During the PLL Championship, PLL and Utz
    ® will launch the #PLLWatchParty, where fans will be able to submit unlimited personalized photos while watching the Championship Series matchups to be featured on both PLL and Utz social channels. Fans will also have a chance to win exclusive Utz® merchandise and Utz® snack packs. Utz will be selecting 52 winners throughout this summer’s Championship Series so the 52 second shot clock starts now!
    Fans can enter unlimited personalized photos while watching the Championship Series and fans have a chance to win Utz® & PLL merchandise and 52 Utz® & PLL snack packs. To enter, visit
    www.utzsnacks.com/pll.  No purchase necessary.  Must be 18+.  Entry ends on 08/09/2020.  View official rules and alternative means of entry at www.utzsnacks.com/pll.  Void where prohibited.
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    Campbell's Late July brand takes over 'Summer on Spotify' playlists
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    Brief:
    • Campbell Soups snack brand Late July this month is taking over "Summer on Spotify" playlists as part of its first national advertising campaign, per information shared with Mobile Marketer. The campaign on the streaming platform includes an audio spot.
    • Expanding on its "Bring Out the Good Chips" campaign, Late July's advertising will appear among the "Summer Party," "Summer BBQ," "Your Summer Rewind" and "New Music Friday" playlists. Summer-themed playlists have seen a 245% surge in recent weeks.
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    PEACASA Protein-Packed Chickpea Chips

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    Peacasa, a Canadian snack company announced the next phase of growth to bring an all new healthy snack option to the market in 2020. Founded by Canadian youth entrepreneurs and recent University of Ottawa graduates, Peacasa is preparing for an official launch of its 100% Chickpea based chips in Sea Salt and Mediterranean Herb flavors.
    Made from five simple ingredients including chickpea flour, high-oleic sunflower oil, extra-virgin olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper, Peacasa Chickpea Chips have 8 grams of protein; 2x more than potato or corn chips, as well as 4g of fibre, and are grain-free, gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO.
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    New Lay’s chips feature flavors of five US restaurant dishes
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    07.14.2020
    By
    Rebekah Schouten

    PLANO, TEXAS — In a time where restaurant visits and travel are infrequent at best, PepsiCo, Inc.’s Frito-Lay North America business unit is allowing consumers to experience the flavors of five US restaurant dishes from the comfort of home.
    Lay’s is launching Flavor Icons, a new line of limited-batch potato chips inspired by dishes served at restaurants across the United States: Lay’s Nashville Hot Chicken, inspired by Party Fowl in Nashville; Lay’s Kettle Cooked New York Style Pizza, inspired by Grimaldi’s in New York City; Lay’s Philly Cheesesteak, inspired by Geno’s Steaks in Philadelphia; Lay’s Wavy Carnitas Street Taco, inspired by El Torito in Los Angeles; and Lay’s Chile Relleno, inspired by Cocina Azul in Albuquerque, NM.
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    Doritos Seeking Fans To Create Ad For Chance To Air During Return Of NFL Kickoff Weekend
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    PLANO, Texas, July 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For a decade, Doritos' "Crash the Super Bowl" gave consumers the opportunity to create Doritos Super Bowl commercials — which opened doors and elevated careers for countless aspiring filmmakers. Doritos is today reviving that same spirit with "Crash from Home," an opportunity for consumers to be part of the highly anticipated NFL Kickoff weekend during Week 1 games on Sunday, September 13… with $150,000 on the line.
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    SnackMagic brings small brands directly to consumers
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    As more snack-loving consumers turn to quick bites in place of a meal, a direct-to-consumer start up launched this spring is hoping to help shoppers uncover hidden brands in a space where there is no shortage of products from which to choose.
    The website, SnackMagic, offers hundreds of different options across 14 different categories with brands that change weekly. Some come from established companies, like sparkling water Topo Chico from Coca-Cola or Tate's Bake Shop sold by Mondelez International, but much of what the site peddles are "off-the-beaten path" brands new to the marketplace, Shaunak Amin, founder and CEO of SnackMagic, told Food Dive. The idea is to give these largely unknown brands a chance to tell their story and introduce themselves to customers, he said.
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    PepsiCo's results beat as lockdowns boost snack sales
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    (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc PEP.O beat analysts' estimates for quarterly revenue and profit on Monday, as people stocked up on its snacks including Tostitos, Cheetos and Doritos before hunkering down in their homes due to coronavirus-related restrictions.
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    Exclusive interview: Q&A with Orbital Insight, on the potato chip industry during the COVID-19 pandemic
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    Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery was recently able to talk to Dr. James "Jimi" Crawford, founder and CEO of Orbital Insight, Palo Alto, CA, about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the potato chip industry.
     
