NEX-BAR Brings Clean Protein Bars to Ralphs

The emerging brand introduces a protein bar made with 19g premium protein, no added sugars, and no artificial sweeteners to one of California’s largest grocery chains.

NEX-BAR, a new entrant in the functional snack space, has officially launched in Ralphs stores across San Diego, marking a key milestone for the growing clean-label protein bar brand.

Positioned around a simple premise — that protein bars should be made from real food, not engineered ingredients — NEX-BAR offers a product built without artificial sweeteners, fillers, or highly processed components. Each bar delivers 19 grams of protein using a premium isolate, combined with a short list of recognizable ingredients designed to support both performance and everyday nutrition.

The launch comes at a time when consumers are increasingly scrutinizing ingredient labels and seeking alternatives to traditional protein bars, which often rely on artificial formulations and complex additives.

“Over time, the category shifted toward products that didn’t really resemble food anymore,” said Susan Bikhazi, Founder of NEX-BAR. “We wanted to bring it back to something simpler — something you’d actually want to eat, real food providing real fuel.”

NEX-BAR’s initial offering, Dark Cacao Boost and Vanilla Fuel Bliss, is now available in select Ralphs locations, with plans to expand distribution as the brand continues to grow.

The company has focused early efforts on building direct consumer awareness through digital content and community engagement, emphasizing transparency, ingredient quality, and a differentiated approach to performance nutrition.