USA – Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) has unveiled a new assortment of salty snacks under its private-brands portfolio, which includes Always Save, Best Choice, and Best Choice Superior Selections.
This initiative aims to enhance the offerings available to AWG member retailers, enabling them to compete more effectively in the snack market, which is increasingly important as consumer preferences shift towards affordable yet high-quality options.
Jared Grieve, AWG Category Manager, emphasized the significance of the salty snacks category, stating, “The salty snacks category is important because it’s the second largest in centre store grocery behind water and soda.”
The new lineup includes popular items such as the Best Choice Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Braids and value-sized Always Save potato chips designed to attract budget-conscious consumers and families.
The introduction of larger 12.5-13-ounce bags for potato and tortilla chips mainly aims to provide more excellent value, while new products like an 8.5 oz. pork skins bag and a 25 oz. Pretzels barrel further diversifies the Always Save offerings.
Best Choice is also expanding its product range with new flavours and varieties that match the quality of national brands.
Highlights include a broader selection of potato chips, pretzels in various forms and flavours, and new tortilla chip options.
The pork skins will now be available in the new 5 oz. packaging in three flavours—plain, barbecue, and hot and spicy.
This expansion is a strategic move to ensure AWG member retailers maintain strong margins while offering exciting promotional opportunities.
Data from AWG Partner Gateway indicates that salty snacks are a significant sales driver in grocery stores, generating US$32 billion in sales and accounting for 50% of all food occasions.
The demand for private-brand snacks has surged, reaching US$2.6 billion in sales, reflecting a 14% increase from the previous year.
Notably, 55.4% of consumers are now purchasing private-brand salty snacks, showcasing a growing trend towards these cost-effective alternatives.
To facilitate this extensive product rollout, multiple teams within AWG have collaborated on assortment changes.
The category management and sourcing teams have re-evaluated the portfolio offerings and pricing to optimize cost savings, while the merchandising team has updated planograms.
Marketing and design teams have also created in-store signage and digital resources to support consumer marketing efforts.
These enhancements maximize shelf appeal and ensure competitive pricing, thereby improving consumers’ shopping experience.
Tye Anthony, AWG’s Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer, expressed pride in the collaborative effort, stating, “The new AWG Brands salty snacks program provides member retailers with more opportunities to deliver value and excitement to their customers while driving significant sales and margins.”
He highlighted the program’s focus on quality, assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies, which are all essential for success in the competitive snack market.
Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.
