Crunch and flavor have always been gold and silver medalists in the cracker and crisp game, but because consumers are looking for more healthful snacks, there have been interesting developments with these products.

The numbers regarding heart disease are staggering. More than one in four Americans die as a result of the disease, and it is the leading cause of death for men and women. It impacts so many of us, either personally or through our connections to loved ones, friends and family.

The tortilla category largely flatlined during the past year, with some variation by type or brand of shell, as the world began to reopen after the worst of the pandemic and fewer consumers worked at home. 

Better-for-you tortillas available at select Sprouts, Shop Rite, and Wegmans locations.

Tortillas have become a versatile carrier for many meals. While typically associated with Mexican foods, tortillas can be used across a broad range of foods and cuisines. 

When it comes to convenient breakfast options, consumers are looking for products that meet their dietary needs without sacrificing flavor or taste.

Whether for breakfast, a snack, or a meal replacement, the nutrition bars category is ubiquitous, and its products can be consumed at any time of day. Sales have rebounded after a flat period, and innovation is ongoing in the category.

The snack and bakery solutions providers will collaborate on next-generation food R&D.

Patty Cakes is the first product of its kind to use potato protein which is extracted from the potato skin and the juice is then dried into a powder.

This month marks our first dedicated Report covering the legal cannabis edibles market that has emerged in multiple states across the U.S., and nationwide across Canada.

The snack and bakery industry is filled with wonderful stories. Writing about the origins, growth and scope of the amazing companies that grace our covers is absolutely one of the best aspects of my job.

So much of this industry is about creating meaningful connections. Successful products that generate long-lasting repeat purchase patters resonate with their consumers.

This month marks the unveiling of the new look for Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery.

When the gluten-free craze hit in 2004, I was already several years into my career as a food industry writer, with stints under my belt covering agriculture, food ingredient R&D, and restaurant menu development

So goes the tagline on much of the recent marketing surrounding Takis rolled tortilla chips, the flagship line from Barcel USA - the SF&WB 2020 "Snack Producer of the Year."

As a home baker, I'm constantly trying to figure out how to add more whole grains to my breads. I love the nuttiness that comes through, and the nutrition is essential to my family. Our toaster gets significant use every morning, and I need to feel good about the way my family starts the day.

We are a nation divided. America has grown increasingly polarized across our political and social spectrum, and this national anxiety will, unfortunately, increase as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and the November elections approach.

The history of the food industry offers many great examples of notable pioneers who innovated in the face of adversity.

Culinary history can bring powerful elements to storytelling, as seen in the origin of Mikesell's Potato Chip Co. and its Saratoga chips.

As I've engaged (remotely) with the industry of late, I've heard myriad stories of hardship and determined struggle, of community support and selfless volunteerism, of ingenuity and fortitude. These core values, so central to true leadership, are what bridge the gap to unite us across this great nation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has multiple lessons for the snack industry. Overall, the snack industry has had a strong, up year. But the degree of a "COVID bump" varied from category to category. As we emerge and plan for the future, recent, and current, product purchase behaviors can help provide a roadmap for what's to come.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, snack and bakery companies increase and adjust sanitation procedures for their facilities.

Throughout the year, whenever you pick up a sandwich away from home, there is a good chance you have Bimbo Bakehouse to thank for your bread.

As the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic descended upon America in early 2020, the American population began reacting to their new reality, and it was clear that snack and bakery production across the country would face a clear challenge. People were stocking up on supplies at an alarming rate, and the rush was on to keep grocery store shelves stocked.

Over the past few months, after nearly two years of disruption, I've been getting back into the saddle, visiting with the industry across the many pathways I carve through the course of my work.

"In 1970, my dad and uncle opened our first restaurant," says Daniel Schwartz, president, Schwartz Brothers Bakery, Renton, WA. "Three years later, they opened a concept called The Sandwich Shop and Pie Place. They were looking to source the very best pies to serve at their restaurant, and they couldn’t find any that they liked."

