Snack Attack! Dive Into the World of Savory Meaty Treats

If you’ve walked down the candy aisle at your local grocery store or gas station lately, you may have noticed there’s a lot more than just candy these days. The snack section is brimming with all sorts of sweet treats, chips, nuts and seeds, and meat snacks galore. When people are looking for a quick boost of energy, and a reliable source of protein, or they’re just looking for a comforting snack to help them get through the day, meat snacks offer a soothing, tummy-filling convenience that we can all get behind.

At Redstone Foods, our warehouse is undergoing a similar shift, as we have been introducing a variety of salty snacks to complement our already massive existing lineup of sweet treats and craft sodas! We have recognized that in the snack food market, there is a rising demand for savory snacks that are high in protein, and easy to consume.

For this reason, we’ve decided to become a key player in offering meat snacks through our distribution channels across the United States and beyond. We’ve recently added beef jerky brands like Slim Jim, Tillamook Country Smoker, and Riff’s Smokehouse to help our clients meet this massive increase in consumer demand.

Meat Snacks Are a Rapidly Growing Segment of the Overall Snack Market

According to Yahoo Finance, the global meat snack market is expected to grow from $18.79 billion dollars in 2023, to $35.11 billion dollars by 2033. American consumers are responsible for the largest market share of the meat snacks market, making up 43.57% of total sales.

We believe this exponential growth in the meat snack market size presents a lucrative opportunity for our clients in the candy and snack industry. With consumer preferences shifting towards healthier, protein-rich alternatives, incorporating meat snacks into their product offerings can help retailers cater to a wider audience and boost sales.

The popularity of the meat snack category can be attributed to their convenience, portability, and nutritional properties. Whether it's beef jerky, meat sticks, or Bacon On-The-Go, these savory treats are perfect for on-the-go snacking, road trips, hiking adventures, or simply satisfying hunger cravings in between meals.

In addition, the long shelf life of meat snacks makes them ideal for stocking in convenience stores, ensuring they're readily available whenever your customer’s cravings might strike. But the appeal of meat snacks extends well beyond the need for convenience in our modern era.

A Brief History of Beef Jerky & Dried Meats

Historically, the practice of preserving meat dates back thousands of years, with ancient civilizations relying on techniques like drying, smoking, and curing to prolong the shelf life of meat. These methods not only preserved the meat but also enhanced its flavor and nutritional value.

It has been estimated that drying meat began some 40,000 years ago during the Cro-Magnon era. The South American native tribe, the Quecha Indians used smoke from their fires, and the sun to dry strips of meat, preserving it to prevent spoilage. Sometimes spices like chili and pepper were added to stop insects from eating it. This native civilization supplied Spanish conquistadors with llama ch’arki upon their arrival in the 1500’s. These Spanish explorers called it “Char’qui”, which eventually led to the name we use today, “jerky.”

Meat Snacks Go Well with Many of Today’s Most Popular Diet Trends

Incorporating meat snacks into your product lineup not only taps into a growing market trend but also caters to the evolving preferences of health-conscious consumers.

From a health perspective, meat snacks offer numerous benefits, particularly for individuals following low-carb, high-protein diets like the Paleo or Keto diets. With their minimal carbohydrate content and emphasis on protein-rich ingredients, meat snacks provide a satisfying way to curb cravings while staying true to dietary restrictions.

They are also packed with protein and essential nutrients, including iron, zinc, and B vitamins, providing a satisfying and nourishing snack option that helps fuel the body. That’s why meat snacks are favored by many individuals who are seeking to increase their protein intake for muscle building and recovery purposes.

Whether enjoyed post-workout or as a midday snack, the protein-packed nature of meat snacks helps replenish energy, and support muscle repair, making them an essential component of a well-balanced diet for all kinds of active individuals.

With the growing popularity of meat snacks among health-conscious consumers, Redstone Foods is proud to offer a diverse range of savory options that cater to a variety of tastes and dietary preferences. From classic beef jerky to innovative meat stick varieties, our lineup of meat snacks delivers on both flavor and nutritional value. Let's explore a few highlights from our selection:

Tillamook Country Smoker Beef Jerky & Sausage Sticks

Tillamook Country Smoker Old Fashioned Beef Jerky is hand-crafted using only the finest 100% premium cuts of beef. Slow cooked to perfection, this jerky embodies the essence of traditional craftsmanship, ensuring each bite is packed with flavor and tenderness. With three irresistible flavors to choose from – Old Fashioned, Teriyaki, and Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper, there's a variety to suit every moment of snacky-ness!

