Liz Parker Kuhn

State of the Industry 2018: Puffed and extruded snacks bring better-for-you diversity

Ingredient and technological innovations are driving all areas

July 19, 2018

Puffed and extruded snacks are experiencing a renaissance. There are many different types of snacks in this category for shoppers to choose from, including traditional, healthier and even "free-from" options like gluten-free.

State of the Industry 2018: Fueling growth of frozen snacks and appetizers

Nutrition, ethnic flavors and ingredient diversity can drive continued growth in frozen snacks and appetizers

Liz Parker Kuhn

July 16, 2018

Frozen snacks and appetizers are staples in most households, pizza rolls, for example, are a quintessential American snack. And the freezer case has been slowly evolving to meet consumers' needs, branching out beyond typical heat-and-serve snacks.

State of the Industry 2018: Sweet goods flourish by means of variety

Sweet goods range from purely indulgent doughnuts to truly healthy muffins, with some overlap along the way

Liz Parker Kuhn

June 25, 2018

Doughnuts now run the gamut from sweet to savory, and there are no flavor combinations that are off limits: you might see a Fruity Pebbles doughnut, and maple bacon has become commonplace. And growth continues.

State of the Industry 2018: Clean-label, healthy tortillas spur sales

Clean-label, non-GMO, organic and other nontraditional tortilla options help spur category sales

Liz Parker Kuhn

June 22, 2018

As much as the tortilla category stays the same, it also has been striving to include more clean-label, non-GMO, and organic options. The standard white flour or corn tortilla that you see on grocery shelves will continue to persist, but consumers may see vegetable options like sweet potato tortillas alongside them, too.

State of the Industry 2018: Bakery snacks innovations boost sales

Bakery snacks continue to resonate with its core consumers, with bite-sized options making little indulgences even easier.

Liz Parker Kuhn

June 19, 2018

Bakery snacks like snack cakes have always been an indulgent category. And even as nutritionally improved products continue to trend-forward in other industry categories, snack cake sales don’t waver.

Driving innovation in tortillas and tortilla chips

Tortilla and tortilla chip manufacturers create new variations on the classics

Liz Parker Kuhn

May 17, 2018

Tortilla chips and tortillas are as American as they come, even though they are, of course, of Mexican origin. Manufacturers are putting their own spin on new products to entice consumers to buy more, and also to keep the category fresh.

Exclusive interview: Q&A with BI on clean label

Liz Parker Kuhn

April 23, 2018

We were recently able to interview Randy Kreienbrink, vice president of marketing at BI, about clean label trends, formulations, and goals.

Sanitation software helps snack and bakery companies continuously improve

Liz Parker Kuhn

April 12, 2018

More companies across the food industry have been transitioning to software systems versus paper to manage sanitation scheduling, processes and documentation. This allows them to integrate with sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs) and also help improve food safety. They can also help better coordinate regular facility maintenance tasks.

Bakery snacks continue to innovate and grow through diversification

New flavors and more clean-label products rank high among trends related to doughnuts, pastries and muffins

Liz Parker Kuhn

April 6, 2018

Bakery snacks, including key segments like pastries, doughnuts, muffins, snack cakes and more, remain a staple in Americans' snacking routines. Whether shoppers are looking for an indulgent snack or a better-for-you item, there's something for everyone.

Clean-label snack and bakery products become more prevalent as consumer interest grows

Companies look to make more clean-label products to meet market demands.

Liz Parker Kuhn

March 19, 2018

Consumers are reading labels more, looking for products that are nutritious, with ingredients that are easy to understand and that work with their family's budget. While there's no official definition of "clean label," consumers and the snack and bakery industry have their own definition in mind.