Fruition: Cran-Raspberry

ProBar’s Cran-Raspberry Fruition Bar is a very enjoyable bar. The base of the bar is heavy on fruit flavor (hence the name), with notes of cranberries and raspberries and lots of date flavor. It has a soft and satisfying feeling in your mouth, especially with the added small chunks of dried fruit. There’s also a very slight crunch to the finish, thanks to some added nuts and seeds. This is a nice added dimension that complements the bars soft consistency quite nicely. All in all, the bar is extremely enjoyable to eat (or scarf if you’re like us). The bar’s wrapper is clean and appealing, with illustrations of fruit providing the border around the bar’s cleanly executed logo. The design has a healthy and natural vibe to it, which is definitely an accurate representation of what’s inside the wrapper. Nutritionally, this 1.7 ounce bar has 160 calories, 2g of fat, 4g of fiber, 3g of protein, calcium, and iron. From our perspective, this is a nice option for a healthy snack or for a light pick me up when you are on the go. Overall, an exceptionally well done bar.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Clif Bar: Banana Nut Bread

While it certainly has a lot more chew to it than real banana bread, Clif has done a great job of creating a flavor that’s an accurate interpretation of the original. There’s a pretty good banana flavor to the mixture, thanks to the use of dried bananas, while the base is the same organic oat and soy crisp base that you’ll find in the rest of this line of Clif Bars. It’s got a fair amount of chew to it, with some light crunch to the finish, which is also aided by some walnut flavor. Nutritionally, this bar has 9g of protein, 240 calories, 250mg of potassium, 4g of fiber, and loads of vitamins and minerals. That being said, it functions as both a nice snack alternative or a light meal. Packaging follows the same template as the rest of the Clif line, with a caramel colored strip along the bottom for the flavor name. It’s honestly somewhat hard to get excited about Clif’s packaging at this point, but since it’s so ubiquitous with the energy bar category, it definitely gives us a certain feeling of comfort when we see it. Overall, it’s not an overly innovative flavor, but it’s a well executed one and, therefore, a bar that we’d have no problem picking up again.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

ProBar Fruition: Strawberry

ProBar’s Strawberry “fruition” bar is a particularly enjoyable one, complete with large chunks of dried strawberries interspersed throughout the bar. That, paired with the soft date and rolled oat base, makes for something that’s extremely satisfying to the palate. The product also has brown rice syrup (sweetener), black and white chia seeds (for a touch of crunch), and cashews (in ground form). There’s a nice amount of sweet flavor to this bar, especially compared to ProBar’s flagship line which has savory flavors as well, while the soft and chewy consistency makes it extremely easy to eat the product at a fast pace. At 160 calories, this 1.7 ounce bar makes for a nice snack, which is made better by the fiber (4g), protein (3g), and vitamins and minerals. Packaging is simple and aesthetically appealing, with bright fruit images going around the border of the wrapper. It looks similar enough to the regular ProBar line while still feeling different. Plus, we love the new look to the logo and the new tag line. Overall, an awesome bar that makes for a nice complement to the core ProBar lineup.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Vega Whole Food Energy Bar: Berry Flavor

Like the other Vega Whole Food Energy bars, this one is made from “raw, alkaline, plant based superfoods.” You’ll find dates, hemp protein, almond butter, agave nectar, sprouted whole flax seeds, cranberries, raisins, almonds, sesame seeds, organic sprouted mung beans, organic wheat grass, and a few other ingredients for flavoring. It’s a soft but chewy bar, with a slightly dry texture, especially at the finish. Flavor is really enjoyable, with notes of the fruit and nuts throughout. There’s also a slightly earthy note of flavor to the bar, which is likely from the wheatgrass, mung, and flax. Nutritionally, the bar is a winner, with 10g of raw protein, 250mg of potassium, 6g of fiber, omega 3 and 6, vitamins, and minerals on top of 240 calories. The bar is great as for snacking before a workout – or to help supplement a meal with something that’s sweet but nutritious. Packaging is probably the only area that we’d like to see some improvement, with a look that feels technical rather than inviting. To a degree, the label made us expect a bar that didn’t taste good, which is fortunately not the case. Overall, it’s a very enjoyable product, but kicking up the packaging a bit would definitely help.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

KIND Bar: Fruit & Nut Delight

This is sort of Kind’s catch-all dried fruit and nut bar and its mix of peanuts, almonds, brazil nuts and walnuts, the nut part is certainly up to snuff, although we’d like it if there was a bit more variety to the fruit beyond raisin and apricot. Also, the Kind folks really overdid it with the honey/pectin coating on this one – it glistened and gleamed dangerously, and we were a bit worried we’d lose a tooth. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, and the flavors were all pretty distinguishable in the mix. On a packaging point, the blue trim on the wrapper is absolutely gorgeous.

