It’s back-to-school season, with the accompanying purchases and promotions of lunchbox-friendly snacks. To make packing school lunches easier for parents and to provide easy and convenient treats for times outside of school hours or on the run, cookie manufacturers offer single-serve and individually wrapped items that fit into consumer lifestyles as easily as they fit into bags and backpacks.
Just in time for this season, the venerable cookie brand Otis Spunkmeyer, San Leandro, Calif., part of the Swiss Aryzta company, recently introduced a new line of Grab-N-Go products designed around convenience. The line includes Chocolate Chunk Cookie, Iced Lemon Loaf Cakes, Cinnamon Crumb Loaf Cake and Mini Brownie Bites, and, reflecting other marketplace trends, is touted as free from artificial flavors, colors, partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. “We’re seeing that when it comes to snacking, consumers are looking to buy foods containing better-for-you ingredients, no matter where they are, which is why we are introducing our individually wrapped ‘No Funky Stuff’ Grab-N-Go foods,” explained Charice Grace, brand manager, Otis Spunkmeyer.
Earlier this year, Yonkers, N.Y.-based Greyston Bakery introduced an individually-wrapped Harvest cookie, a take on the classic oatmeal raisin walnut cookie made with non-G.M.O. ingredients. Tate’s Bake Shop, Southhampton, N.Y., has also focused on convenience through portioned products, including a 1-oz bag that contains 10 to 12 bite-size chocolate chip cookies. Next up is a single-serve chocolate chunk cookie from J&M Foods of Little Rock, Ark., set to be rolled out in October.
Another take on the single-serve cookie comes from big industry players Flowers Foods, Inc., Thomasville, Ga., and Mondelez International, East Hanover, N.J., which have partnered to introduce a new Mrs. Freshley’s Brownie made with Oreo cookie pieces. The 3-oz brownie, studded with Oreo cookie pieces, is sold individually and available at convenience stores, some grocery stores and vending machines around the country.
