Wholesale Report

What Pepsico “Power Brand Partnership” with Gatorade, Frito-Lay, Quaker, and Tropicana—that we’ve mentioned in past issues—keeps rolling out goodies. Grandma’s Cookies now has Caramel Chocolate Chip, and there are two new Quaker Fruit & Oatmeal bars, in Strawberry and Apple Crisp.

Speaking of Frito-Lay: you might have read in the newspapers that they are eliminating “hydrogenated oils with trans fatty acids” and switching to corn oil for their most popular salty snacks—Doritos, Tostitos, and Cheetos. They’re also bringing out reduced-fat versions of Lay’s Potato Chips and Cheetos in the next few months. Frito-Lay explained that the change is due to concern about Americans’ healthy diets; their announcement came three weeks after McDonald’s said they will cook French Fries in oil with less “trans fatty acids”. To further appeal to health-conscious consumers, Frito-Lay is also developing broccoli-flecked chips ...

Some distributors do very well with sunflower seeds. David & Sons is the most popular brand in America (and in the recent merger mania was acquired by Golden Valley Microwave Foods which was acquired by ConAgra Snack Foods). Anyway, their new lineup of in-shell seeds includes BBQ, Ranch, Salsa, and Nacho Cheese.

Kellogg’s incredibly popular Rice Krispies Treats are now 30% bigger, which should make them even more attractive to your customers.

Little Debbie, from McKee Foods, has new Big Pack versions of Little Debbie Crispy Bars, Sunbelt Oats and Honey Chewy Granola Bars, and Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars.

Bigger sizes, too, for Chex Mix and Gardetto’s, from General Mills, now in 2.5 oz. bags. Your hungry customers will thank you!

One of America’s favorite names, Welch’s, has a new line of snacks. Fruit Snacks are made with real fruit and juices, and come in five flavors: Mixed Fruit, Strawberry, Concord Grape, White Grape Peach, and White Grape Raspberry.  They contain 100% of Vitamin C and 25% of Vitamins A and E, and all are fat-free.

Definitely not fat-free are Chocolate-Covered California Raisins, from Brach’s. Remember those singing raisins on TV? Now you can eat ‘em!

If you’ve got customers who like sour things, Mars introduced Starburst Sour Fruit Chews, with Watermelon, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple and Cherry. They’ve already had great success with Sour Skittles.  Mars claims that the “sour segment” is one of the fastest-growing market categories, with double-digit growth and sales over $80 million.

Further proof there’s a sour thing going on ...Just Born has new Zours Punch Fruitz Chewy Sour Fruit candy, with a mix of intensely sour cherry, grape, fruit punch, and lemon-lime. Their Original Fruitz has green apple, tangerine, blue raspberry, and watermelon—and they’re really sour!

For those who aren’t totally into sours, Jaret International has Sour Patch Soft & Chewy Candy.  Their bright graphics primarily target them for kids and teens. They’ve added new Peach and Strawberry, but what’s interesting is that the candy starts out sweet and then turns sour.

Biscomerica, makers of the Basil’s line, introduces Basil’s Mocha Java Chip cookies. They’re bite-size and full of mocha-flavored chips.

Herr’s has added Old Fashioned Potato Chips and Hot Cheese Curls, with real cheese.

Everybody loves Oreos—your customers prove it to you. Now try Mini Oreo Chocolate Creme cookies, from Nabisco. They’re bite-size and chocolaty and—heck, they’re Oreos!