Distribution Roundup: Stryve Begins 2022 Expansion with Costco, 7-Eleven
Stryve Begins 2022 Expansion with Costco, 7-Eleven
Meat snacks brand Stryve Foods is set to add thousands of new doors to its nationwide footprint this year, including chains like Costco and 7-Eleven, bringing the brand’s total distribution to over 30,000 retail locations in the U.S.
According to the company, Stryve Biltong and Vacadillos products are now available at Costco warehouses in Arizona and in its business centers nationwide, doubling its footprint with the club retail chain. Costco will also begin carrying Styve’s 12 oz. Hickory flavor in 12 oz. packages. Looking ahead, the brand will also add Costco Bay Area accounts and will participate in Costco’s Multi-Vendor Mailer (MVM) coupon campaign.
“Stryve is gaining distribution momentum at major retailers and convenience stores for both its number of doors and SKUs thanks to the popularity and differentiation of our healthy and delicious snacks,” said Stryve co-founder and CEO Joe Oblas in a press release. “Specifically, the opportunity with Costco [in 2022] to participate in the MVM nationwide campaign confirms that Stryve’s products and strategy are on point with consumers and retailers alike. This promotion represents an enormous opportunity to drive trial for Stryve with a massive amount of target consumers in a condensed period of time.”
Stryve’s latest Vacadillos Carne Seca flavors, Chili Lime and Habanero, as well as a Stryve Biltong multipack, will also launch in Walmart stores in April, bringing its SKU count from two to five in the national retail chain.
In the convenience channel, the company announced last month it will launch three SKUs of Vacadillos in nearly 8,000 7-Eleven stores nationwide, with products set to roll out this month. The expansion adds to Stryve’s convenience footprint, which includes over 2,800 Speedway stores (which was acquired by 7-Eleven last year). In Speedway, the brand is also growing its presence on shelf with two additional SKUs.
“Stryve’s new record high Vacadillos sales order in approximately 90% of 7-Eleven’s U.S. convenience stores and Stryve Biltong product expansion into 7-Eleven’s recently acquired Speedway convenience stores represents the latest terrific opportunities and proving grounds for Stryve products,” Oblas said in a release. “Vacadillos standing floor display placements typically correlate strongly with future permanent distribution in most retail locations we have placed them to-date, driving sales velocity, trial, branding awareness and consumer engagement.”
Doozy Pots Goes National with Sprouts
Doozy Pots, a plant-based ice cream brand produced by Wonderlab, announced it is now available nationwide in 371 Sprouts stores, as well as West Coast retailers Erewhon and Jimbo’s.
The expansion marks the first major launch outside of Ohio for the non-dairy, organic hemp and oat-based ice cream brand, which was founded in Cleveland in 2019 by Kristen and Karl Sutaria, and launched in local grocer Heinen’s that year. The products are available in Chocolate Mint Chip, Chocolate Raspberry Swirl, Banana Cinnamon Date Swirl and Smooth Coffee flavors.
Like Air Enters 600 Sam’s Club Stores
Startup brand Like Air, maker of a line of Puffcorn snacks, announced that last month it made its retail debut in Sam’s Club stores nationwide, offering its Pancake Puffcorn SKU in 600 accounts as well as SamsClub.com.
“We’re proud to partner with Sam’s Club on the national retail release of Like Air Puffcorn,” said co-founder Allison Lin in a press release. “Sam’s Club has emerged as a big player in the food innovation space. They value our mission to introduce new and unique flavors and textures to the snack aisle, and we are confident that Sam’s Club members are going to be blown away by the sweet and savory profile of our best-selling Pancake Puffcorn.”
Available in 14 oz. packages, Like Air Pancake Puffcorn – which touts a maple syrup-forward flavor profile – will be available only for a limited time, but additional flavors are scheduled to launch in Sam’s Club in the near future. The products are also sold direct-to-consumer via Like Air’s website.
LikeMeat Introduces Like Chick’N Wings Party Packs to Sam’s Club
Plant-based protein maker LikeMeat, a LIVEKINDLY Collective-owned brand, announced last week that its Like Chick’n Wings SKU is launching now in Sam’s Club warehouses, just in time for the Super Bowl.
“This launch couldn’t have come at a better time as we enter peak football and gameday snacking season,” said Emily Klooster, VP of Marketing for LikeMeat, in a press release. “Like Chick’n Wings are the only wings on the market that look, feel, taste, crackle and sauce like a real wing, and we’re confident they’ll be flying off of the freezer shelves. We’re proud to partner with Sam’s Club on this special Party Pack size to meet the increasing demand for new, convenient, delicious, plant-based products.”
Like Chick’n Wings are gluten-free, and made with non-GMO ingredients. The product is available in a Party Pack size in the freezer aisle at Sam’s Club for $19.98.