    Liz Parker: How has the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the potato chip supply chain, including product focus and worker shifts?
    James Crawford: In times of uncertainty and crisis, many people turn to comfort foods, whether they be nostalgic treats from childhood or something that provides a satisfying crunch. During the pandemic, consumers have also stocked up on cheaper staples that have a long shelf life. As a result, COVID-19 has boosted Americans’ snack consumption: sales of Frito-Lay’s are up 30 percent, and polls show 42 percent of people are eating more snack foods since the pandemic began.
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    PepsiCo revenue falls 3% as pandemic hits beverage sales but boosts snacks business
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    • PepsiCo’s net sales fell 3.1% during the second quarter.
    • Excluding items, the company earned $1.32 per share.
    • Pepsi reported falling organic sales for its North American beverage unit, but Frito-Lay and Quaker Oats saw organic revenue growth.
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    Frito-Lay Announces $200 Million Expansion, 120 New Jobs
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    • Governor Brian Kemp recently announced that Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo and a leading snack manufacturer, will expand its operations in the City of Perry, town of Kathleen, creating 120 new jobs and investing $200 million in the Houston County project
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    Doritos Joins the Movement to Amplify Black Voices

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    Doritos said it is working in partnership with the Black Lives Matter movement to identify Black artists in the fight against racial injustice.
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    Frito-Lay gears up for the biggest week of the year for salty snack sales

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    The lead-up to the Fourth of July is historically the biggest week of the year for salty snacks in the States and PepsiCo's Frito-Lay anticipates sales to be on a par with previous years, despite the challenges around the coronavirus outbreak.
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    Utz® and Zapp’s® Add a New Twist on Classic Snack Food Flavors!

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    MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Monogram Foods has entered into a licensing agreement with Utz® and Zapp’s® brands to launch a line of unique and different take-home hot appetizers. Consumers can now enjoy their favorite flavors in hot appetizers, available in the frozen appetizer section of leading retailers.
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    Campbell’s Late July Snack Brand Debuts First National Campaign
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    The company's snack division has grown 9% during the pandemic
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    Potato Chips Industry Report 2020: Increasing Expenditure on Savoury Snacks Worldwide

    DUBLIN, May 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Potato Chips Market Growth, Trends and Forecast (2020-2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
    The global potato chips market is forecast to witness a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period, 2020-2025.
    Product variety, a mix of regional snacks flavors, changing consumer lifestyles and growth in distribution channels are major factors contributing to increasing sales of potato chips across the globe.
    The introduction of healthier alternatives, like the low-fat and low-sodium chips, in the emerging markets also influencing the growth of the potato chips market.
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    Chifles unveils better-for-you potato chip alternative

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    MIAMI — A new better-for-you, plant-based potato and tortilla chip alternative is arriving in the snack aisle.
    Chifles, a maker of plantain chips, is introducing Plantain Shells, containing 30% less fat than traditional potato chips, the company said. The certified kosher snack is vegan, gluten-free and features a golden hue and crisped curvatures that allow for dipping and topping.
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    ParmCrisps Launches Protein-Packed Snack Mix

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    MONTCLAIR, NJ
    Wednesday, March 18th, 2020
    Those of us who snack, we snack hard. And that means the snacking-conscious consumer is after the best of the best. Following our collective instincts, we find ParmCrisps, which recently unveiled its latest snacking innovation: ParmCrisps Snack Mix. The Snack Mix contains Original ParmCrisps, almonds, pistachios, and cashews and will be available in Ranch and Smoky Barbeque flavors.
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    Bushnell plant closing as Kitchen Cooked merges with Utz

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    BUSHNELL — Kitchen Cooked Chips is planning to close its Bushnell facility after more than 40 years in the city.
    According to Paul Blackhurst, a representative at Kitchen Cooked, the closure is part of an acquisition by Utz Quality Foods, a large, independent snack food brand based in Pennsylvania.
    He said the decision to merge with the larger brand was in part to help the company become “more competitive in the marketplace.”
    The shuttering of the Bushnell plant will not take place immediately, but over several months as production moves out of the facility. The transition is expected to affect about five employees. Blackhurst said the company plans to transfer the workers to another facility.
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    Taco Bell expands potato chip line with keto-friendly cheddar snacks

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    IRVINE, California (WABC) -- Attention cheese and keto-friendly fans!

