Distribution: GoodPop Rolls Out To Walmart; Vacadillos Launches New Products at 7-Eleven

GoodPop Rolls Out To Walmart

Plant-based frozen novelty brand GoodPop announced it will expand the reach to Walmart stores in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest regions this month. The retailer will now carry GoodPop’s Cherry n’ Lemonade, Orange Cherry Grape and Orange n’ Cream popsicles as well as its Chocolate Vanilla Sandwiches and new ice cream bar varieties: Fudge n’ Vanilla Crunch, Mint n’ Fudge Chip, and Double Chocolate Fudge.

“GoodPop’s mission is to use our frozen treats as a vehicle to do social and environmental good, and to bring that good to as many people as possible,” said Rahul Shah, GoodPop’s COO and president. “By launching seven of our most popular ‘cleaned up classic’ frozen treats at more than 800 Walmart stores across 20 states, we’re able to bring that good to even more and more people just in time for summer.”

The brand’s entire portfolio is gluten-free and dairy-free and made without high-fructose corn syrup, refined sugar or sugar alcohol sweeteners. The newer ice cream-based products are made with an oat milk base and contain non-GMO, USDA Organic and FairTrade ingredients. According to Goetz, the company is focused on supporting the Walmart launch in the near term and hopes to expand to additional Walmart doors in the future.

“As the #1 and fastest-growing better-for-you novelties brand in the U.S., as well as the #1 performing frozen novelty brand in the natural channel last summer, we are so excited to bring GoodPop to traditional conventional retailers that allow us to reach more and more people, and having our products available at Walmart fits perfectly into that strategy,” Shah said. Adding that in 2022 the company sold over 100 million GoodPop’s.

The ice cream bars come in a 4-count box for a suggested retail price of $5.99 while the popsicles are available for $4.99.

Vacadillos Launches New Products At 7-Eleven

Latin-inspired air dried meat snack brand Vacadillos, a subsidiary of publicly traded meat snack company Stryve, announced the launch of three new products now available at 7-Eleven convenience stores nationwide. The innovations include a new Chipotle Honey flavor of the brand’s Carne Seca line in addition to a new format for the brand, meat sticks, in Chili Lime and Habanero flavors.

“Our mission at Stryve Foods has been about expanding the meat snack category with better-for-you options, while setting a new, higher standard of taste,” said Chris Boever, CEO of Stryve Foods, in a press release. “We are excited to partner with 7-Eleven as we bring innovative, customer favorite solutions that enable category growth.”

Vacadillos has established itself with its Carne Seca, a thinly sliced air-dried beef strip format; the new meat sticks mark the brand’s first expansion beyond Carne Seca. While all products in Stryve’s air-dried snack portfolio do not contain any added sugar, the company made an exception for the Chipotle Honey Carne Seca, which contains one gram of sugar due to the honey inclusion.

The Carne Seca format contains 15 grams of protein while the meat sticks offer 14 grams of protein per serving. The new offerings will be available at all 7-Eleven stores in a feature display dedicated to the brand for $5.99 per 2 oz. pack.

Stryve’s flagship brand, Stryve, has sold meat sticks since 2017.

Yellow Bird Hot Sauce Collaborates With Taco Bell

Austin-based hot sauce brand Yellow Bird has teamed up with Taco Bell for the return of the fast-food chain’s limited edition Nacho Fries menu item. Taco Bell will offer the Yellow Bird Nacho Fries for the next two weeks, which includes the brand’s Spicy Habanero Ranch sauce. The sauce can also be added to any other Taco Bell menu item.

“We’re honored to be collaborating with the innovative team at Taco Bell to bring our signature blend of bold flavor and heat to their menu with Yellowbird Nacho Fries,” said George Milton, CEO of Yellowbird, in a press release. “This partnership is a testament to both the growing popularity of Yellowbird and Taco Bell’s commitment to taking risks and offering unique and exciting menu items for their customers.”

The slim-cut Nacho Fries are topped with nacho cheese sauce, steak and Yellowbird sauce and available for $4.99. Taco Bell will continue to offer Nacho Fries, without Yellowbird sauce, once the partnership expires. In 2021 and 2022, Taco Bell partnered with condiment brand TRUFF as the hot sauce used on its Nacho Fries.

