Latest retail industry trends, news & insights. Needle Movers: Retail Brands Leading Change CRISP POWER Protein Pretzels opens $15M Texas production facility, doubling down on U.S. Expansion. New Domestic Hub Positions High-Protein, Low-Carb Pretzel Brand for National Scale HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., June 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - CRISP POWER Protein Pretzels, known as the most well-rounded snack in the protein aisle, is making its most significant U.S. investment to date: a $15 million production facility in Stafford, Texas, serving as the brand's domestic manufacturing hub. The move marks a pivotal step in CRISP POWER's U.S. expansion strategy, shifting from an import-based model to stateside production to meet accelerating consumer and retailer demand. "The U.S. market has validated everything we set out to do. Consumers are actively looking for snacks that deliver real protein and real fiber without compromise, and the retail response has confirmed there's serious appetite for what we've built. Bringing production stateside lets us move faster, respond to demand in real time, and get a fresher product to the people who want it," said Gilad Zilberberg, Founder and CEO of CRISP POWER. The Texas facility comes roughly two years after CRISP POWER's 2024 U.S. launch, during which product was imported from Israel, where it is produced by Meir Bagel, a bakery acquired by Zilberberg in 2000. Under Zilberberg's leadership, the brand has achieved triple-digit year-over-year growth. From Digital Roots to National Retail CRISP POWER built its initial U.S. momentum among digital-first shoppers, earning a loyal following through its direct-to-consumer channel, Amazon, and TikTok Shop before expanding into brick-and-mortar retail. That early digital traction validated the product's appeal, generated strong repeat purchase, and laid the foundation for the brand's rapid move into major retail chains. The Texas facility is the next logical step: purpose-built to support a brand that has outgrown its import model and is now scaling across both online and in-store channels simultaneously. Retail Momentum Driving the Need for Scale The investment is backed by a string of major retail wins this spring alone: Fresh Thyme launched 7 oz. bags across all core flavors in the brand's largest format test to date; Wegmans expanded with Cheddar and Flamin' Crunch; Market Basket introduced branded shipper displays; H-E-B rolled out three SKUs across Texas; and Hy-Vee expanded both its 1.75 oz. and 7 oz. lineups. CRISP POWER now sits in over 3,000 doors nationwide, with partners including Meijer, Costco, Wegmans, Hy-Vee, H-E-B, Fresh Thyme, Market Basket, and The Vitamin Shoppe, while continuing to drive strong velocity on Amazon, TikTok Shop, and crisppower.com. A Nutritional Profile Built for Today's Consumer CRISP POWER's Protein Pretzels deliver up to 28g of protein, 10g of fiber, and just 6g of net carbs per 1.75 oz. bag, with an unmatched crunch and bold flavors that are driving velocity at retail and online. The brand's lineup includes Everything, Sea Salt, Sesame, Cinnamon Crunch, Cheddar, and Flamin' Crunch. CRISP POWER is a 2026 NEXTY Award finalist for Best Functional Food or Beverage and was named one of Men's Health's 2026 Best Foods for Men. Riding a Wave of Protein-Forward Demand The opening comes as protein-forward snacking reaches an inflection point. Consumer focus on satiety, blood sugar management, and macronutrient balance is driving demand for snacks that deliver real nutrition in familiar formats, and the rise of GLP-1 medications has amplified that shift, increasing interest in options that provide substance and sustained fullness. CRISP POWER's high-protein, high-fiber, low-net-carb profile positions the brand squarely at the center of this convergence. With the Texas facility operational, CRISP POWER is poised to accelerate distribution, support new retail and digital partnerships, and establish itself as the defining protein pretzel brand in the U.S. About CRISP POWER CRISP POWER is redefining savory snacking as the most well-rounded snack in the protein aisle. Its line of Protein Pretzels delivers up to 28g of protein per bag along with 10g of fiber and just 6g of net carbs in a fully vegan, craveable, crunchy format built for today's functional-first consumer. Designed to compete directly with traditional crunchy snacks but with dramatically stronger macros, CRISP POWER supports active lifestyles, macro-conscious eaters, and consumers following low-carb, keto-friendly, and GLP-1-informed eating patterns. Available at major retailers nationwide and online at www.crisppower.com, Amazon, and TikTok Shop. Flavor lineup includes Everything, Sea Salt, Sesame, Cinnamon Crunch, Cheddar, and Flamin' Crunch. For more information, visit www.crisppower.com and follow on IG, Facebook and TikTok @crisp.power. Media Contact: SOURCE CRISP POWER How the retail doctor can help you right now. SalesRX offers a complete training program for managers and associates with modules specifically designed for retail sales training and team accountability. Your team will learn how to greet customers the right way, be proactive in building rapport, become a trusted advisor and maximize every encounter to deliver a remarkable branded shopping experience