From cloud computing to the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0 is essential for modern-day snack and bakery companies, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

State of the Industry Overview for bakery, including a look at baking industry challenges like the supply chain, workforce development, impact from the war in Europe, and the pandemic.

For the past several years, the baking industry has faced a long list of serious, ongoing challenges.

The brand best known for its kettle-cooked sweet potato chips is now at 800 US Walmarts.

​​​​​​Parker Products, a provider of inclusions and other specialty ingredients for the baking, dairy, beverage, confectionery, RTE and snack, and foodservice industries, has announced that cookie manufacturer Creative Food Ingredients (CFI) has joined the Parker portfolio.

The collection includes chocolate-covered pretzels, graham crackers, and sandwich cookies, plus strawberry delights and Linzer cookies filled with raspberry jam. 

For this Mother’s Day, Grand Traverse Pie Company is thrilled to release a Strawberry Champagne Pie.

The ongoing pandemic has certainly shifted consumer attitudes and behaviors when it come to foods and the foods they choose. Consumers are looking to connect with food and are gravitating to more familiar comfort foods and indulgent items.

Raised Gluten Free is celebrating the sweet flavors of spring and summer with two seasonally inspired offerings: Southern Peach and Blueberry Bliss.

All of Magnolia Bakery's holiday products below are available to ship nationwide right to consumers' doors.

The new seasonal stack includes four buttermilk pancakes loaded with bacon and topped with maple glaze, diced bacon, a bacon strip and whipped topping. 

As family and friends more frequently gather in person for parties, dinners, and other social settings, it follows that sales of buns and rolls might increase, because such baked items often are invited to the table. 

The item offers consumers a better-for-you alternative to a traditional sandwich bun.

The Laughing Cow's new Cheese Dippers are a portable, individually portioned snack featuring the company’s creamy cheese and crunchy breadsticks.

Tradition is the foundation that grounds much of the bakery industry’s continued success. We see this immutable fact across nearly every category, with leading companies selling billions of dollars of traditional baked goods that have long stood the test of time. These are core products beloved by millions of shoppers.

The bars category continues show good to strong levels of growth, with sufficiently diversified product offerings to appeal to nearly every type of shopper. Few product categories so seamlessly fit into today’s on-the-go lifestyle suited to on-demand snacking.

Despite Americans’ growing interest in healthier diets and better-for-you foods made with real ingredients, people still enjoy treating themselves to dessert, be it a piece of frosted layer cake, a slice of silky crème pie or a sliver of decadent cheesecake.

Snack mix and nut products have extended their reach over the past year as consumers continue to seek varieties that are full of flavor innovation and adventure. “On-the-go” snack packs also appeal to consumers, and some have bold, new flavors that will make them stand out on the grocery store shelves.

Once a simple snack aisle staple, the humble pretzel is experiencing a resurgence, as restaurant menus tap into the classic flavors of this ubiquitous snack. According to Mintel, Chicago, there has been significant growth in the number of pretzel buns on menus recently, to the tune of 97 percent more items on menus than in previous years.

Since the beginning of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began its destructive spread across the earth, the baking industry has seen highs and lows unlike any other time in history. This unprecedented challenge has reshaped our world, and much of the industry is emerging stronger than ever.

Some candies don’t fit neatly into one column or another. That’s okay; the “other” candies like marshmallows, spreads, interactive novelty items, and such seem to be fitting into consumers’ candy budgets just fine. 

It makes sense that mint sales are up (though modestly, when looking at units sold) as recovery from the effects of the pandemic marches on. 

Chocolate is a treat that will never go out of style—whether it’s a consumer purchasing it for their own consumption, or perhaps as a gift for friends or family, it is a well-loved dessert. 

Bars remain big business—the portability, flavor variety, better-for-you options, and other attributes of the bakery category appeals to hungry commuters, on-the-go moms and their offspring, health-conscious snackers, and other consumer segments.