Demand prompts Snyder’s-Lance to extend reduced fat Cape Cod line

The US snack firm will add Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper to its 40% reduced fat line comprised of Original, Sea Salt & Vinegar, Sweet Mesquite Barbeque and Aged Cheddar and Sour Cream.

“The reduced fat varieties have always played a major role in the Cape Cod portfolio; in fact our number one item has consistently been our 40% Reduced Fat Original variety,”​ said Faith Atwood, marketing manager for Cape Cod Potato Chips.

“Demand for our 40% less fat kettle chips is quite high. It makes up about half of our kettle chip sales volume,”​ Atwood told BakeryandSnacks.com.

The first reduced fat variety in Original flavor has been on the market for 15 years. Cape Cod also has a 6-flavor strong line of original potato chips, two ‘Chef’s Recipe’ products formulated by a US chef and two versions of waffle cut chips.

Better-for-you snacks​

“Consumers are looking for better-for-you snack options and want to feel good about what they are eating,”​ she said.

The Cape Cod reduced fat line claims to contain 40% less fat than the leading brand of regular potato chips although Snyder’s-Lance doesn’t name the brand.

The chips are kettle-cooked in 100% canola oil with no trans-fat and no chemical additives. The company says the fat reduction is achieved using a ‘natural’ method.

Atwood said the reduced fat variety is cooked in the same way as the regular kettle chips using 100% canola oil. "We then use a second processing step under specific pressure and temperature conditions for the 40% Less Fat items. This removes the additional oil from the product but ensures that the chips have the same unmistakable crunch and bold flavor as the original varieties."​

Atwood said that there are plans in place to introduce more flavors to the reduced fat line, with evaluation and testing ongoing.

Snyder’s-Lance expansion hopes​

Cape Cod forms one of Snyder’s-Lance’s four core brands alongside Snyder’s Pretzels, Lance Sandwich Crackers and Pretzel Crisps – recently acquired in the acquisition of Snack Factory at the end of last year.

The snack firm recently announced the opening of a new research and development (R&D)​ center in Pennsylvania set to open this month. President and chief operating officer (COO) Carl Lee said it would support the firm’s aggressive innovation plans for 2013.