Category Close-Up: Nutrition Bars - Expert Analysis

Nutrition bars have had a rough road in 2020 because of Covid-19. With consumers homebound, there’s an obvious decrease in their need to eat on the go, and that has depressed category sales. But what lessons can be gleaned from what has been a difficult nine months   and what do they mean for 2021?

In this edition of Category Close-Up, a video series available exclusively to BevNET and NOSH subscribers, we’ll take a deep dive into the trends and news that have shaped the bar category in 2020. In today’s Expert Analysis part of the series, you’ll hear from a group of authorities about the consumer behaviors, investment activity and retailer attitudes that are impacting the bar set. 

Over the hour, our panel examines how the bar category has evolved over the past few years, embracing diet trends ranging from low calorie to high protein, ketogenic to atkins, gut health to collagen. We’ll also discuss how the effect of increased competition, both from bar brands and other functional snacks, and what role is played by those large strategics who have invested in or acquired emerging brands.

Carol’s guests include:
Janica Lane: Managing Director for Consumer Investment Banking, Piper Sandler & Co
James Ren: Senior Category Management Lead for Branded Food, Thrive Market.
Max Baumann: founder and CEO, Basemakers
Sally Lyons Wyatt: EVP & Practice Leader, IRI