Since its introduction in spring 2013, tapaz2go—a shelf-stable, portable, hummus and crackers snack pack—has occupied the sweet spot of snacking trends: convenience, healthy ingredients, and plenty of protein. Now, brand owner Mediterranean Snacks’ new hummus and pretzels pack is meeting another consumer demand: less than 200 calories.
Mediterranean Snacks in Boonton, NJ, is a provider of baked legume-based snacks, such as lentil and chickpea crackers, and lentil chips, among others. Its introduction of tapaz2go expanded its offerings into the “on-the-go, mini-meal” snack category. The original line in three hummus varieties includes a 21-g pouch of lentil crackers and an 80-g thermoformed cup of hummus packed in a portable, compact carton. Meeting healthy snackers’ needs, the lentil crackers are Non-GMO Product Verified and Gluten-Free Certified, and the whole kit provides 7 g of protein.
A key convenience attribute of tapaz2go—for the consumer, distributor, and retailer—is the products’ shelf stability, making it a popular item for airlines, foodservice venues, and vending machines. “After it was introduced, it became a great supply chain item because you can ship it ambient, and you can store it ambient,” says company Vice President of Marketing Lonnie Williard. “You don’t have to worry about managing your inventory the way you would for a perishable item.” For consumers, having a product that doesn’t need refrigeration means it can be consumed anywhere, anytime.
Williard explains that Mediterranean Snacks spent nine months developing a proprietary formula and process for the shelf-stable hummus. “It’s a combination of the pasteurization technique that we use, the balance of the acidity in the hummus, and finding the right packaging,” she says.
