In this issue we’ll focus a bit on snack and beverage manufacturers’ business dealings and trends in marketing, as they will directly affect the products you’ll be selling down the line.  

We’ve mentioned ‘co-branding’ in the past, where two companies join to create new products.  Quaker Oats is teaming with Nestlé to develop Chewy Granola bars with Butterfinger and  Nestlé Crunch pieces. This is an attempt to beat Kellogg’s Rice Krispie Treats, which has always led its snack category.

On another  Nestlé front, there is a move to ‘globalize’ their products, and we may see more of this with international manufacturers whose products are known by different names around the world. For example,  Nestlé has already changed the name of Nestlé Quik, the chocolate milk flavoring, to NesQuik, the name by which most of the world knows the product. Nestlé also has a candy bar called Exploder Bar, a milk chocolate bar with crunch filling and ‘explode-in-your-mouth’ effervescence (apparently that’s a good thing). Exploder is a top seller around the world, and now  Nestlé plans to add it to the Willy Wonka line in the US. There will be other international companies following suit.

More Nestlé news: they just bought PowerBar, the leading energy and nutrition bar brand in the US.  Expect a marketing push in the near future.  Nestlé has also partnered with David, one of the top sunflower seed companies, in a new product that makes so much sense we wonder why no one thought of it:  David Sunflower Kernels in Rich Nestlé Chocolate.  Yes, the name is long but it sounds great—check it out!

One final Nestlé item: One of the classic confections of all time at groceries and candy stores are Turtles—pecans and caramel smothered with milk chocolate. There’s a huge built-in recognition factor, so take advantage of this limited offer.

If anybody doubts that the coffee and snack business is booming, here’s an indicator: Sara Lee, largely known as a snacks and pastries manufacturer, has just expanded their coffee operations in a big way.  Previously they only owned Superior, but have recently acquired Hills Bros, MJB, Chock Full O’Nuts, and Chase & Sanborn coffees!

More merger madness:  Those amazing elves at Keebler are acquiring Austin Foods, adding the Austin vending line of snack crackers to their roster, making them the #2 cookie and cracker manufacturer in the US, behind Nabisco.  In the past few years the elves have gobbled up Sunshine, President, Famous Amos, and now Austin—they know the power of cookies and crackers! By the way, Keebler reported net sales of $2.7 billion last year, and a sizable chunk of that was from vending! And what would a piece on Keebler be without new products?  New Snackin’ Grahams, bite-sized grahams crackers in a ‘sweet cinnamon’ flavor, join two new Cheez-Its:  Double Cheese Cheez-It and Big Crunch Cheez-It

If you’ve got customers who love Moon Pies, Chattanooga Bakery will make them happy with a cherry flavor as well as a Mardi Gras Moon Pie.

Shasta has a new line of juices available in 11.5 oz. cans; Everfresh juices come in 100% Apple Juice, 100% Orange Juice,; and 10% fruit juice flavors Kiwi Strawberry, Lemonade, Cranberry, Grape Drink, Tropical Fruit Punch, Grape Strawberry, Apple Strawberry, and Orange Drink.

Tropicana is planning to take on the success of competitors Sunny Delight, Hi-C and V-8 Splash.  They’re test-marketing Drenchers, in Orange, Strawberry, and Tropical flavors.  They contain 30% juice and are fortified with vitamins and calcium.  They may test them in your area, so be on the lookout!