NPD 2021: Pepperidge Farm gears up for pumpkin time, Popcorn Kitchen gets cheesy and Abby’s Better Nut Butters leave the kitchen

Tang-tastic

This month, Doritos is taking ‘tang’ up a notch with the launch of two limited edition flavours: Tangy Ranch and Tangy Pickle.

The variants pair the classic Doritos crunch with two wildly popular flavours, which the brand says are guaranteed to titillate the adventurous snacker.

To make a big splash, Doritos is kicking off a social contest on 9 August to give fans the chance to win a limited edition branded boombox kit, featuring a bag of Doritos Tangy Pickle in retro packaging, Bluetooth speaker to blast music and 90s-themed swag.

An additional 1,000 exclusive packs of Doritos Tangy Pickle will be available to fans before they hit store shelves in select regional markets across the US later this month (for an RRP of $1.99 for a 2.75oz pack and $4.29 for a 9.25oz bag).

It’s that time of the year again

Pepperidge Farm is bringing back some favourite fall treats, including limited edition Pumpkin Spice Swirl Bread, Soft Baked Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies and Pumpkin Spice Milano Cookies.

The brand is inviting consumers to spice up their breakfast with a slice of the golden-baked Pumpkin Spice Swirl Bread, which it claims to have the aroma and taste of pumpkin spice swirled right in. Available from US retailers nationwide for an RRP of $3.99.

Pepperidge Farm’s Soft Baked Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies are moist, soft cookies made with real pumpkin, cheesecake flavoured drops, brown sugar and spices. The SKU is rolling out in select retailers like Target this month, with a nationwide roll out in September, for an RRP of $3.89.

Pepperidge Farm’s popular Milano cookies have been given a fall twist – stuffed with pumpkin and chocolate creme. Available starting this month at retailers across the US for an RRP of $3.89.

This is such a fantastic flavour for savoury aficionados who expect a little bit more from their cheesy themed treats

Cheesy twist

Popcorn Kitchen’s new chapter – which began earlier this year with the roll out of Raspberry White Choco, Choc Mint, Lemon Drizzle and Choc Orange four sweet treats – is taking a savoury twist on 21 August with the launch of Cheddar made with 30% English cheddar. Like all its cousins, the new variant does not contain artificial flavours, colours or shweeteners.

According to Popcorn Kitchen’s marketing director Andy Valentine, popcorn has universal appeal, well-suited to vegetarians and snack-seeking coeliacs.

However, “while younger taste buds invariably lean towards our sweet portfolio, many of our long-standing brand diehards have told us about their craving for a savoury flavour that resonates with their ‘slow food’ preferences.”​

The new cheesy variant is not the first ‘savoury-leaning’ offering within its artisanal, small batch portfolio, which already includes Sweet & Chilli, Simply Salted and Sweet & Salt, the latter being the ‘step-change flavour’ that the brand claims put Popcorn Kitchen onto a nationwide footing.

“It was imperative to both Andy and I that Popcorn Kitchen’s ongoing pledge to pure, unadulterated popcorn happiness had to encompass our island’s finest foodie traditions, and nothing in truth shouts ‘irrefutably British’ more than a top-notch cheddar,”​ added Louise Webb, sales director of Popcorn Kitchen.

“As a savoury snack loving nation, cheese-themed nibbles have been a cornerstone for British snacking afficionados, albeit on many occasions the actual presence of real cheese (let alone a prime cheddar) has been a recurring dilemma.”​

Low fuss, low sugar snackable dough

Ready-to-bake cookie dough brand Doughlicious has relaunched its range of Organic Snackable Cookie Dough with a new recipe that is lower in sugar to answer the demand for healthier treats.

Formerly known as Lite Bites, the rebranded Snackable Cookie Dough range includes favourites such as Coco Delight, Orange Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Apple Crumble and Lemon Raspberry, along with the launch of Chocolate Peppermint.

The range is 100% organic, gluten-free and vegan-friendly, with up to 47% less sugar than competing cookie dough brands. Pitched as a healthier sweet treat, each 56g pack contains 8 x 7g ready-to-eat Cookie Dough ball and is resealable to make them perfectly portable.

“We’ve relaunched our on-the-go snack range to better reflect the growing demand for healthier products that can be enjoyed at home, at the desk or whilst out and about as a post-workout snack or guilt-free picnic sweet treat,”​ said Kathryn Bricken, founder of Doughlicious.

“We’ve also taken a closer look at the range, retained the most popular flavours and introduced a new Chocolate Peppermint flavour that we think our customers will love.”​

Available online and also at Whole Foods, Planet Organic and Selfridges in the UK.

Beefy punch

Old Trapper’s Jumbo Kippered Beef Steak Snacks are seasoned with the brand’s secret blend of spices, fresh ground pepper and brown sugar, then smoked with real wood for the finishing touch.

The thick beefy strips are available in three flavours, including Old Fashioned (a traditional true-blue, tried-and-true favourite), Peppered (enhanced with the spicy taste of peppercorn) and Teriyaki (a little savoury and a little sweet meet in the middle).

Available in both individual packs and 12-pack boxes online and at select retailers across the US for an RRP of $24.

Nut butter on the run

Abby’s Better Nut Butter has launched single-serving Squeeze Packs to help fans enjoy their favourite nut butters anytime and anywhere.

The healthy snacking company is rolling out its five top selling variants – Date Pecan, Coconut Cashew, Coffee Almond, Honey Almond, and Protein-Infused Cinnamon Roll Almond – in squeezable pouches that contain two tablespoons (34g) of the snacking butter.

“After seeing the success that came from our signature nut butters, we created the Squeeze Packs as a way to let consumers enjoy their favourite nut butter flavours beyond the kitchen,”​ said founder and CEO Abby Kirche.

“I started Abby’s Better to support healthy snacking without sacrificing taste for health. Now with our Squeeze Packs, Abby’s Better can be there at any time to fuel consumers through their busiest of days - whether it’s during their commute to work or school, at a sports game, as a quick on-the-go energy boost, and more.”​

Abby’s Better uses minimal, all natural ingredients, including pecans, cashews, almonds and sunflower seeds for those looking for a nut-free option. Its products are also guaranteed gluten-free, peanut-free, paleo, plant-based and are sweetened with fruits or honey instead of artificial sweeteners.

The Squeeze Packs are available online for an RRP of $4.99/3 count, $13.99/10 count of one single flavour and $7.99 for a sampling pack of each of the five nut butters.

Sprouting health

Go Raw creates sprouted superfood snacks to help consumers eat better, feel good and be at their best.

Its range of sprouted SKUs are passionately handcrafted with only simple, easy-to-understand ingredients, and minimally processed to deliver the nutrition, protein and energy that is needed to fuel an entire day.

According to the brand, sprouting helps break down phytic acid – a natural plant compound often called an ‘anti-nutrient’ due to its negative effects on mineral absorption. By sprouting also hlps unlock the seed’s nutrients, making it easier for the human body to absorb and digest.

Sprouted Organic Pumpkin Seeds are sprouted and dried, not baked, roasted or fried. Pumpkin seeds have been shown to improve heart health, blood sugar levels, fertility and sleep quality.

Sprouted Organic Sunflower Seeds are great as a standalone snack, but also to add crunch and protein to salads, oatmeal, yoghurt and baked goods. Sunflower Seeds are considered to be the best whole food source of Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect cell membranes, brain cells and lower the risk for chronic diseases.

All Go Raw products are organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and soy-free.

Available from select retailers around the US, for an RRP of $14.99 (Sprouted Organic Pumpkin Seeds) and $10.99 (Sprouted Organic Sunflower Seeds).