CLEAN PROTEIN

Jimmy’s Natural Foods, Chicago, closed 2018 with a packaging redesign and two new flavors for its JiMMYBAR! line of “clean” protein bars. 

The new varieties are called, “Eye of the Tiger” and “Wake it Up.” Each bar delivers more than 20g of protein with fewer than 300 calories and only 6g of sugar. The company’s website says both 58g, 2.05oz bars contain a blend of soy protein crisps and whey protein concentrate.

The Wake It Up bar comes in White Chocolate Café Latte flavor and delivers 21g of protein. It contains guarana as a plant-based source of caffeine. 

Officials say the Eye of the Tiger JiMMY! is a performance bar with 25g of protein. It’s made with caramel, chocolate, peanuts and also contains guarana, a plant-based source of caffeine. It also is fortified with turmeric, which may reduce inflammation. 

Late last year saw Jimmy’s Natural Foods release and promote its Eye of the Tiger bar with MGM’s release of the movie “Creed II.” In conjunction, Jimmy’s Natural created a campaign showcasing Chicago rock legend Jim Peterik (Survivor, 38 Special), who co-wrote the iconic “Eye of the Tiger” song for Rocky III.

Founded by Jim Simon (the entrepreneur) and his sister Annette (the chef), JiMMYBAR! says it “has a mission to give every household the cleanest protein bar with a decadent taste and a playful experience.”  JiMMYBARs can be found in more than 20,000 locations across the US and Canada, including Costco, Circle K, 7-Eleven, WaWa, and BJ’s Wholesale Club.

KID FRIENDLY

This Bar Saves Lives (TBSL), a Los Angeles-based social impact brand, extended its snack bar offerings with three new kids varieties. 

They include Chocolate Chip “Dino”mite, made with chocolate chips, oats, fruits, and veggies; Rockin’ Straw-beary, made with real strawberries, oats, fruits, and veggies; and S’mores Blast, made with chocolate chips, oats, cinnamon, fruits, and veggies.

Officials say the bars are “school-safe” and free of the top eight allergens. They also are Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten free and kosher. Each 0.88oz, 25g bar contains 100 calories and only 5g of sugar. 

TBSL was started 2013 by co-founders Kristen Bell, Ryan Devlin, Todd Grinnell, and Ravi Patel. Its premise is that for every snack bar sold, the company donates a “Plumpy Nut” nutrient packet to malnourished children in Haiti, Southern Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia.

“Kristen was the driving force behind our kid snack bars because she’s a supermom. She really reads the labels and won’t settle for less than the best. So, together, we set out to create school-safe snack bars with clean ingredients that kids agree taste great,” said co-founder Ryan Devlin.

The company’s primary snack bar line include six 1.4oz, 40g varieties. Flavors include PB&J, Dark Chocolate & Cherry, Wild Blueberry & Pistachio, Dark Chocolate & Coconut, Dark Chocolate & Peanut Butter and Madagascar Vanilla Almond & Honey.

As of 2019, TBSL says it has sent more than 10 million life-saving packets of food to children in need.

BETTER BARS

Whole grain foods processor Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods, Milwaukie, Ore., is branching into the snack aisle with Bob’s Better Bars, a new five-item line. Officials say bars are another way for the employee-owned company to satisfy consumer demand for easy, portable nutrition following the popularity of its lines of muesli and oatmeal cups.

“Our mission has always been to add whole grain nutrition to every meal of the day. With more people snacking than sitting down to traditional meals, we jumped at the chance to create a better tasting, healthier bar,” says Bob’s Red Mill CEO Dennis Vaughn. “Our fans trust our products to be high quality and wholesome. We think our reputation will give us an advantage in the bar category.”

Bob’s Better Bars are gluten free, Non-GMO Project Verified, and free of soy, dairy and eggs. Each bar offers up to 7g of protein and a good amount of fiber. Five flavors include Peanut Butter Chocolate & Oats, Peanut Butter Jelly & Oats, Peanut Butter Coconut & Oats, Peanut Butter Banana & Oats and Peanut Butter Apple Spice & Oats.

Bars are available online via www.bobsredmill.com, as well as at select retailers nationwide, for a suggested retail price of $1.99 per 1.7oz bar.

“We worked on the recipe for a long time to make sure our bars taste as good as the ones I remember my wife, Charlee, making at home years ago,” said President and Founder Bob Moore. 

Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods is a leader in organic and gluten free foods.

LOVE GOOD FATS

As demand for healthy fat-fueled, keto-friendly snacks continues to grow across North America, The Good Fat Co. Ltd., Toronto, Canada, said it closed a successful common share funding round at $5 million to support its January 2019 US launch of love good fats bars in 450 Whole Foods stores.

love good fats snack bars have 1g-2g of sugar, moderate protein (9g-10g) and 14g of fats. With the right mix of good fats and very little sugar, the bars fit into a “keto lifestyle” and are perfect for people who want a grab-and-go snack and are trying to reduce their sugar intake. 

Whole Foods stores in the US will carry three of six flavors: Peanut Butter Chocolatey, Mint Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Other varieties (available in Canada) include Rich Chocolately Almond, Coconut Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter & Jelly. The Good Fat Co. Ltd. website notes that Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Peanut Butter & Jelly varieties feature plant-based formulas.

