Snack World - May 2016 - (Page 47)

Innovation, New Ventures Continue I nventure Foods, Phoenix, has always prided itself on being on the cutting edge of snack trends. Today, the company is known for a diverse variety of regional, national and licensed brands including Boulder Canyon, TGI Fridays Potato Skins, Poore Brothers and Vidalia. Inventure remains committed to developing unique flavors and offering new snacking options for its customers. "Our focus is on making products that consumers care about," said Inventure Foods CEO Terry McDaniel. "We are constantly looking for new ventures and opportunities for innovation, and that is reflected in our name." The company began as an idea from brothers Jay and Don Poore, who identified a need in the market for a thicker, kettle-cooked chip. In the 1980s they launched Bob's Texas Style Potato Chips, a kettle-cooked product that was unique in Texas. It became so popular they were able to sell the company and move back to their home state of Arizona to launch the Poore Brothers brand. Working up from a single kettle and one delivery truck, the company went public in 1996 and became acquired and renamed as part of Inventure Foods. Today, Inventure is known for both its healthy and indulgent snack brands. Its Arizona facility has expanded to make potato chips, kettle chips and popcorn. Inventure also operates a plant in Bluffton, IN, that produces a variety of items such as potato skins and jalapeño poppers and will be adding kettles to the production line this summer. The two snack plants employ about 250 to 300 people. While the company has grown and diversified over the years, it still maintains the Poore family's entrepreneurial spirit - in fact, Jay Poore still works at the Arizona plant. A management change in 2006 brought a new focus on the growing market for healthier snack options. Today, 84% of the company's snack product line falls under that category. Almost 90% of the Boulder line is non-GMO certified. "As an industry, we are constantly adapting to consumer demands," said Steve Sklar, senior vice-president and general manager of Inventure's Snack Division. "Sometimes it takes technology, sometimes just creativity, and sometimes it takes some risk. We must be willing to invest in products that are different." Originally, Inventure's well-known TGI Friday's branded potato skins were 75% of its total snack business. However, its leadership recognized the importance of diversification and acquired a frozen berry business in 2008. "Snacking is a much broader category today than it used to be. Fruit is the No. 1 snack. There's a lot of opportunity to innovate," Mr. McDaniel said. Inventure has also developed collaborations with brands such as Nathan's Famous, Vidalia Brands and Jamba Juice. It continues to expand into new markets, experimenting with new ingredients such as ancient grains and pushing into the frozen aisle with a premixed fruit and vegetable smoothie kit. They have also added private label products to their portfolio in addition to its branded lines. Mr. Sklar believes the company has always been a bit ahead of the curve. "We were gluten-free when gluten-free wasn't cool," Mr. Sklar said. "We continue to look for new flavors and new processes. For example, we might be the only company to use four different cooking oils. Along with the traditional [oil], we now use www.sfa.org May 2016 Snack World 47 http://www.sfa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Snack World - May 2016

Snack World - May 2016
Table of Contents
LETTER FROM SNAC INTERNATIONAL - SNAC International is Indispensable
NEWS - New SNAC International name recognizes evolving industry
SUPPLIER INSIGHT - Networking Is Key
2016 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY REPORT - At Front and Center Stage
Kudos to the Cast
Indulge and Excite
Maximizing Health, Innovating Style
Delivering on Innovation
Healthy Halo, Devilishly Delicous
Healthy Versatility
Flavor Innovation Going Nuts
The Cheese Alternative
Gone Gourmet
Flaming Hot, Protein-Packed
The Skinny on Popcorn
Keep it Fresh
BUSINESS MEMBER PROFILE - Innovation, New Ventures Continue
ASSOCIATE MEMBER PROFILE - Flexible to the Core
CHAIRMAN PROFILE - New Logo, New Leadership
SNAXPO - Staying Ahead of the Game
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
AD INDEX

Snack World - May 2016