Promotion In Motion Companies Inc. is ramping up sales of Welch’s Fruit Snacks Island Fruits variety. Island Fruits is a combination of on-trend tropical flavors, including Strawberry-Banana, Mango, Guava-Kiwi, Pomegranate-Passion Fruit, Pink Grapefruit and Tropical Punch. Like all Welch’s Fruit Snacks, new Island Fruits is made with real fruit and fruit juices and is fat…
New Beef Jerky
Matador by Jack Link’s expands its meat snack line with the introduction of new Matador beef jerky. Available nationwide in four flavors—Sizzling Sweet, Smokin’ BBQ, Original and Teriyaki—new Matador beef jerky combines a bold taste with a tender bite to deliver a satisfying new snacking experience. Jack Link’s launched the Matador brand in spring 2009…
Hershey Introduces Pieces Wrapper Rewards Campaign
Singer, songwriter and actress Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, who first achieved success in her music career with her song “Pieces of Me,” celebrates another “Pieces” debut as The Hershey Company adds to its Pieces Candies line. Building off the success of the popular Reese’s Pieces Candy, the new Pieces Candies offer snackable, bite-sized versions of classic favorites…
Chocolate Sweetens Candy Sales
TOP PERFORMERS Hershey’s Mars HONORABLE MENTIONS Nestlé Ghirardelli While the current recession has slowed down sales of everything from cars to organic groceries, people seem happy to keep shelling out for chocolate, and convenience store owners couldn’t happier. Chocolate is one of the more recession-resilient food sectors. With consumers eating out less and eating at…
Meaty Sales in the Snack Aisle
TOP PERFORMERS Jack Link’s Beef Jerky Slim Jim (ConAgra) Old Wisconsin Sausage HONORABLE MENTIONS Old Trapper Smoked Products World Kitchens Oberto Sausage Flavored products from hot and spicy to teriyaki and smoked are driving the meat snacks category as customers look for new varieties of their favorite snacks. Stick sales are reportedly up, and as…
A Functional Boost to Confections
You know the truism about Americans wanting more of everything is, indeed, true when we begin demanding more from our candy, gum and mint products than just good taste. As with beverages over the last decade or so, so-called functional snacks are slowly gaining respect in the convenience store channel, as major manufacturers roll products…
Hitting the Customers’ “Sweet Spot”
The ability to offer outstanding service remains the industry’s biggest asset. Do whatever it takes to exceed expectations. Doing a late night check on our new Huddle House restaurant attached to a quite awesome BP travel center, I arrived just in time to tackle the concerns of a pretty tough and very tired truck driver…
Variety Spicing Up Salty Snacks
In the midst of the recession, more consumers are opting for at-home entertainment, which is good news for the salty snacks category. This trend may account for a jump in sales of chips and popcorn, the quintessential counterparts for an at-home movie. Last year, salty snack sales totaled $4,962 with a profit of $1,867, a…
Driving HBC Sales
Convenience store operators preparing to expand their health and beauty care (HBC) category in time for the summer months may be facing some challenges. With the moribund economy depressing impulse sales across retail, this may be a bad summer for new products, while tried-and-true brands of medicines, sunscreen, sunglasses and other warm-weather favorites remain strong.…
Meat Snacks / Jerky
TOP PERFORMERS Jack Links Beef Jerky Slim Jim (ConAgra Foods Inc.) Pemmican (ConAgra Foods Inc.) HONORABLE MENTIONS Gardetto’s (General Mills) Keebler (Kellogg Co.) Accounting for $836 million in sales at convenience stores last year, meat snacks seem to be a category tailor-made for convenience consumers. Jerky is a quintessential impulse item that appeals greatly to…