“I’m passionate about changing the way we eat. My bars are based on the latest science that shows that there are health benefits to eating good fats and dramatically reducing sugar in-take,” says Suzie Yorke, company founder and CEO.

INDULGENT NUTRITION

TRUWOMEN, Inc., Denver, used Valentine’s Day to launch its seventh plant-based protein bar variety, called “Red Velvet Ready.”

“As women who care about taste and nutrition, we often find ourselves in the dilemma of having to pick one over the other. After what felt like a lifelong quest for healthy on-the-go snacks that satisfies our sweet tooth, we stopped looking around and looked at ourselves. That was the truly the beginning of crafting what we’re calling ‘Indulgent Nutrition,’” says Co-founder and President Stephanie Pyatt.

TRUWOMEN protein bars celebrate the flavor profiles of iconic desserts, such as Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Glazed Donuts. Four other varieties are: Saltylicious Almond Love, I Scream for Orange Cream, Smother Fudger Peanut Butter and Zamn Good Zesty Lemon.

TRUWOMEN says its 50g, 1.76oz plant-based bars are certified vegan, Non-GMO and gluten free. They also are free soy, dairy and contain no sugar alcohols. Consumers may purchase a box of 12 bars for $29.98 at
www.truwomen.com. All bars offer 12g of protein and 190 to 200 calories per bar.

TRUWOMEN’s website says bars (depending on variety) contain combinations of cassava flour, brown rice protein, pea protein, Fair Trade chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, lemon peel, sea salt, citric acid, spices and natural favors. Fats, oils and sweeteners include roasted almonds, roasted cashews, raw peanuts, flaxseed, Fair Trade palm oil and sunflower oil, lecithin, stevia, organic cane sugar and inulin.

KNOW YOUR NICHE
Making the next sports nutrition bar? Consumers tell Mintel exercising is more worth the effort than eating healthy.

As Americans look to start 2019 off on the right foot, it seems this year’s resolutions are more likely to see consumers hitting the gym than improving the quality of their diets. 

While consumers recognize the importance of a healthy diet, with 60% saying eating healthy food is important as compared to 57% who say the same for exercising, new research from Mintel reveals that Americans prefer to jump-start their healthy lifestyles through exercise. Consumers are more likely to say that exercising is worth the effort (48% vs 31% eating healthy), fun/enjoyable (28% vs 17%), empowering (27% vs 16%) and a source of pride (21% vs 15%) than eating healthy. 

When it comes to the actions consumers take to stay healthy, a healthy diet falls farther down the list. The top ways consumers say that they stay healthy is by drinking enough water (54%), exercising regularly (50%) and getting enough sleep (38%). Meanwhile, consumers are less likely to change their diet to stay healthy, for example, by avoiding sugar (21%), eating a low-calorie diet (12%) or limiting the amount of meat they eat (12%). 

Cost is a factor in encouraging people to put on their sneakers rather than improve their diet as consumers are nearly seven times more likely to agree that it’s expensive to eat healthy food (34%) than they are to agree it’s expensive to exercise (5%).

“Americans are cognizant of the benefits of a healthy diet. However, when it comes to actually making lifestyle changes, the majority are more likely to find exercise to be engaging and a good way to see positive results like improved health and managed stress,” notes Mike Gallinari, a travel and leisure analyst at Mintel. “Exercise has a number of positive associations, and while consumers acknowledge the value of a healthy diet, attitudes like the perceived high cost of following one serve as a barrier. As exercise is the driving force behind jump-starting healthy lifestyle changes in the new year, healthy food marketers should consider associating their products with exercise to make the food a part of the emotional experience of healthy activity.” 

While consumers say they prefer to reap the benefits of working out, the majority still make an effort to keep their diet on track. Mintel research reveals that although just 7% say they are strict with themselves to ensure that their diet is as healthy as possible, three in 10 (31%) say they maintain a healthy diet most of the time. Many find that balance is key, as 38% say their diet is a mix of healthy and not-so-healthy eating, with another 73% agreeing that indulgences are permissible in a healthy diet. 

Whether taking small steps toward a healthier diet or going all in, nearly half (45%) of consumers say that they are purchasing more healthy food today as compared to a year ago. When it comes to making healthier choices, 52% say they read the nutrition labels when purchasing new foods and 47% try to use healthier oils when cooking. What’s more, many consumers are giving the foods they eat a closer look as four in ten (39%) say they pay attention to serving sizes on food labels. 

Certain diets are grabbing both headlines and consumers’ attention as 18% say they’re interested in following either a ketogenic or paleo diet, respectively.

“The fact that consumers claim to be purchasing more healthy food and drinks this year is a clear reflection of the intent to eat healthier, if not the actual behavior,” adds John Owen, senior food and drink analyst at Mintel. “This provides a broad indication of the opportunity for marketers to help consumers make healthier choices by, for example, offering more prominent nutrition labels and information. There is also a chance to address the issue from a meal-planning standpoint through a system that makes it easier for consumers to make healthy choices by suggesting food combinations covering a meal, day or full week.”