Zero- and low-sugar varieties, premium meats and bold flavors abound in the category.
In May, Link Snacks added a zero-sugar variety to its beef jerky lineup. Jack Link’s Zero Sugar Jerky, inspired by the original recipe, is made with lean-meat beef and contains no added sugar. The jerky is keto- and paleo- friendly, and each bag contains more than 30 grams of protein.
Chef’s Cut Real Jerky Co. announced in May that it would be launching a biltong product to compete in the US market. The meat snacks — available in original and spicy chili varieties — contain zero sugar and have 26 grams of protein per bag.
Oberto Snacks in October unveiled new meat snacks with less than 1 gram of sugar. The jerky contains 27 percent less sugar and 20 percent more protein than the original recipe. Varieties include butcher’s cut uncured bacon jerky and smoked sausages in original and spicy flavors.
New from Oberto Snacks' Cattleman’s Cut brand is a low-sugar frontier style beef jerky that is thinly sliced with 50 percent more protein and 75 percent less sugar than the leading jerky, according to the company.
Werner Gourmet Meat Snacks Inc. announced a new jerky product in September that contains no sugar or carbs and has 18 grams of protein per serving. Flavors include original, salt and pepper and unsweetened teriyaki-style. The jerky features grass-fed beef that is made in small batches, according to the company.
Country Archer Jerky Co. in July launched four new meat stick flavors. Made with lean cuts of USDA-inspected 100 percent grass-fed beef, turkey or pork, the meat snacks deliver 7-9 grams of protein. The new flavors include Chorizo Beef & Pork, Maple Pork, Pineapple Pork and Hatch Chile Turkey.
Professional golf player Greg Norman entered the meat snack segment in April with the debut of Greg Norman Signature Wagyu Beef Jerky. Marketed as all-natural and gluten-free, the Australian premium meat snack is available in mesquite and teriyaki flavors. Each bag contains 18 grams of protein. Caribe Producers LLC created the mesquite and teriyaki recipes and will be representing the line.
In November, Kalahari Biltong added a lime chili flavor to its lineup of biltong offerings. The meat snack is made with strips of American beef that is marinated in vinegar, chili, lime, salt, black pepper, red pepper and coriander then air-fried for 18 days. The biltong is gluten-free, soy-free, paleo friendly and made with just eight ingredients. Each 2-oz bag contains 160 calories, 32 grams of protein and 0 grams of sugar.
Chef’s Cut is turning up the heat in its meat snack portfolio with a new ghost pepper meat stick. Debuting in November, the spicy stick is gluten-free and contains 7 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar and 100 calories per 1-oz stick. The fiery new flavor retails for $1.99.
Conagra Brands debuted a Vlasic pickle-inspired flavored meat stick in October. Each stick packs 6 grams of protein and features dill pickle seasoning.
Conagra Brands’ Duke’s brand of premium meat snacks launched a teriyaki smoked sausage made with crushed pineapple and a soy marinade in October. The gluten-free meat snacks contain 7 grams of protein and 4 grams of sugar per serving.
Announced in October, Link Snacks' new Jack Link’s Wild Heat beef jerky is the brand’s hottest flavor yet. Slow-cooked and hardwood-smoked, the meat snack is based on demand for extreme flavors and will be available in January.
Link Snacks in October announced new Lorissa’s Kitchen Whole-Made Medley Bars, which combine dried fruit, nuts, seeds, egg whites and grass-fed beef or chicken. Varieties include blueberry fusion, pineapple teriyaki, apple cinnamon, cranberry orange, chipotle apricot and sweet barbecue. The products provide 10 grams of protein and are gluten-free and dairy-free.
Jack Link’s beef bars, made with slow-smoked, dried and seasoned beef in original, teriyaki and cracked pepper flavors, debuted in October. The products contain 70 calories and 8 grams of protein. Link Snacks has unveiled a pair of new beef bar flavors — sweet habanero and blackberry barbecue — and new chicken bars in rotisserie and spicy varieties.
In October, Conagra Brands unveiled Slim Jim pork rinds in Squealin’ Hot and Hog Wild BBQ flavors. The fried snacks contain 80 calories per ½-oz serving.
In January, Dietz & Watson expanded its snacking portfolio with new Dietz Nuts. Debuting in a honey maple flavor, the snack consists of bite-size smoked sausage chunks that have been dried and cured. In March, the company added an original smoked variety, and in October, pepperoni and turkey varieties joined the portfolio. The original and honey maple varieties contain 16 grams of protein, the pepperoni variety contains 14 grams of protein and the turkey bites provide 20 grams of protein per 2-oz serving.
Launched at the 2019 NACS Show in October, Conagra Brands’ new 3-oz Slim Jim Savage meat stick is three times thicker than the standard serving. Packing 18 grams of protein, the meat snack’s packaging features graphics of the brand’s ‘90s spokesman, wrestler “Macho Man” Randy Savage.
Spring offerings are spicing up menus.