    Taco Bell is launching a new line of potato chips called cheddar crisps.


    The company says the snacks are keto-friendly, gluten-free and vegetarian. They come in three flavors inspired by Taco Bell's sauces: Nacho, Mild Sauce and Fire Sauce.

    They are currently sold at participating 7-Eleven stores and Kroger locations.


    Taco Bell says they plan to expand via Amazon as well.
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    Chifles unveils better-for-you potato chip alternative

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    Chifles products are sourced from plantains “that look ugly and taste delicious. This helps divert perfectly good produce away from landfills and into our pantries,” the company said.
    Each 28-gram serving of Chifles Plantain Shells contains 150 calories, 3 grams of saturated fat, 125 mg of sodium and 0 grams of sugar. The chips come in 8.5-oz bags.
    “The launch of this product is the perfect synthesis of chip and function, and the perfect bridge between cultures,” said Antonio Rivas Jr., president of Chifles. “The new plantain shells offer much more than just another option in snacking. It’s a fan-favorite selection that you can enjoy in brand new ways.”

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    NBA All-Star Endorses Ruffles In Frito-Lay ‘Chip Deal’

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    Plano, Texas-based Frito-Lay started the year with a rush of news, announcing new products as well as, for the first time, a new product created in partnership with an athlete.
    The “Chip Deal” Frito-Lay announced last summer with six-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis to endorse Ruffles has yielded a new chip flavor: Lime & Jalapeño. Davis joined Ruffles recently in Los Angeles at an exclusive gathering where more than 300 guests were among the first to taste the new product.
    “The Chip Deal is transcending the notion of traditional athlete endorsement deals: pairing Anthony Davis’ commitment to impact beyond the court and bringing fans something unprecedented from a potato chip brand,” said Sadira Furlow, VP of marketing for Frito-Lay North America. “With the launch of Ruffles Lime & Jalapeño, we translated Davis’ energy and originality into an incredible potato chip flavor that is undoubtedly one of the most innovative flavors in Ruffles history.”
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    Calling All Cheese Lovers! Introducing New Taco Bell® Cheddar Crisps

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    IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheesy, crunchy and craveable isn't just limited to Taco Bell restaurant menus – the brand's newest item is hitting shelves at participating U.S. 7-Eleven and Kroger locations and will soon be available through online retailer, Amazon. Building on the success of hot sauce inspired Tortilla Chips launched in 2018, Taco Bell's new Cheddar Crisps are sure to shake up snacking with the bold Taco Bell flavors fans know and love.
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    Lay's Partners With NBC'S "The Voice" And Coach John Legend To Debut Team Of Flavors Sure To Make Chairs Turn
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    PLANO, Texas, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- When fans tune into Season 18 of NBC's "The Voice" this spring to discover the newest talent to hit the stage, they'll also discover an assortment of delicious new chip flavors from the Lay's® brand. Lay's Cheddar Jalapeño, Lay's Poppables® Sea Salt & Vinegar, and Lay's Kettle Cooked Flamin' Hot® all joined Team Lay's earlier this year – and to celebrate Lay's partnership with "The Voice," the brand is also re-introducing Lay's Crispy Taco and Lay's Wavy Fried Green Tomato chip flavors, available for a limited time only.
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    Meet the Purpose-Driven Brands in PepsiCo's Second Annual North America Greenhouse Program
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    PURCHASE, N.Y., Feb. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PepsiCo announced today the ten emerging food and beverage brands that will join its second annual North America Greenhouse program. Each of the participating startups will receive $20,000 in grant funding and participate in a six-month business program designed to accelerate their growth through personalized mentorship.  
    The 2020 PepsiCo North America Greenhouse program is designed to support emerging entrepreneurs and brands in the food and beverage industry. PepsiCo mentors from brands including KeVita, Stacy's and IMAG!NE will address marketing, distribution, manufacturing, supply chain, packaging, label claims, fundraising, and overall challenges related to growing a business.
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    Zapp’s® Potato Chips Dare You - Tempt Your Fate and Your Taste Buds!


