Snyder’s-Lance Creates Better-for-You Division

Snyder's-Lance Inc. has created a better-for you division and increased its investment in Late July Snacks LLC, a purveyor of organic and non-GMO items. The moves further Snyder's-Lance’s goal of raising its profile as a producer of healthier, more sustainable foods.

"We see our company growing and evolving to become the trusted leader in snacking, including better-for-you snacking options," affirmed Carl E. Lee Jr., president and CEO of Charlotte, N.C.-based Snyder's-Lance. "To support this direction, we needed the right partner, which we found in Nicole Dawes and Late July. While we have been ahead of our competitors in providing healthy snacks, this new division intensifies that focus and enables us to become the trusted leader in healthy snacking and sustainable food."

According to Lee, the company's current efforts continue its "overall transformation as a company, which started with the acquisition of Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps in late 2012, and the acquisition of Baptista's Bakery, as well as the divestiture of Lance Private Brands in the middle of this year."

Lee describes Snyder's-Lance as "uniquely positioned to succeed, as we have scale and an industry-leading national direct store delivery distribution that is not always accessible to emerging brands -- yet we are nimble and able to respond to rapidly changing consumer tastes with our exceptional innovation capabilities. We look to take full advantage of this position, bringing significant resources and research capabilities to Late July in support of their mission to expand organic and non-GMO snacks."

Organic, Non-GMO Focus

Late July CEO and founder Nicole Bernard Dawes will retain her ownership position in the company, which her team will continue to run from its Boston and San Francisco Bay area offices. "I wasn't looking to sell out, so the opportunity to create a better-for-you platform with a focus on organic and non-GMO foods from the ground up was just what I was looking for," noted Dawes. "What excites me most about our relationship with this new division is the ability to continue being an alternative to the big food conglomerates and the guarantee that Late July will always be synonymous with leadership and advocacy for organic and non-GMO foods. This partnership also makes Late July the only organic, non-GMO food brand with access to its own national direct store distribution (DSD) system, which is a game changer for sustainable food."

Founded in 2003, Late July currently has the No. 1 organic tortilla chip on the market.

With manufacturing facilities in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Georgia, Arizona, Massachusetts, Florida, Wisconsin and Ohio, Snyder's-Lance makes pretzels, sandwich crackers, pretzel crackers, potato chips, cookies, tortilla chips, restaurant-style crackers, nuts and other snacks sold under the Snyder’s of Hanover, Lance, Cape Cod, Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps, Krunchers!, Tom’s, Archway, Jays, Stella D’oro, Eatsmart and O-Ke-Doke brands, among others.