Snac World - May 2017 - 36

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

The Cheesy Choice
S
ome of the strongest growth in salty snacks
today is in the cheese snack segment. This
category grew 5.5% with dollar sales over
$1.4 billion for the 52 weeks ending Feb. 19, 2017,
according to IRI.
Extruded snacks offer more opportunities to satisfy
consumer needs across a broad spectrum of flavors and
profiles. Snack companies can get really indulgent or
promote better-for-you attributes with this format.
Frito-Lay's Cheetos still hold a solid position in the
cheese snack category with more than $1 billion in
sales, and its Simply Cheese Cheetos enjoyed 16.8%
growth capitalizing on healthier trends like clean
label ingredients.
"Cheetos is targeted to families and helps them bring
fun and enjoyment to life while managing the responsibilities that come with a family," said Chris Kuechenmeister, vice-president, communications, Frito-Lay, Plano, TX.
"Consumers are looking to get purposeful calories from
snacks. Many are looking for simpler ingredient panels,
new tastes or positive nutrition."
Shape innovation and flavor variety are core drivers
for cheese puffs. While cheese curls continue to grow

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May 2017 www.snacintl.org

based on new flavor combinations, there is also a separate trend around better-for-you ingredients.
In 2016, Herr Foods, Inc., Nottingham, PA, launched
Herr's Whole Grain Cheese Curl, made from whole grain
corn base. "Some moms are looking for more whole
grains for their families," said Bob Clark, vice-president of
marketing. "The trend is toward simplifying ingredients
and providing ingredients like proteins and wholesome
grains that enhance the snack experience as snacking
continues to grow."
Snak King's cheese snacks are primarily baked, and the
company uses whole grains in these extruded products
to create crunchy cheese curls. Extruded products can
offer healthier options because of the cooking method.
"Since the whole grains are cooked and shaped using
pressure, they can result in a crispy, crunchy snack
without adding the fat of having to fry it," said Joe Papiri,
vice-president of sales and marketing, Snak King Corp.,
City of Industry, CA.
Cheese snacks are evolving using actual dehydrated
cheeses as puffed cheese snacks, instead of flavorings, according to Kara Nielsen, an independent trend
analyst. Mr. Cheese O's by Sonoma Creamery, a Somona,
CA-based cheese producer, offers crunchy cheese-ring
snacks using real cheese, and Sargento Balanced Breaks
uses cheese, nuts and dried fruit.
"These are not cheese-coated products that might
have artificial flavors or additives, so they are popular
with consumers who don't want preservatives and artificial ingredients in their foods," Ms. Nielsen said.
Using 100% cheese and labeling the cheese in more
detail - like Aged Cheddar or Smoked Gouda - has
wider appeal than artificial powdery cheese-flavored
ingredients, said Kelly McGolrick, vice-president of category management and customer marketing, Shearer's
Snacks, Massillon, OH.
Utz's Snikiddy brand is a portfolio of better-foryou snacks that are simple, wholesome products for
families looking for healthier foods to satisfy their
snack cravings. Snikiddy Cheese Puffs available in
Grilled Cheese and Mac & Cheese flavors are baked
and provide a snack that tastes great without added
preservatives and additives.
"This product goes after the mom who wants to feel
better about the snacks they put in their kids' lunches
during the week but may indulge in a barrel of Utz
cheese puffs on the weekend or on vacation," said Kevin
Brick, senior vice-president, marketing, Utz Quality
Foods,Inc., Hanover, PA. "Our customers are looking for
snacks to satisfy numerous occasions."

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