Showcasing New Products with Nuts
Brands Expand Snacking and Dessert Lines with Nut-Inspired Innovation
From Catalina Crunch Protein Granola and Lindt Dubai Style Chocolate to new salads, bars, crusts, and frozen treats, manufacturers are introducing products that blend indulgence, functionality and global flavor trends
New Name in Granola
Catalina Snacks, Indianapolis, entered a new category with Catalina Crunch Protein Granola, a three-item line. Varieties include Honey Cashew, with cashews; Peanut Butter, with real peanuts; and Vanilla Almond, with almonds. Each offers 13g of protein, 1–2g of sugar, and an excellent source of fiber in every serving.
“We created this Protein Granola to fill a real gap, as many breakfast and snack options are either loaded with sugar or lacking in substance,” said Sam Martin, chief revenue and marketing officer. “Our Protein Granola gives consumers what they’ve been asking for—real nutrition, great taste and satisfying crunch, with none of the compromises.”
Dubai Style Chocolate
After successful trial sales, Lindt & Sprüngli USA, Stratham, N.H., began distributing its new Lindt Dubai Style Chocolate bar nationwide, starting in July. Each bar features Lindt milk chocolate with filling made from pistachio paste containing 45% pistachios, crunchy kadayif, almonds and hazelnuts.
“After our handmade limited-edition bars sold out in a matter of days in December 2024, it was our mission to create a refined recipe using state-of-the-art technology,” said Ann Czaja, Lindt master chocolatier. “We keep a close eye on flavor trends and are proud to invite consumers across America to taste our newest luxurious creation!”
Almonds Add Texture
Fresh Express Inc., Salinas, Calif., said global taste trends inspired three new Chopped Salad Kits. They include a Creamy Goddess, Farmhouse Ranch and an Orange Sesame. New Orange Sesame features an orange miso vinaigrette with green leaf lettuce, kale, and red and green cabbage (for crunch) and toasted sesame sticks and honey-sliced almonds (for texture).
"Salads today are more than just a side—they're the main event," said Fabian Pereira, vice president of Marketing and Innovation at Fresh Express. "We created these new kits to bring that 'wow' factor to everyday meals. With bold ingredients, rich textures and globally inspired dressings, they're designed to deliver delicious variety in every bite so consumers can enjoy restaurant-quality flavor straight from their fridge."
Taste of India
Doosra, Queens, N.Y., used this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show to showcase its Indian Snack Mixes including a Peanut & White Chocolate as well as new vegan, peanut-free Dark Chocolate & Walnut mix.
“The food buying community knows that this show always delivers the newest and best our industry has to offer, including specialty food and beverage product launches they won’t find anywhere else,” said Bill Lynch, president of the Specialty Food Association (SFA).
Doosra was founded in 2023 by Kartik Das. It develops Indian snacks with classic Indian ingredients such as Boondi and Amchur—and combines them with indulgent sweet elements like caramelized white chocolate.
Raise the Bar!
Kodiak Cakes LLC extended its line with new frozen breakfast sandwiches and shelf-stable trail bars. A new Cranberry Chocolate Chip trail bar includes peanuts; and the new Chocolate Almond bar includes both almonds and peanuts. Kodiak describes both bars as “chewy, sweet-and-salty” and adds that they also include seeds and fruit with 7g of protein.
"Kodiak has always been about fueling adventure with real, nourishing food that tastes great and powers your day," said Valerie Oswalt, CEO of Kodiak. "With the introduction of our Trail Bars and Frozen Breakfast Sandwiches, we're not just expanding our product offerings — we're meeting our consumers where they are, whether they're hitting the trail, racing through a busy morning, or needing a hearty, satisfying bite on the go."
Gluten-Free Options
Diamond of California, Stockton, Calif., upgraded its former Nut Pie Crust (2019) with two new gluten-free varieties: Pecan and Chocolate Nut. Both flavors are available in Walmart stores nationwide and carry a SRP of $4.99/9-inch pie crust.
The ready-to-use gluten-free Nut Pie Crust features a blend of premium Diamond of California pecans and walnuts, oat flour, flax seeds, and other gluten-free ingredients. The Chocolate Nut Pie Crust includes a blend of walnuts, pecans, and real cocoa.
Bake Shop Flavors
Graeter's Ice Cream, Cincinnati, rolled out a limited-edition, six-item “Bake Shop” collection including Cinnamon Sticky Bun, Beast Feast – Cookie Dough Unleashed, Blueberry Lemon Crumble, Pineapple Passion Fruit Sorbet, Minty Brownie, and Caramel Pecan Cheesecake. Caramel Pecan Cheesecake includes creamy mascarpone ice cream, praline pecans, caramel truffles, and soft cheesecake pieces.
"From taking a trip to the local bakery or cooling off with a scoop of ice cream, nothing captures the essence of summer quite like a sweet treat," said Richard Graeter, CEO. "With this collection, we're taking that nostalgic, baked-with-love feeling and turning it into the tastiest way for ice cream lovers across the country to stay cool this season."
Summer Snacking
Kellanova, Chicago, extended its RXBAR Nut Butter & Oat line with a Lemon Honey Cashew Butter flavor.
“Inspired by bakery-style flavor pairings and flavor trends, this bar offers a lighter alternative to the dessert-heavy options that dominate the snack aisle,” the company said.
“Each crispy bite delivers lemon, floral honey, and a hint of salt, layered over oats, seeds and chopped nuts. It’s a flavor-forward bar that can pick you up during the midday slump.”
Wonder-Ful New Options
Flowers Foods Inc., Thomasville, Ga., extended its legacy Wonder bread brand into snack cakes with 11 new items including Pecan Cinnamon Twists, made with sweet cinnamon and pecans with a light glaze.
"For generations, Wonder bread has been a staple in American households, bringing families together over meals and memories," said Ashley Hornsby, director of brand management. "With the launch of our new treats, we're excited to bring that same sense of nostalgia and joy to a new category, giving consumers a delicious way to enjoy Wonder beyond the bread aisle."
New Featured Nut
Mars Wrigley North America, Newark, N.J., used this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo to showcase a variety of new products including SNICKERS Pecan, a blend of caramel, nougat, milk chocolate and pecans.
"As a consumer-obsessed company committed to shaping the future of snacking, Mars is constantly innovating ways for our brands to deliver exciting experiences with our products,” said Tim LeBel, president of sales. “Through new and nostalgic flavors, festive shapes and playful textures, we help drive the category and empower retailers to deliver moments of everyday happiness for consumers.”
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