Seasoned sunflower seeds are offered in a range of flavors that vary from spicy to salty and even sweet, but fans of the snack will be in for an all-new kind of surprise next year as part of a collaboration between BIGS and Taco Bell.
In the first half of next year, BIGS plans to release its Taco Bell Taco Supreme Seeds, which combine fire-roasted sunflower seeds with a spicy taco flavor inspired by the Mexican fast food chain.
BIGS currently produces a range of seasoned sunflower seeds that channel flavors from other packaged food products, such as Vlasic Dill Pickle, Hidden Valley Ranch, Stubb’s Bar-B-Q and Old Bay Seasoned. As Erik Havlick co-founder of BIGS puts it: "These are iconic brands that carry with them a tremendous amount of consumer brand equity, and in our case, a fantastic way of validating flavor and expanding awareness of the category."
What's Driving This Trend
- Collaborative Snacks
- Collaborations between QSR and snack companies can create innovative new flavors and expand the snack category.
- Flavor Validation
- Using iconic brand flavors can validate new flavors, expand awareness of the category and improve marketability.
- Premium Seed Snacks
- Creating premium flavored seed snacks can attract a wider range of consumers and create a new market segment for snacking.
Who This Affects Most
- Fast Food
- Collaborative snacks between QSR and snack companies can boost sales and introduce new flavors to fast food menus.
- Packaged Snacks
- Innovation in flavors and premium product offerings can attract new customers and increase sales in the highly competitive packaged snacks industry.
- Health Food
- By offering seasoned sunflower seeds, companies can create a healthier snacking alternative that appeals to those looking for plant-based protein and low-carb options.
