New Name in Protein Bars
Supplements maker Bloom Nutrition, Los Angeles, expanded into foods and snacks with Bloom Protein Bars. The bars feature Bloom's whey isolate protein and come in four flavors: Blueberry Crumble, Raspberry Cheesecake, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and Cookies & Cream. Each bar has fewer than 200 calories, is packed with 15g of protein, and contains only 2g of sugar per serving. Bars come in single-flavor 12-packs for $29.99 and in variety 12-packs for $32.99.

Adventure Fuel
Surfer Hunter Schaeffer was looking for a healthier, high-protein snack. That led him to found Fringe Food Co., Rehoboth Beach, Del., which offers a line of functional, mushroom-powered protein bars. Three varieties include Chocolate Almond Butter, Mango Hemp and Coconut Cashew. Organic mushroom ingredients include lion's mane, cordyceps, reishi and turkey tail varieties. Additional ingredients include ashwagandha, raw cacao and hemp. The gluten-free, plant-based bars have 0g of added sugar and are naturally sweetened by dates. Each 6.5oz bar has 15g of protein.

Support Sustainable Ag
ALOHA, New York, N.Y., introduced “The Kona Bar," a special edition item to support Hawaii’s sustainable agriculture. ALOHA says responsibly-sourced ingredients include 100% Kona Coffee, 100% Hawaii-grown macadamia nuts, and the first commercial launch of Terviva’s Ponova™ oil in a food product, a sustainable plant-based oil made from the beans of ultra-regenerative, climate-resilient pongamia trees on Oʻahu. Kona Bar is high in protein, low in sugar, and ethically sourced and crafted. Kona Bar is sold at ALOHA.com and Thrive Market.

Nut & Seed Butters—In Bar Form
Nut and seed butter specialist NuttZo LLC, San Diego, branched into refrigerated bars this February.

The bars contain 7-8g of protein, 4g of sugar, and no artificial preservatives. A new Almond Butter Chocolate variety has cashews, almonds, Brazil nuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, hazelnuts, and pumpkin seeds. The Peanut Butter Chocolate flavor blends peanuts, cashews, almonds, flax seeds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, and sunflower seeds. NuttZo Nut & Seed Butter Bars are sold in-stores in 12-bar boxes with an MSRP of $2.59 - $2.79.

Names Kids Know
Schools can offer on-the-go snacks with whole grains students need from popular cereal brands. General Mills Foodservice, Minneapolis, greeted 2023 with 2oz equivalent grain cereal bars that are shelf stable and fit any meal occasion. Available in a larger format (2.5oz) that appeals to kids of all ages, the individually-wrapped cereal bars come in three exciting flavors: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Peach Cheerios and Lucky Charms.

Functional Nutrition
Frozen, plant-based foods specialist Tattooed Chef, Los Angeles, entered the refrigerated case with four Oat Butter Bars. Officials say each features plant-based pea protein with the “power of vitamin D and adaptogens including ashwagandha, holy basil and reishi. Each Non-GMO Project Verified Oat Butter Bar contains 12-14g of plant-based pea protein, no added sugars, no soy, and no gluten. Varieties include Chocolate Chip, Brownie, Peanut, and Graham. Bars are available with an SRP of $2.99 at select retailers.

Clean Proteins 
Simply Delicious, Inc. (Bobo’s Oat Bars), Loveland, Colo., extended its bakery product line with protein bars in two flavors: Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter and Double Chocolate Almond Butter. Both flavors are available online through Bobo's website and Amazon store starting at $29.88 for a 12-pack. Bobo’s 2.2 oz protein bars feature real peanut butter, honey, chocolate chips and coconut oil. Officials say each bar delivers 15g of protein from peanuts or almonds, pea protein and other ingredients. The bars also are naturally sweetened with dates and honey.

Delivering Protein & Vitamins
The Hershey Company, Hershey, Pa., used the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago to introduce FULFIL Nutrition, a “craveable” protein and vitamin bar. It tastes like a chocolate bar but delivers 15g of protein, 20% of the daily value of eight vitamins with just 1g of sugar, and 3g or less of net carbs. Varieties include Chocolate Salted Caramel and Triple Chocolate.