“Yellowbird utilizes premium ingredients to create their sauces and the Spicy Habanero Ranch sauce seamlessly compliments the full Taco Bell menu,” said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell Chief Food Innovation Officer, in a press release. “While they won’t be on the menu for long, the Yellowbird Nacho Fries are something really special we’ve been working to bring to fans everywhere.”

GrownAs* Foods Launches At Sprouts Farmers Market Stores

Plant-based boxed mac and cheese maker GrownAs* Foods will begin rolling out products to 380 Sprouts stores nationwide this month. The vegan mac and cheese, which comes in both Classic and Truffle-flavored varieties, contains 25 grams of protein per serving and is free from soy, cholesterol, dairy, sugar and GMO ingredients.

GrownAs* Foods, a subsidiary of Seed Ranch Flavor Co, uses plastic free packaging and the cheese pouch included is 100% compostable. The products will be available within the retailer’s “Innovation Centers,” a section of the store that features premium, on-trend’ and seasonal products that are new-to-Sprouts. The Classic flavor is available for $3.99 per box while Truffle retails for $4.99.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Sprouts and bring our delicious, plant-based mac & cheese to families across the nation within the chain’s new Innovation Centers,” said David Delcourt, founder and chief flavor officer, in a press release. “This new format is helping to even the playing field within the grocery industry, not only making it possible for smaller brands like GrownAs* to expand their footprint, but also easier for consumers to try new products that align with their core values.”

Melinda’s Launches New Innovations At Walmart

Pepper sauce brand Melinda’s announced a line expansion for its sauces and spicy ketchups that will coincide with a roll out to 4,100 Walmart locations nationwide. In addition to its Ghost Wing Pepper Sauce, Ghost Pepper Sauce, Black Truffle Hot Sauce, the brand added five spicy ketchup products in Black Pepper, Habanero, Chipotle, Jalapeño and Ghost Pepper flavors.

The company will also launch a Fire Roasted Garlic & Habanero Sauce, Louisiana Red Cayenne Hot Sauce and Mexicana Hot Sauce at Walmart and online. Melinda’s sauces retail for $4.54 per 12 oz. bottle while the ketchups are available for $3.79 per 14 oz. bottle.

“We were the first brand to create spicy ketchups more than 25 years ago and are thrilled to reach a new audience,” said Greg Figueroa, CEO of Melinda’s Foods, LLC, in a press release. “Our innovative sauces and ketchups are more savory and satisfying than dry spices, and we guarantee our tasty flavor varieties will complement any dish.”

Other notable distribution gains:

• Gluten-free snack brand BeeFree expanded the reach of its flagship, paleo-friendly, grain-free 3 oz. snack mix packs in Bob’s Salted Caramel and Hagan’s Berry flavors to Target stores nationwide.
• Baltimore-based A Friendly Bread will roll out its gourmet, frozen Sourdough Grilled Cheeses to Giant Stores in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The product is available in three varieties: Simple Country Sourdough with Cheddar, Cinnamon Raisin with Brie and Challah with Swiss.
• The New Primal’s condiment, sauce and seasoning brand, Noble Made, increased the company’s retail presence by over 10,000 doors with placements in Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Walmart, Costco rotations, and more nationwide this month.
• Chocolate company Chocxo launched its new Dark Chocolate Coconut Cups at 150 Costco club stores nationwide. The better-for-you product contains 80 calories, 3 grams of sugar and 3 grams of net carbs per cup.
• Chocolate quinoa crisp maker Undercover Snacks launched at over 3,000 Walmart stores across the U.S. this month and introduced a retailer-exclusive flavor: Milk Chocolate + Sprinkles.
• Plant-based energy ball brand Frooze Balls expanded its retail footprint with a rollout to nearly 300 Sam’s Club stores with its 3-pack variety format which is available for $9.98.
• California-based McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream launched seven flavors including Sprinkle Cake, Sweet Cream Caramel Brownie and Sea Salt Cream & Cookies at 204 Walmart stores across its home state this month. The ice cream retails for $6.98 per pint.
• Primal Kitchen expanded the retail presence of its Whip Dressing & Spread, Tad Sweet Ketchup, Mild & Sweet Buffalo sauce, Korean BBQ sauce and Honey Teriyaki sauce this month to a range of retailers including Walmart, Sprouts and Fresh Thyme Market. All of the products are also available online.