Each mouthwatering strip of Tillamook Country Smoker Beef Jerky is infused with a hint of brown sugar and other natural flavors, creating a harmonious balance of sweet and savory goodness. Made in Oregon since 1975, Tillamook Country Smoker takes pride in its commitment to quality and tradition, crafting the best-tasting, most satisfying meat snacks around.

They also have smoked sausage sticks in three awesome flavors: Spicy Jalapeno, Pepperoni, and Teriyaki!

At Tillamook Country Smoker, authenticity is key. Real hardwood smoke infuses each batch of jerky, imparting a rich, smoky flavor that sets it apart from the rest. From the misty Oregon Coast to the skilled hands of master smokers, every step of the process is meticulously executed to ensure the highest quality product. With Tillamook Country Smoker Old Fashioned Beef Jerky, you can taste the difference that real hardwood smoke and genuine craftsmanship make in every savory bite.

Available in convenient peg bags with a display, Tillamook Country Smoker Old Fashioned Beef Jerky is the perfect snack for on-the-go enjoyment or stocking shelves in your store. Experience the unmatched taste and quality of Tillamook Country Smoker Beef Jerky today and discover why some things, like great-tasting jerky, should never change.

Riffs Smokehouse Bacon-On-The-Go

Riffs Smokehouse are proud purveyors of what they like to call “meat candy”. These ready-to-eat, individually wrapped bacon slices are sweet and savory all at the same time! With delicious flavors like Sweet, Habanero Heat, Raspberry Chipotle, Red Curry, and Sweet & Spicy, each one delivers a unique and unforgettable flavor that will help you completely revamp your snacking experience!

Crafted with care, Riffs Smokehouse Bacon On-The-Go features fully cooked, real bacon slices that are ready to enjoy anytime, anywhere—no skillet or draining of grease required. Perfect for on-the-go snacking, these shelf-stable bacon slices offer the ultimate convenience, allowing you to satisfy your bacon cravings wherever life may take you.

Infused with the rich flavors of Riffs Smokehouse's signature competition blend of wood, dark brown sugar, and handmade BBQ rub, each bite delivers the harmonious blend of smokiness and sweetness that will leave your taste buds in awe. Simply warm the product for just 5 seconds in the microwave (the wrapper is BPA-free) and indulge in the irresistible aroma and flavor of fresh-off-the-smoker bacon, anytime, anywhere!

Slim Jim

Who doesn’t say “Ooooh Yeah!” whenever they think of the iconic beef jerky sticks brand, Slim Jim? Although we all deeply miss the “Macho Man” Randy Savage since his tragic passing in 2011, we will forever have his famous “Snap into a Slim Jim!” catchphrase running through our heads whenever we take a bite off these delicious meat stick snacks.

Now, if the original Slim Jim were to hit the weights and came back jacked, you would have a Slim Jim Monster. These larger-than-life meat sticks pack all the intensely bold flavor of the classic Slim Jim but with more beefy protein to satisfy even your most intense hunger. Whether you're tackling a monster craving or just need a satisfying snack on the go, Slim Jim Monsters are the perfect antidote!

We proudly carry Slim Jim in Original Flavor, Honey BBQ, Mild, Tabasco, Teriyaki and the intriguing-on-so-many-levels Sonic Drive-In Chili Cheese Coney flavors.

At Redstone Foods, we're committed to providing our clients with a diverse range of savory snacks, including premium beef jerky, meat sticks, and Bacon On-The-Go options. With our extensive selection and commitment to quality, we're here to help retailers stay ahead of the curve and “meat” the demands of today's snack-savvy consumers.

Whether you’re looking for more snack options to fill your candy store, or even a bacon flavored soda pop, plant-based bacon infused chocolate bars, pork rinds, or even maple bacon flavored cotton candy, we have everything you need for a successful endeavor. We are always on the lookout for the hottest new products that will be flying off store shelves!

Like what you see? Contact us today, or just sign up for an account with us online! Redstone Foods is America’s favorite candy distributor, but don’t let our sweet reputation fool you… We’ve got snacks too!

1-800-444-3520