New Products From Sweet and Snacks: Healthier Gummies, Allergy-Free Chocolates and Functional Oat Snacks

The aisles of the 2022 Sweets and Snacks Expo – the three-day event in Chicago hosted by the National Confectioners Association ending today – are filled with candy and snack food brands of all sizes showcasing their newest flavors, innovations and additions to popular product lines. As highlighted here, this year’s event saw a number of companies launch products that satisfy the craving for a better-for-the-family salty or sweet treat with less added sugar.

Bobo’s

The oat bar brand based out of Boulder, Colorado, is expanding its breakfast offerings with a new 3-pack of its Toaster Pastries. Available in four flavors, Strawberry Jam, Apple Pie, Raspberry and Cinnamon Brown Sugar. The Toaster Pastries are vegan, gluten- and soy-free snacks made with 100% whole grain oats.

Small Wins Gummies

Plant-based, vegan gummy brand Side Step Sweets – co-founded by NBA All-Star Jayson Tatum – announced a better-for-you gummy candy that will be available later this year in 1.75 oz packs in Sassy Strawberry, Perfect Peach, Whimsical Watermelon and Groovy Green Apple flavors. The gummies pack only 4 grams of sugar and 100 calories per serving and will retail for $3.29 per pack on the company’s website.

YumEarth

The allergy-friendly candy brand has put its own spin on chocolate bites by making a dairy-free candy that is also free of the top nine allergens. Available in chocolate, mint chocolate and crisped quinoa varieties, Choco Yums add to the Stamford, Connecticut-based company’s portfolio of organic lollipops, candy chews, fruit snacks and other sweet treats.

Solely

Solely’s mission is to bring organic fruit snacks to kids with the benefits of no added sugar and a nutritious boost of Vitamin C. The company is expanding its popular Whole Fruit Gummies line with a new flavor, Mango Passionfruit, in new 2.5 oz, travel-friendly pouches that CEO Simon Sacal will “make Solely a staple in drugstores, travel, airport retail locations, roadside convenience stores, vending and more micro-markets.”

SkinnyDipped Almonds

The mother-daughter-founded brand is jumping into summer with a “Beach Don’t Kill My Vibe” bundle that includes its new Strawberry-Lemonade flavored, yogurt-dipped almonds. The bundle also includes the popular Lemon Bliss Almonds, a tote bag and stickers, and is available exclusively on Amazon for $14.99. The Seattle-based, woman-led brand is giving back by investing in recycled plastic that are made into bricks for schools in the Ivory Coast.

Core Foods

Founded in 2019, the Brooklyn-based company has repositioned its oat snacks as oatmeal bites, with the latest addition being Dark Chocolate Chip and a seasonal Sweet Cinnamon Spice offering for the holidays. The company uses whole grains to make prebiotic fiber and probiotic snack foods. The Dark Chocolate Chip snacks will be available in Whole Foods, Giant Carlisle and Giant Landover at an MSRP of $4.99.