Jack Link's Doritos Nacho Cheese beef jerky has been developed by Link Snacks through a partnership with PepsiCo to create a hybrid snack product perfect for avid fans of the namesake tortilla chips to try out. The meat snack feature Jack Link's signature beef jerky that has been paired with Doritos Nacho Cheese seasoning to give it a meaty, cheesy taste profile. This responds to increasing calls from consumers for high-protein snacks with ample flavor, while also keeping snack chip-inspired flavor in the spotlight.
SVP of Marketing and R&D at Link Snacks Holly LaVallie spoke on the Jack Link's Doritos Nacho Cheese beef jerky saying, "Consumers want more protein, more flavor, and more convenience—and that's exactly what this collaboration delivers. Doritos® Nacho Cheese is one of the most iconic and beloved flavors in the PepsiCo Foods portfolio and we're thrilled to bring it to consumers in a fun and protein-packed way."
Image Credit: Link Snacks Inc.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Flavor-driven Protein Hybrids
- Novel protein formats that fuse beloved chip seasonings with meat-based textures create possibilities for highly flavorful, high-protein snacks that appeal to convenience-focused consumers.
- Cross-brand Snack Collaborations
- Co-branded partnerships between legacy chip brands and protein snack makers enable the transfer of iconic flavor equity into adjacent categories, expanding perceived value and recognition.
- Format and Texture Convergence
- The blending of crunchy chip flavor profiles with chewy meat formats signals opportunities to design hybrid mouthfeels and multisensory snack experiences that defy traditional category boundaries.
Sectors Adopting This
- Packaged Meat Snacks
- Packaged meat snack companies are positioned to leverage bold, familiar snack flavors to drive premiumization and incremental shelf appeal among protein-seeking consumers.
- Snack Food Manufacturing
- Snack manufacturers that integrate seasoning expertise with novel processing techniques could enable the scalable production of cross-category hybrid products with consistent flavor delivery.
- Food Flavoring and Seasonings
- Flavor houses and seasoning suppliers stand to influence product differentiation by adapting iconic savory profiles for application on unconventional bases such as jerky or alternative proteins.