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    GRAMERCY, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Born in the spirit of New Orleans and Voodoo healer Marie Laveau, Zapp’s® Evil Eye™ potato chips peer into your soul with the reverie of a mysterious, intense stare. In the 1800s, Laveau’s evil eye cast fear, mystery, and hexes into the hearts of the nefarious and noble of New Orleans. And in that spirit of awe comes Zapp’s® Evil Eye™ potato chips. A mild heat underlies the punch found in Evil Eye™, with a flavor and hearty crunch that makes you wonder what you’ve gotten yourself into. But don’t worry—the evil eye legend is just that, a legend.
    And yet what you’ll find in Zapp’s® Evil Eye™ potato chips are what you also find in Zapp’s® Voodoo™ potato chips: a conundrum of flavors that lives up to the sights, sounds and soul of New Orleans.
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    PepsiCo earnings top estimates, but 2020 outlook below Wall Street expectations

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    PepsiCo on Thursday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that topped analysts’ expectations after strong performances by its North American beverage and snack divisions.
    But investors focused on the company’s forecast for 2020, which was weaker than analysts had expected, and shares rose less than 1% in premarket trading.

    Here’s what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv:
    • Earnings per share: $1.45, adjusted, vs. $1.44 expected
    • Revenue: $20.64 billion, vs. $20.27 billion expected
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    BETTER MADE SNACK FOODS RECEIVES TESTIMONIAL RESOLUTION FROM THE DETROIT CITY COUNCIL FOR ITS 90TH ANNIVERSARY

