PepsiCo's Frito-Lay has stirred up controversy with its plan to launch an extended line of Cracker Jacks snacks, called Cracker Jack'd, which includes a caffeinated snack called Power Bites.
Cookies and crackers are a mature category with slow growth. Private label has been strong in the cookie category, a trend Mintel expected to continue for the next few years. Kraft Foods leads the category with its powerhouse Oreo and Chips Ahoy! brands.
Kraft is reentering the breakfast market with belVita Breakfast biscuits. National rollout of belVita — which Kraft has sold in Europe for the last decade and started selling in the United Kingdom last year — will begin this February to 90,000 U.S. retail locations.
Kellogg's announced that seven of its U.S. cookie and cracker bakeries have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star certification.