Distribution Roundup: Spudsy Brings Latest Launch To Whole Foods; Nib Mor Signs On With BJ’s

Adrianne DeLuca

 

Spudsy Reaches Whole Foods With Latest Product Launch

Upcycled sweet potato snack maker Spudsy brought its latest innovation, Sweet Potato Fries, to Whole Foods this month in flavors such as Hot Fry and Vegan Ranch. This expansion comes on the heels of the brand’s $3.3 million Series A fundraise in September 2021 which it said would be used to increase production and expand its portfolio.

The fries were first introduced on Spudsy’s direct-to-consumer platform in July 2021 and later entered retail at select Kroger banner stores. With this announcement, the fries will now be available at over 800 locations nationwide between the natural grocer and conventional retail chain, joining its flagship puff line on-shelf in the salty snack aisle.

According to Spudsy’s VP of Sales, Dustin Kochis, this new distribution is “a boost of confidence” for both the team and the brand.

“Over the last year and half, we stayed laser focused on our Puffs to ensure we were building velocities and proving thesis for the brand overall,” explained Kochis. “For Whole Foods to lean in on this latest innovation means the absolute world to us and it gives our team and partners the confidence to say we have something special we are building.”

The fries are made with a similar process as the puff line. Using “imperfect” sweet potatoes that typically end up as food waste, Spudsy processes those potatoes into flour which can be used to make a variety of snacks, the company explained. As for future growth, Kochis said the brand is focused on refining and expanding its channel strategy and is pursuing new accounts in grocery while also keeping Foodservice, Mass, Drug, Convenience and Club on its radar.

In addition to distribution, Kochis said size innovation will also be an integral component of the brand’s growth as it looks to enter new channels. Currently, the fries come in a multiserve 4 oz. bag while the puffs come in two multiserve formats (14 oz. and 4 oz.) as well as a .35 oz single-serve bag.

“We have learned that we still have a lot of runway with our Sweet Potato platform,” said Kochis. “The excitement and feedback we have received around the new Sweet Potato Fries has been so positive that we are confident we will be able to continue to innovate around this platform. With that being said, we are going to stay focused on and nurture the Puffs and Fries.”

Nib mor Launches At BJ’s Wholesale Club Stores

Chocolate snack nib mor announced a new partnership with BJ’s this month, bringing its Organic Sea Salt snacking squares to 200 stores spanning 17 states across the eastern United States. The snacks are packaged in a multi-serve 14 oz. bag and will be on-shelf in BJ’s better-for-you snacking section.

“We’re thrilled to offer one of our best-selling flavors in our newly designed packaging to BJ’s Wholesale Club customers who are seeking out organic, better-for-you treats,” says Ross Rutherford, Vice President of Sales for nib mor, said in a press release. “Distribution at BJ’s is an important step in our continuing retail expansion, and we could not be more excited!”

The announcement comes a year after the company brought in its new CEO, Prabha Cheemalapati and introduced new packaging and a refreshed logo to re-enforce the on-the-go snacks’ key attributes including low sugar and low calorie.

Each snacking square is made with dark chocolate, toasted cacao nibs and sea salt and contains 3 grams of sugar and 42 calories per square. The plant-based and certified organic snacks also come in a range of flavors from Blueberry to Mint and the brand also has packaged the squares into a single-serve bar format and produces two SKUs of hot chocolate. Nib mor products are available at select grocers nationwide and on Amazon.

Brewpub Jerky Enters Publix Across the Southeast

Pennsylvania-based beef jerky brand Brewpub announced four of its SKUs – Green Chile & Hops, Original Hickory and Coffee & Cayenne Pepper – will enter all 1,200 Publix Supermarkets locations across the Southeast. According to the company’s founder Zach Bateman, the jerky was crafted to “pair perfectly with beer,” bringing a better-for-you alternative to the beer-snacks category.

“When people drink beer they usually end up snacking, but most beer-snacks are just a pile of salted carbs,” said Bateman. “At Brewpub Jerky, we make beef jerky with flavor profiles that perfectly complement beer. That way you can have a delicious high protein snack while you enjoy your favorite brews.”

Pan’s Mushroom Jerky Signs On With Kroger

Plant-based jerky brand Pan’s announced last week it has signed a distribution agreement with Kroger to bring its mushroom jerky products to almost 2,000 stores nationwide. The announcement marks the jerky brand’s first significant step into conventional retail according to a post on LinkedIn from the company’s co-founder Shannon Lehotsky.

Lehotsky said this expansion has tripled Pan’s store count. The brand produces six SKUs of shiitake mushroom plant-based jerky ranging from Zesty Thai to Applewood BBQ. Pan’s Mushroom Jerky is also available at a wide range of independent natural grocers across the country, Foxtrot stores, Walmart and online through Thrive Market.

Other notable distribution news:

  • Cold ready-to-eat oats brand MUSH announced it has expanded nationwide with Costco to over 200 new locations with its Vanilla Almond Crunch flavor available in an 8-pack format.
  • Frozen food brand Real Good Foods announced its expansion to all Costco regions with its enchilada product line.