Fresh Thyme revamps loyalty program with new points system. The Midwestern specialty grocer will give shoppers 10 points per dollar spent, and perks like early access to weekly deals and sneak peeks at new products. Published April 30, 2026 Dive brief: * Fresh Thyme Market announced Monday the addition of a new points system to its loyalty program. * With the new MyThyme Rewards Points, loyalty members can earn 10 points for every dollar they spend, with no cap on how many points they can earn, according to the grocer. * The loyalty program's changes aim to help consumers stretch their dollars amid a higher cost of living, Fresh Thyme said. Dive insight: Fresh Thyme Market said in the announcement that the loyalty program changes will help it do a better job reaching price-conscious shoppers. The grocer will automatically enroll its existing members in the new points system. New loyalty program members can earn 10,000 bonus points - a $10 value - after they spend $50. People can redeem their points in multiples of $5, $10, $15 or $20 in the Fresh Thyme app and combine the points with other savings opportunities such as weekly promotions and digital coupons, according to the announcement. Points last for a year and cannot be earned on certain items, including beer, wine, liquor, gift cards, taxes, bottle deposits and THC/CBD products. With the addition of the new points system, members can get early access to weekly deals, sneak peeks at new product launches, surprise bonus points, and meal inspiration and nutritional support from the grocer's registered dietitian. "We know our customers are being more intentional about how they shop for groceries, and they shouldn't have to choose between value and quality," Fresh Thyme President Liz Zolcak said in the announcement. "This program is designed to meet them where they are, helping them save on their everyday groceries while still delivering the fresh foods, experience and sense of community they expect from us." The new points system builds on the loyalty program's existing features such as digital coupons, birthday rewards, member events and pickup services. Fresh Thyme noted that it will continue to evolve its loyalty program with more personalized features like tailored offers based on lifestyle and dietary preferences, expanded digital savings and member-exclusive content. Fresh Thyme's new loyalty program features come at a time when other grocers, including The Fresh Market, Wakefern Food Corp. and Raley's, have recently revamped their loyalty program offerings. Earlier this year, Fresh Thyme announced plans to reimage its private label offerings with new packaging, trending products and more.

Bringing farmer's market sourcing into major retail. Foodshed.io, a technology-enabled platform that connects local farms with major retailers, announced the success of its collaborative "Farmers Market" in-store concept with Fresh Thyme Market, the Midwest-based grocer committed to fostering healthier communities. The pilot marks a step forward in bringing authentic, local agriculture into mainstream grocery aisles. Working closely with Fresh Thyme, Foodshed.io integrated eight independent farms, ranging from small family operations to mid-sized growers, into six stores across the Chicago and Indianapolis regions. Farmers delivered their products directly to participating stores, enabling shoppers to access more than 27 distinct seasonal varieties typically found only at community farmers markets. More than 95 farm-to-store deliveries took place during the inaugural run. "We were founded on a simple conviction: local farmers deserve stronger market access, and consumers deserve better food," said Dan Beckmann, CEO of Foodshed.io. "For too long, the traditional supply chain has made 'local' the exception rather than the rule. This program flips that model on its head. We're bringing farmers straight into major retail, and we're doing it with urgency, purpose and respect for the people who grow our food." "It has long been our goal to provide guests with the freshness, variety, and quality of a true farmers market," said Anja Kauffman, director of produce and floral at Fresh Thyme Market. "Partnering with Foodshed.io allows us to strengthen relationships with local growers and bring their products directly to the communities we serve." As demand for local sourcing continues to rise, the two companies plan to expand the "Farmers Market" concept into additional markets throughout the grocer's footprint next season. For more information: Dan Beckmann Foodshed.io [email protected] https://foodshed.io/