SPRINGDALE, ARK. – With designs on getting a bigger piece of the billion-dollar refrigerated, prepackaged snack segment targeting kids, Tyson Foods Inc.’s Hillshire Farm brand announced on Sept. 9, the debut of its Snacked! product line. The company said its success in its protein-focused brands and specifically the adult snacking segment, made the decision to appeal to the growing kids snacking segment the next logical step.   

Tyson’s Hillshire Farm Snacked! are available in four varieties, each containing three components. They are sold as two-packs, designed for on-the-go snacking or as an addition to school lunches and serve as a quality source of protein and calcium, the company said. The new offerings that are available at retailers’ refrigerated cases include:

-    Pepperoni with Confetti Cake Bites and Mini String Cheese

-    Pepperoni with Brownie Bites and Monterey Jack Cheese

-    Salami with Mini Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods and Monterey Jack Cheese

-    Turkey with Chocolate Chip Cookies and Cheddar Cheese

“Protein snacks are one of the most popular snack foods consumed, and we know protein helps keep kids full, making it an ideal component of a snack,” said Noelle O’Mara, Tyson Foods’ group president. “As a leader in protein and snacking, we saw a clear opportunity for a versatile, great-tasting, kid-focused snack.”

Since focusing resources on the adult snacking segment in 2016, Tyson reported 20% growth each year since 2017 in its Hillshire Snacking line, which includes brands such as Jimmy Dean, Hillshire and Tyson. 

“The reality of kids’ lunches today is that parents are serving a collection of snacks – versus a main dish, like a sandwich and sides,” O’Mara said. “With Hillshire Farm Snacked! we saw an opportunity to create a product that fits this reality – a lightweight grab-and-go snack pack that delivers quality, taste and, most importantly, is made with components we know kids love.”