Expo West: Canadian Snacks Move South, Kevin’s Unveils Frozen Innovation

Northern Invasion: Canadian Snack Brands Enter U.S.

Among the numerous snack brands at Expo West were a handful of established Canadian food brands seeking to increase their market share in the U.S.

Naturally Homegrown Foods, the makers of the number two top selling natural kettle chip brand Hardbite (number one being Campbell’s-owned Kettle Brand), came to the show to build momentum behind its four product lines as it targets larger launches in the States.

The independently-owned and operated company was sampling its two varieties of kettle cooked potato chips (fried in canola oil or avocado oil), root vegetable line (carrots, beets, parsnips and sweet potatoes) and its newest innovation, Poptastic popcorn kettle cooked in avocado oil (Honey Salt, Buttah For Days, Spicy Canadian Cheddar and Black Sea Salt).

Director of Sales Lauren Rebar said the company moved into a new production facility last year, adding about 40% new capacity through the new plant with the infrastructure to add an additional 20% in the future.

“Aspirationally, we hope to mirror that in the future and have a secondary facility in the States,” she said. “If we did, it would be eastward.”

For now the company has set its sights on opening up new distribution in the U.S. where it is already available “down the I-5 corridor” in California in independent natural grocery stores like Berkeley Bowl and Mother’s Markets as well as Wegmans locations in the Northeast and Central Markets in Texas.

Elsewhere, family-owned cashew cheese maker Millsie is ready to make the jump to the U.S. after operating in Canada for the last 10 years. The brand has distribution in over 3,000 stores in both large and small retailers across specialty/natural and conventional grocery chains like Loblaws.

Millsie founder Mellisa Mills said that though the brand has been trying to break into the U.S. it is only in the last couple of months that Millsie began being carried in Erewhon and Mother’s Markets.

“It’s not for lack of trying,” she said. “We came [to Expo West] last year but it was hard to get someone to say yes; especially, as dairy-free was tanking.”

The brand’s Boursin-like cashew cheese spreads (Classic Greek-Style, Meadow Herb & Garlic, Applewood Smoke and Apricot Chili Delight) and sour cream style dips (French Onion and Dill Pickle & Truffle) were getting good traction at the show (including being a NEXTY finalist), Mills said, giving the brand confidence it was on the cusp of finally making headway Stateside.

Allergen-free brand Ohh! Foods brought its date-sweetened, allergen-free Snacking Bites to Expo as the brand moves operations to the U.S.

Ohh! Foods was sampling its newest flavors Banana Bread and Brownie Batter which retail for $3 per 2 oz pouch.

The Toronto-based brand has scaled domestically with distribution in Walmart, Costco and Whole Foods Market but is now gearing up to build a foothold in the U.S. and is in the process of building an operations hub where it can better manage its production and distribution in the States.

Kevin’s Natural Launches Frozen Meal Line

Less than a year after its acquisition by Mars, Kevin’s Natural Foods has continued to prioritize innovation, showcasing a new line of frozen entrée bowls at Expo West last week.

Speaking to Nosh, brand co-founder Kevin McCray said the single-serve launch represents the brand’s first push into the frozen food aisle, complementing its flagship refrigerated, multi-serve entrée products. The frozen line features eight varieties: Thai Coconut Curry Chicken, Beef Bolognese, Korean BBQ Chicken, Chicken Burrito Bowl, Parmesan Basil Chicken, Roasted Tomato Chicken Pasta, Orange Chicken and Savory Mushroom Chicken. The meals will retail for $5.99-$6.99 each.

Made with the brand’s sous-vide cooked meats, the meals also feature vegetables and cauliflower-based pasta and rices.

McCray said the company has opened its own facility specifically dedicated to the new line, which is shipping to Sprouts, ShopRite and Target locations this month with Albertsons/Safeway accounts expected to roll out towards the end of the year.

“We’ve had four line extensions over the last six or eight months, and they’ve all taken off really nicely,” McCray said at the brand’s booth. “This one’s probably going to have the biggest impact over the next five years.”

According to McCray, Kevin’s Natural Foods products are now sold in around 25,000 doors across North America, including Canada and Mexico, with around 50 SKUs in the brand’s portfolio.

Since closing the acquisition by Mars last August, McCray said the brand has continued to operate as a standalone company but has benefitted from the financial and strategic support the conglomerate provides.

“We’re able to now get resources from this big global manufacturer,” he said. “So we’re just kind of utilizing their capital and their advice and their expertise and moving along.”