It’s no surprise that new product releases—the latest potato chips, the newest breads, the most recent cookies to debut on the shelf—are among our most-viewed articles. After all, Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery readers are experienced and expert at baking and snack-making, so why wouldn’t they want to keep up to date on what’s fresh out on shelves, and what’s coming soon?

However, all of you (just like everyone on the editorial team) also are very much into eating baked goods and snacks. True, we’re dying to know all about the latest developments in equipment technology, market trends, new ingredients, and other relevant professional information, but we also want to know about the products we’re going to see the next time we go to the store and shop.

As fun as it is for our readers to learn about new products, it’s at least as fun for SF&WB editors to research, write about, and share the news with you. A lot of this advance work is done from our offices, through internet digging, and e-mail and phone interactions with producers big and small. A bit of that research is performed in person, stopping in our local markets, grocery chains, warehouse stores, and other retailers, prowling the shelves for as-yet undiscovered products, which we then research and share with readers.

Then, in this annual feature about the Most-viewed Snack and Bakery Products, we share the most popular snack product, and the bakery product, but before we get to the items starring in the 2025 edition, here is how the process to determine which came out on top goes:

• We dive into our publishing company’s analytics platform, look at all of the new product articles posted during the year on snackandbakery.com, and rank them by the number of pageviews each received.
• Then, we pick out the articles specifically about recent product launches and see how those rankings shake out.
• Of all of those eyeball-attracting product announcements, we pick out the most-viewed snack item, and the most-viewed bakery item (tossing in a few honorable mentions) and profile them here. Watch for the most-viewed confectionery item on our candyindustry.com.

Does your company have bakery, snack, or candy products planned for the coming months? If so, we’d love to hear about them—and maybe see them atop the Most-viewed Snack and Bakery Products of 2026. Please send them to spinnerj@bnpmedia.com; like you, we love hearing about new stuff. SF&WB

Mister Bee Potato //
Mothman Style Mysterious Spice Blend Chips

In many parts of the country, people show fierce loyalty to food companies in their area, and the company often shows the love right back. In Point Pleasant, WV, the reputed home of the legendary Mothman cryptid, WV-based snack slingers Mister Bee (a favorite among citizens) came out with Mothman Style Mysterious Spice Blend Chips. The giant, winged humanoid creature that is the snack’s namesake is the stuff of local legend and even inspired a 2022 movie, The Mothman Prophecies.

Mister Bee was founded in 1951 by Leo and Sara Klein. Current owner Mary Anne Ketelsen took the helm in 2015, updating the longtime snack producer with new TNA equipment that improved the efficiency of the operation and gave the facility a makeover. Under her ownership, its products have landed Best West Virginia Made Food Product awards from West Virginia Living Magazine multiple times.

Mister Bee has a track record of snacks that honor and are inspired by the local community—these include a 1951 chip that hearkens back to the original snack, a Pepperoni Roll chip honoring coal miners that introduced the treat to the area, and a Sausage and Biscuit chip made in collaboration with local favorite Tudor’s Biscuit World (the sales of which benefited the local Make-a-Wish chapter). And while Mister Bee has been brought into the 21st century via its upgrades, this most-viewed snack hearkens back to the area’s history.

“The Mothman was reportedly seen in Point Pleasant from November 15, 1966, to December 15, 1967,” Ketelsen relates. “They claim the Mothman was seen and was a connection to the collapse of the Silver Bridge—the collapse claimed the death of 46 people, and people say they saw the creature right before the collapse of the bridge.”

Despite the Mothman’s dark story, he has become a beloved local figure, Ketelsen says, now the namesake of a nearby Harley Davidson dealership and serving as the guest of honor in the town’s annual Mothman Festival.

SNACK PRODUCTS // HONORABLE MENTIONS

Hostess Brands //
Cupcake Minis and Donettes Fritter Rings

The Hostess name has been around since it introduced its first bakery snack, the CupCake, in 1919. Even after a century of feeding consumers, the brand continues to launch sweet innovations, including these two items.

“Our goal has always been to meet consumers where they are so we can deliver on their needs and preferences,” notes Clare Reynolds, director of innovation for owner The J.M. Smucker Co. “As consumers have begun to trade larger meals for more regular snacking throughout the day, we have seen increasing desire for variety, including greater flexibility in terms of serving size and convenience.

The first item in the most-viewed bakery announcement, Hostess Cupcake Minis, offers a diminutive take on the brand’s inaugural product. Reynolds says consumers should expect to see more smaller versions of the items in the portfolio.

“We view Minis as a strong platform opportunity for the Hostess brand and will continue to support innovation in the space,” she advises.

With the Donettes Fritter Rings, Hostess aims to continue its position as the leader in packaged doughnuts with a novel take on the breakfast treat.

“The Donettes Fritter Rings are made with real apples and cinnamon-y flavor, covered in a sweet glaze, and feature a pull-apart bubble shape adding another layer of fun,” Reynolds says. “This unique combination of flavor and format results in a delicious, convenient snack consumers can enjoy.”

While there are a number of reasons why SF&WB readers might have gravitated toward these items, Reynolds states the brand seeks to keep consumers coming back to their items by offering them treats that brighten their day.

“We are constantly talking with our consumers and what we have found is that our products are associated with joy—they show up in everyday moments as a simple, reliable way to treat yourself and bring a little happiness into the day,” she says. “We are committed to continuing to offer the joy that can only be found with Hostess by staying on top of evolving preferences, delivering the brands they love, and introducing meaningful innovations that bring fresh and delicious options to market.”

BAKERY PRODUCTS // HONORABLE MENTIONS