Snack giants unveil flavorful innovations at NACS 2025
Together, these snack giants are redefining the convenience store experience, offering retailers and consumers alike a taste of what’s next in snacking.
USA – The 2025 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show in Chicago has become a showcase for bold flavors and snack innovation, with leading brands Utz, Conagra, and Hershey unveiling exciting new products aimed at capturing consumer cravings and convenience store shelf space.
Utz Brands is turning heads at Booth #N657 with a lineup of crave-worthy snacks across its portfolio, including Boulder Canyon®, Zapp’s®, Golden Flake®, and TGI Fridays®.
Among the highlights are Cheddar Bacon Ranch Flavored Cheese Balls and summer-inspired Utz Ripples chips, designed to appeal to fans of smoky, savory, and seasonal tastes.
The company’s focus is on bold flavor profiles and clean ingredients, aligning with consumer demand for indulgent yet simple snacks.
Conagra Brands, one of North America’s top food companies, is showcasing its US$3.2 billion snack portfolio at Booth #S6918.
The spotlight is on meat snacks, seeds, and salty bites, with the headline launch being Slim Jim × Buffalo Wild Wings chicken sticks in Buffalo and Hot styles.
This collaboration brings together two powerhouse brands, tapping into the growing popularity of protein-rich, spicy snacks.
Conagra is also leveraging its partnerships with WWE stars like Bianca Belair and The Miz to draw attention and drive engagement at the expo.
The Hershey Company is making waves at Booth #S5706 with a diverse snacking portfolio that includes confectionery, salty snacks, and better-for-you (BFY) options.
Key innovations include the Reese’s OREO® Cup, a fusion of milk chocolate, white creme, and Oreo cookie crumbs, and Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels Buffalo Flavor.
Hershey is also reformulating SkinnyPop Popcorn to feature real cheese and creamier butter, enhancing its BFY appeal.
The company is emphasizing data-driven merchandising strategies to boost repeat purchases and basket sizes in convenience stores.
Together, these snack giants are redefining the convenience store experience, offering retailers and consumers alike a taste of what’s next in snacking.
From indulgent cheese balls to protein-packed meat sticks and reformulated popcorn, NACS 2025 is proving to be a flavor-forward affair.
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