Snacks for everyone, plus new Pillsbury cookies

The arrival this month of a first for Pillsbury – new Soft Baked Cookies – is a big deal for our U.S. Snacks Division.

It is the first time Pillsbury has appeared in the ready to eat cookie aisle at your favorite stores.

To start, Pillsbury’s Soft Baked Cookies will come in four homemade-inspired flavors:

• Chocolate Chip
• Confetti
• Sugar with Drizzled Icing
• Peanut Butter with Chocolatey Drizzle

Satisfying American snackers

But cookies are just part of our snacking story this year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has many Americans working at home, staying home more often and eating more meals at home – you’re also snacking more at home.

And according to The NPD Group’s annual “Eating Patterns in America”study, we’re also eating snack foods at mealtime more often – from 21% in 2010 to 26% in 2020.

The NPD Group says snacking in the U.S., overall, already was increasing before the pandemic. But the events of the last year did speed up the eating of snack foods.

“Snacks is a dynamic space, always has been. And frankly, snacks has been growing for a long time. It continues to grow and it will continue to grow in the years ahead,” says Jeff Caswell, president, General Mills U.S. Snacks Division. “The snacking space has so many different needs that we’re meeting for consumers in a really meaningful way.”

General Mills is providing many of your favorite snacks, including a variety of bars, fruit snacks and more.

Dunkaroos

We’ve seen a big response to the return of Dunkaroos to the U.S., which were taken off shelves in 2012.

“Dunkaroos is a phenomenon, people love them,” says Caswell. “It’s really a way that people can not only indulge in their own nostalgic memories of Dunkaroos from when they were kids, but they can also introduce their families to them. We see great things ahead for the Dunkaroos brand.”

Fruit Snacks

Our various fruit snacks brands – Gushers, Fruit by the Foot and more – also are a hit with snackers of all ages.

“Consumers are looking to provide treats to their kids that their kids love, and they feel good about sharing,” Caswell says.

:ratio

Following a keto diet?

:ratio is General Mills’ first-ever entry in this category, featuring dairy snacks and crunchy bars.

“Consumers are seeking specific macros, for example, within keto solutions, and they’re looking to snacks that meet those those needs, so that they can stay on track,” says Caswell, “:ratio has done very well for us.”

Nature Valley Protein Crunch

The latest addition to our protein lineup across our snacks is Nature Valley’s Protein Crunch bar. With a creamy, crunchy texture, it’s ideal for between-meal cravings.

“This bar delivers 10 grams of protein to those protein-seeking consumers and it’s done very well for us,” Caswell adds.

Remember those Pillsbury Soft Baked Cookies?

You have a craving for cookies now, right?

Look for the new Pillsbury Soft Baked Cookies in U.S. Walmart stores soon (they’re available for preorder on Walmart.com, starting today, March 10) and at other U.S. retailers in April.