Ingrained Insights Podcast

With residents in and around Middlebury, VT, clamoring for the cafe's famous brioche sticky buns, the company is bringing the baked treats to the rest of the country. Founder/owner Corrente talks about the brand's partnership with Dakin Farms on DTC shipping of its Frozen Four Pack, the challenges of maintaining quality while shipping, and more.

The company's Beyond Resilience brand is making its NASCAR debut, as the primary sponsor of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and HYAK Motorsports’ No. 47 Chevrolet. The move comes on the heels of the Beyond Resilience Protein Crunch Bar rolling out in Walmart's bakeries nationwide. In this interview, founder/owner/CEO Pernsteiner explains why NASCAR was a strong platform for a snack product, how the sponsorship affected growth plans, and the importance of a strong marketing partnership.

Discerning trends from fads, and making informed predictions about what lies ahead rather than guessing, can help bakery and snack producers better chart a course for success. Albright, senior consumer insight manager with Cargill, discusses insights the company has culled from proprietary research, web traffic, social listening, and other resources, and how food pros can harness the wisdom in planning for the road ahead.

Meat sticks are growing in popularity, but not everyone is a carnivore. Crivello, VP of operations, talks about the company's Butcher Sticks, a new plant-based take on the classic shelf-stable meat stick. He explains why the brand entered the plant-based snack market, the consumers they hope to reach, and why promoting protein in products is important.

Clean label demand continues to reshape the baked goods category, pushing manufacturers to find new ways to deliver products that meet consumers’ expectations without sacrificing taste, texture, or shelf life. For bakers, replacing or reducing artificial-sounding ingredients can come with significant formulation challenges. In this exclusive podcast, Kemin Food Technologies Senior Sales Manager for Bakery, Chad Mulcahy explores what health-minded consumers want to avoid, potential solutions for manufacturers, and how to create better-for-you breads that deliver on both clean label expectations and product performance.

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We recently connected with Agarwal, CEO of the company, to discuss the brand's line of Indian-inspired, ready-to-bake frozen pizzas built on hand-stretched sourdough crusts. He talks about the challenge of honing Indian flavors into the frozen foods space, the importance of high-protein content, and plans for future growth.

Mozzarella stick brand Big Mozz started off small, selling its wares to patrons of weekend markets in New York. The snacks have since scaled to more than 4,000 retailers across the country. Founder Gallira joins multimedia specialist Brett Parker to detail the keys to the brand's expansion and what consumer trends suggest about comfort foods.

The increasing interest in better-for-you breads provides bakers with a formidable challenge. Consumers clamor for breads with clean-label benefits while shunning any ingredients that sound artificial, yet they won't compromise on taste, texture, shelf life, or other must-have qualities. Dr. Cropper discusses the challenges, BFY trends, the role potassium bromate plays, and how to swap that ingredient with effective, natural alternatives.

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At the recent Sweets & Snacks Expo, the producer showcased two notable brand partnerships. Guy Fieri's Flavortown Microwave Popcorn features flavors and packaging that match the celebrity chef's fiery personality. Then, Chiquita Plantain Chips, a snack with a main ingredient that goes from farm to table in 24 hours. CEO Hagan talks about the products, the collaborations, and more.

Most protein bars are sweet, which leaves an open opportunity for producers offering savory products. Takeaways is a growing brand delivering on that, making protein bars made with cheese and milk proteins that deliver a light, salty crunch. Founder/CEO Baxter outlines the brand's stand-out qualities and the reasons why she and her team decided to take the innovative path.