The Good Crisp Company moved beyond canisters for the first time last month, launching a new line of crinkle-cut bagged chips. Yes, you read that right – the better-for-you Pringles player is now ready to rumble with Ruffles. 

Available in three flavors – Sea Salt and Vinegar, Original and Outback BBQ – these 5.5 oz. chip bags are exclusive to Thrive Market and Sprouts through the end of the year. Once that deadline passes, could c-stores be the next big frontier for Good Crisp? 

It certainly seemed that way during the recent NACS show, where the bags were on full display for convenience store buyers. But the brand still has some fueling up to do in the channel. 

Good Crisp already has solid traction with its canister chips (both full size and 1.6 oz. mini single serves) across all trade channels, said founder and CEO Matt Parry, who added that the products will be in about 20,000 doors by the end of Q2 2024. Currently, those mini canisters are sold in about 1,000 c-stores including Travel Centers of America, Daily's, Nouria and Royal Farms – so currently convenience is a small channel for the brand.

But once exclusivity on bagged chips ends in early 2024, the brand will also launch a convenience friendly single-serve 2 oz. bag, Parry said. It expects the bagged chips to be in about 3,000 doors within the first few months of unrestricted distribution, noting that a “couple hundred” of those doors will be c-stores.

Buyers across the brand’s primary channels – conventional, club and natural grocery – have all expressed interest in the new format, said Parry. But he said c-store retailers are excited about the line because so few better-for-you ridged chips exist; he pointed out that most are of the kettle or tortilla variety. 

“We are starting slowly in this category, but already it is proving to mirror what we are seeing in other channels,” Parry said. “Our sales are totally incremental to the category, with no reduction in Pringles and we are all bonus to the store. We are having equal interest in bags and/or canisters, so we can [soon] service whatever format the retailer wants to try.”

NOSH Live Winter 2023 takes place Nov. 30 + Dec. 1 in Marina del Rey, CA. As an Insider, you can save $200 per registration through this Saturday, October 21.

Retailers, investors, distributors, founders, brand leaders, and industry partners will be at NOSH Live to:

• Find creative business solutions that lead to growth
• Meet one-to-one with buyers from Thrive Market, Kroger, and The Fresh Market
• Sample the latest natural food innovations
• Learn from some of the best minds in the business on topics like manufacturing and supply chain planning; raising investment; and increasing your retail presence. 
• Attend Boot Camp to learn the basics of starting a natural food business
• Build industry awareness by pitching in Elevator Talk at NOSH Live
• Participate in a livestream interview in the Taste Radio studio
• Network and open doors for new partnerships 

Register by Saturday, October 21 and save.

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After more than a decade at the helm of America’s favorite club retailer, Craig Jelinek announced he will step down as Costco CEO at the start of 2024. 

• Costco president and COO Ron Vachris will take over as part of a “long-standing succession plan.” 
• Jelinek and Vachris have worked “hand-in-hand” together for nearly two years, according to a press release, and the plan had been previously discussed with Costco’s board of directors. 
• Jelinek will stay on in an advisory role through April and will remain on the company’s board. 
• The retailer’s stock price remained flat following the announcement. 

Vachris isn’t new to the club either – he started his career as a forklift operator 40 years ago and worked his way up through “every major role related to Costco's business operations and merchandising activities,” the release states. 

"Costco has a very strong culture and a deep bench of management talent," said Jelinek. "I have total confidence in Ron and feel that we are fortunate as a company to have an executive of his caliber to succeed me."

Tia Lupita announced today it has closed a $2.6 million seed round led by Santatera Capital and GBM Ventures to accelerate the company’s growth in the better-for-you Mexican food segment. 

• In a LinkedIn post, Santatera said the round marks a “follow-on investment,” for its firm, which added Tia Lupita to its portfolio approximately nine months ago. 
• Founded in 2016, California-based Tia Lupita produces a portfolio of BFY Mexican food products featuring clean label hot sauces, Mexican chili crisp and grain-free, low-carb tortillas and tortilla chips made with a base of cactus flower. 
• Earlier this year, the brand secured a $500,000 investment for 5% equity in the company on Shark Tank from investor Kevin O'Leary.
• The brand also recently landed its Salsa Verde and Chipotle hot sauces at select Target stores in Southern California, Texas and New York City metro area stores. 

“With this capital infusion, we plan to grow our team, accelerate new product development and expand into new markets,” said founder Hector Saldivar in a press release.

Powered By Real Food From The Ground Up (or PBRFFTGU as we like to call it for short) has opted for a more succinct moniker. The company announced yesterday that it will now be known as “Our Home.” 

• The better-for-you snack company has worked to build out a platform of brands and launched Gen Z focused snack brand YOU NEED THIS last October.
• The company has also acquired businesses such as Popchips as well as Food Should Taste Good in the past 12 months.
• The name change will only bring a new name and look. No immediate changes will be made to the company’s operations. 
• As proponents of active voice, we wish to offer a hearty thanks for this change.

According to a LinkedIn post from Our Home, the new name is intended to better capture the company ethos:

“We believe that the home extends beyond the four walls of the house to encompass the entire community. Our Home gets the best snacks into hands, homes, and communities around the country so that we can flourish together.”

Rap Snacks, a hip-hop-inspired snack brand has diversified its business with a new arm – Rap Snacks Trucking. The company’s CEO, James Lindsey, said in a press release yesterday that the new transportation management company will offer contract procurement for other small businesses and offer “significant cost savings.”

• With its expansion into the transportation sector, Rap Snacks Trucking will initially focus on its operations in the Northeast, Southeast and Southwest. The company has plans to expand its services to more regions in the future.
• In the meantime, Rap Snacks Trucking will utilize a network of independent truckers and carriers and is currently working to build up that manpower.
• Overtime, the company believes the new venture will generate enough cash to invest in trailers, equipment and a fleet of semi and box trucks.