Sales of Oreo Cookie’s Biggest Competitor Skyrocket After Company Officially Goes Non-GMO

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The post Sales of Oreo Cookie’s Biggest Competitor Skyrocket After Company Officially Goes Non-GMO appeared first on Healthy Holistic Living.

Renowned American cookie brand, Oreo, is a top-seller with almost $700 million in sales for Nabisco back in 2017. However, the famous treat’s health risks, primarily due to GMO content and a high concentration of the controversial Monsanto’s glyphosate, have raised concerns among health-conscious consumers. In this context, Hydrox, Oreo’s major competitor, has taken a significant step forward by transitioning to non-GMO ingredients, potentially signaling a positive shift in the industry’s standards.

Hydrox’s Game-Changing Move: Going Non-GMO

As Oreo’s long-standing competitor, Hydrox, revealed its plan in 2017 to exclude GMO ingredients from its product formulation. This modification was further highlighted with new labels. By March 14 of the current year, Hydrox became the inaugural national sandwich cookie brand to earn non-GMO certification.

“I’m thrilled and honored to outdo Oreo® since consumers are demanding ‘clean labeling’ on their food. I don’t believe Oreo® would increase their cost for using high-quality ingredients like us,” Ellia Kassoff, of Leaf Brands company, confidently stated.

Subsequently, Hydrox decided to ban artificial flavors from its popular sandwich cookies and declared on July 8 that the cookies are now vegan.

History and Vision of Hydrox

Having been in the market since 1908, Hydrox, though not making the top 10 best-selling cookies in the U.S., is recognized for its similarity to the renowned Nabisco brand. Interestingly, the Hydrox sandwich cookie was introduced to the market four years before Oreo, in 1912.

Currently, Hydrox seeks to expand its market share by offering a non-GMO product, especially considering the growing sales trend in this category.

“Many of America’s top ice cream producers, bakeries, and candy makers are considering replacing their current cookies with our non-GMO, ‘clean label’ Hydrox. We view this as a growing market trend,” Garvey Daniels, VP of Sales for Leaf Brands, mentioned in a press release.

“While Mondelez focuses on cost reduction with Oreo, our priority is crafting a superior cookie. The increasing demand for crushed Hydrox in the foodservice and industrial sectors is an indicator of our success. We’re planning to launch mini Hydrox cookies, expected in stores by 2018,” Daniels added.

Hydrox’s Success Following Non-GMO Transition

Hydrox took the top spot as the #1 new sandwich cookie on Amazon.com in December 2017 when it started selling its upgraded version, showcasing the benefit of transitioning to non-GMO and dropping Monsanto ingredients. The company’s aspirations to transition to organic ingredients in the future remain hopeful.

Simultaneously, the company introduced its Crushed Cookie, Non-GMO Base Cake, and announced that its products would be retailed as a natural alternative to Oreos at Cracker Barrel stores nationwide last April.

According to the Quality Assurance & Food Safety website, Hydrox sales experienced a 40% increase in 2017.

“The new Hydrox® cookie stays true to its roots from 1908 to 1999, retaining its rich chocolate flavor, crisp cookie crunch, and distinctive less-sweet character,” the company’s press release declared. “Hydrox is produced with REAL cane sugar, and excludes hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, or colors.”

While the effect of Hydrox’s non-GMO shift on Oreo’s extensive market share is still uncertain, continued growth in sales may eventually capture Nabisco’s attention.

Oreo recently faced adverse press when it was revealed that its cookies contain glyphosate at levels of 289.47 ppb, which poses potential health risks to humans even at as low as .1 ppb.

Hydrox may also contain trace amounts of glyphosate since it isn’t organic. However, this move towards non-GMO is relatively uncommon in the packaged food industry and could stimulate necessary changes if Hydrox continues to prosper.

Oreo’s Rival, Hydrox, Embarks on Non-GMO Journey

Hydrox, the originator of sandwich cookies, has officially transitioned to non-GMO ingredients. This decision was announced in March 2018 and came into effect from April 1.

As the first national sandwich cookie brand to adopt non-GMO, Hydrox responded to the rising consumer preference for non-GMO products.

“We’re eager to provide our consumers with a non-GMO option,” Ellia Kassoff, CEO of Leaf Brands, which owns Hydrox, said. “We are confident that it’s the right step for our consumers and the environment.”

Hydrox’s switch to non-GMO is indicative of a broader trend within the food industry. An increasing number of consumers are seeking non-GMO products, prompting companies to offer more non-GMO options.

In a recent survey, 73% of consumers expressed concern over GMOs in their food, while 44% mentioned they would be more inclined to purchase a product labeled as non-GMO.

The shift to non-GMO is a positive development for Hydrox as it can help attract new customers and expand market share.

Consumers are choosing non-GMO products for several reasons:

A belief that GMOs are unsafe for human consumption.
Concerns that GMOs could damage the environment.
A desire to support organic farming practices.

Regardless of the reason, the demand for non-GMO products is surging, and Hydrox is well-positioned to leverage this trend.

Implications for Oreo

While Oreo is the top-selling cookie in the U.S., Hydrox is closing in, and the shift to non-GMO could give Hydrox an advantage.

Oreo hasn’t yet announced any plans to switch to non-GMO. However, the company is likely monitoring Hydrox closely. If Hydrox’s sales continue to climb, Oreo might be compelled to adapt.

Hydrox’s shift to non-GMO is a significant development for the company as it could attract new customers and expand market share, thereby pressuring Oreo to make a similar change.

For further information on the impact of Hydrox’s shift to non-GMO and clean labeling trends, refer to this press release. Additionally, for more details on the controversy surrounding Monsanto’s glyphosate, please visit this link.

The post Sales of Oreo Cookie’s Biggest Competitor Skyrocket After Company Officially Goes Non-GMO appeared first on Healthy Holistic Living.

 

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