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    DETROIT, MI – Better Made Snack Foods has received a “Testimonial Resolution” from the Detroit City Council for 90 years of “Better Chips in the City of Detroit”. The resolution praises Better Made for the company’s 90-year commitment to the City of Detroit, using potatoes sourced from Michigan farmers as much as possible, global shipping of snack foods from one facility located in Detroit, and the company’s charitable endeavors.
    “It is truly an honor to receive this Testimonial Resolution from the City Council,” says Sam Cipriano, CEO of Better Made Snack Foods. “Our family made a commitment to Detroit 90 years ago and we’ve honored that commitment by keeping our roots here and growing our facility as needed. Many of our employees are from Detroit, and are the heart and soul of our company.”
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    Frito-Lay U.S. Snack Index Reveals Nearly All Super Bowl LIV Viewers Expect Snacks for the Big Game
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    PLANO, Texas, Jan. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As fans prep their platters for the Super Bowl, Frito-Lay today announced findings from its latest U.S. Snack Index, a poll focused on Super Bowl snacking habits, and the results are clear – snacking is an essential part of the game day experience as nearly eight in 10 Americans expect snacks, such as chips and pretzels, to be available at a Super Bowl event.
    Retail sales data shows Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest day of the year for salty snacks, generating approximately $520 million in one day. Historically, Frito-Lay produces approximately 600 million pounds of snacks in the six weeks leading up to the game – nearly 20 percent of its annual snack production – and more than 67 million pounds of snacks the week of Super Bowl.
    Potato chips and tortilla chips are the most sought-after snacks with 70 percent of Super Bowl watchers – up four points from the 2019 U.S. Snack Index – expecting potato chips to be available at a Super Bowl event, followed by tortilla chips (54 percent vs. 52 percent in 2019).
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    PepsiCo To Achieve 100% Renewable Electricity In The U.S.
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    PURCHASE, N.Y., Jan. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Some of America's favorite snacks and beverages – from Lay's and SunChips to bubly, Gatorade and Pepsi – will soon be made using electricity from renewable sources, such as wind and solar. PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) today announced plans to achieve 100% renewable electricity for its U.S. direct operations this year. The U.S. is the food and beverage company's largest market and accounts for nearly half of its total global electricity consumption.
    PepsiCo's efforts in the U.S. build upon its global progress in switching to renewable electricity around the world. For example, nine countries in PepsiCo's European direct operations already meet 100% of their electricity demand from renewable sources. Additionally, in 2018, 76% of the electricity needs of the PepsiCo Mexico Foods business were delivered via wind energy.  
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    PepsiCo introduces new snacking combo with Cheetos Popcorn
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    PepsiCo’s convenient foods division Frito-Lay North America has launched Cheetos Popcorn, with the aim of creating a new snacking experience.  
    The launch marks the first time that popcorn has been infused with ‘cheetle’, a term trademarked by Frito-Lay to describe the orange cheese dust.
    Available in stores nationwide, PepsiCo has combined the “iconic Cheetos seasoning with one of America’s snacking favourites, swapping the butter and salt for the cheesy and spicy flavours fans know and love”.
    The ready-to-eat bags are available in two flavours: cheddar and flamin’ hot.
    According to Frito-Lay, Cheetos Popcorn “creates a new snacking experience that pairs the classic taste of popcorn with an added boost of cheesy, spicy and flavourful fun from Cheetos”.
    “We’ve seen the way Cheetos lovers don their red- and orange-dusted fingers like a badge of honour, and we’re always looking for ways to help them step up their snacking game,” said Brandi Ray, senior director of marketing at Frito-Lay North America.
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    Campbell’s Goes Veggie, Gluten-Free and No-Grain With New Products
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    In recent weeks, the Campbell Soup Company has introduced several on-trend, health-conscious versions of its most popular snacks, a sign of continuing pressure in the CPG industry to keep up with consumer demand for more nutritious options.
    The latest is Campbell-owned Late July, unveiling a grain-free tortilla chip made with tigernut flour. The product comes in two flavors: sea salt, and sea salt and lime. The brand is also debuting a line of organic potato chips offered in sea salt, BBQ, and salt and vinegar varieties. All products are scheduled to appear on shelves nationwide later this March.
    “In food, expectations are higher than ever,” Janda Lukin, CMO of Campbell’s Snacks division, told Adweek. “We want food that has simple, clean ingredients, but zero taste trade-off.”
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    Retailers could lose out on billions in online alcohol sales, report says
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    Dive Brief:
    • Online alcohol sales from grocery stores grew from $87 million in 2017 to $295 million in 2019, according to a report by Rabobank. Last year, online beer sales in the channel grew 120%, while wine grew just under 100% and spirits grew by nearly 150%.
    • However, the financial firm estimates grocers could have sold as much as $1.8 billion in online wine, beer and spirits if sales share in the channel matched that of in-store.  According to Rabobank, alcohol accounts for less than 1% of online sales versus between 5% and 6% of store sales.
    • Rabobank forecasts grocers could lose up to $3.7 billion in online alcohol sales over the next three years if they don’t improve merchandising and availability.
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    Flamin’ Hot Limon, ‘Cooler’ Ranch Doritos Debut
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    Plano, TX — Frito-Lay North America, Inc. is extending its Doritos line with Flamin’ Hot Limon and enhanced Cool Ranch varieties, according to the snack maker.
    Both flavors come in 9.75-ounce- and 2.75-ounce bags, which have SRPs of $4.29 and $1.89, respectively.
    The new spicy Doritos leverage the signature heat of Frito’s Flamin’ Hot line but with a tangy twist, while the new Cool Ranch chips feature “even more cool ranch flavor,” according to the company.
    “Doritos is known for making bold, innovative moves — whether it’s new movie partnerships, e-sports tournaments, an ad without logos, and of course new flavors,” says Leslie Vesper, senior director of marketing, Frito-Lay North America. “The release of Doritos Flamin’ Hot Limon and the revamped Doritos Cool Ranch are two entirely new ways for fans to enjoy our beloved legacy flavors.”
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    Premier Protein Co-Founder Launches New Delicious Keto Diet Snacks
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    SAN DIEGO, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lance Rankin, one of the original co-founders of Premier Protein, announced today the launch of Genius Gourmet, a Keto snack company with a delicious line of Keto shakes, Keto chips and Keto bars.
    "We saw an opportunity in the Keto space that wasn't being addressed. Consumers are looking for snack products that provide true Keto nutritionals and deliver a world-class taste," commented CEO, Lance Rankin. "We partnered with one of the top manufacturing facilities in the world and came up with a line of Keto snacks that are increasing in popularity among the Keto community."
    These new on-the-go snacks provide high-quality fats rather than sugar while focusing on moderate protein. "The initial response to the Genius Gourmet brand has been overwhelming. Consumers and industry executives have been impressed with the overall brand look and appealing taste."
    The Genius Gourmet Keto Bars have already started shipping to consumers and retail chains and the much-anticipated Keto protein chips and Keto shakes will be available Q1, 2020. The Genius Gourmet Keto Bars are now available on Amazon.com and will be available at the following retailers in 2020: GNC.com, Bodybuilding.com, Vitacost.com, Netrition.com; HEB and over 300 Maverik's locations.
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