Calories: 170
Protein: 5 g
Fiber: 3 g
Fat: 11 g
Carbs: 16 g

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Honest Foods: Cran Lemon Zest

Honest Foods’ Cran Lemon Zest bar is made with a base of whole oats, almond butter, and brown rice syrup, which results in a relatively dry consistency with a moderate amount of chew. It also contains nuts and dried fruit, which are ultimately what give it the cranberry and lemon zest flavors that the bar is named for. Cran Lemon Zest is pretty much spot on when it comes to expected flavor, with a mellow cranberry flavor that’s complemented nicely with the bit of lemon zest. As far as the size of the bar is concerned, this 1.9 ounce bar is certainly not the biggest bar on the market, but it’s also a more manageable size if you’re looking for something to snack on. Plus, it’s vegan, made with whole grains and contains protein, fiber, and omega-3. Packaging is simple and clean, with a clear plastic wrapper that lets you see what’s inside. We’re big fans of that approach, especially when a wholesome looking bar like this one is inside. Definitely give it a try.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eat Natural: Almond & Apricot Bar

Made in the UK, this bar is billed as being a “luxurious bar full of premium quality ingredients and nothing else.” It’s a yoghurt coated bar that’s made with dried fruit, nuts, puffed rice, and honey. Flavor is really good, with a pleasant tasting body that’s light but crispy, with a sweet note of honey, fruit, and yogurt followed by some crunch from the almonds, which are added in large pieces. Eat Natural has done a great job with this bar, blending extremely enjoyable flavor, substance, and nutrition. From a nutrition point of view, this 235 calorie bar has 2g of fiber, 4g of protein, calcium, and iron, which certainly isn’t the most nutritious bar out there, but it’s still a good one. Packaging is intuitive and appealing, with the name “EAT NATURAL” making a pretty obvious statement about what’s inside the wrapper. Plus, you can see through the clear plastic wrapping, which helps whet the appetite. Overall, a very enjoyable bar that’s flavorful, nourishing, and nice looking.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Honest Foods: Blueberry Vanilla Crackle

Of Honest Foods’ “Granola Plank” line, this was our favorite – and a new member of our Hall of Fame. The bar blends flavor and texture perfectly, starting with a base of nuts, seeds, and puffed rice, wheat and corn. It’s soft but has a slight amount of chew and crunch, which has then been perfectly flavored with vanilla extract, dried fruit (blueberries & cranberries), brown rice syrup, brown sugar, natural flavors, and a touch of salt. The resulting bar has great depth of flavor, starting with the grains and nuts, followed by the dried fruit, and finally finishing with vanilla. From a nutrition point of view, this bar, which is labeled for 2 servings, has 380 calories, 3g of fiber, 4g of protein, iron, calcium, and 300mg omega-3. It’s got a lot of substance to it, so we’d certainly recommend that you only eat half at a time – you certainly won’t be hungry. Packaging is simple and extremely appealing, with a large window to view the bar. The placement of the Honest Foods logo in the centers adds a touch of wholesomeness and credibility to the product. Overall, one of the best bars we’ve had in a while.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Clif Bar & Company Gives Protein Some Zest With New Lemon-Flavored CLIF Builder’s™ Bar

BERKELEY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Clif Bar & Company is bringing the refreshingly tangy taste of lemon to its CLIF Builder’s™ protein bar lineup. Read more

Honest Foods: Pomegranate Walnut Crisp Granola Plank

Designed to be a fresh made granola “plank,” this bar does a great job of combining that wholesome made at home flavor with the convenience of a ready-made bar. There’s a nice oat and nut flavor to the base, with almonds, peanuts, and walnuts adding some crunch. Dried fruit in the form of cranberry and pomegranate provide some chew and a dash of sweet flavor, which is a nice complement to the granola base. However, they’ve also added some additional flavoring to the bar, which, as you eat the bar, starts to mask the flavor of the granola. In our opinion, this bar can hold its own without the added flavoring, so we hope to see if removed in the future. On the exterior, the product looks very clean and appealing, with a clear front that has only a red strip for the logo going across it. The use of lowercase text and a simple font gives the product that “wholesome” feel that they’re clearly going for. Overall, very enjoyable, but it would be more enjoyable without the added flavor.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Elevate Me!: Espresso Cocoa Crunch

Billed as “The world’s simplest protein & fruit energy bar”, the flavor of this bar certainly lives up to this intention. Blending whey protein isolate, dates, organic raisins, apples, almonds, cranberries, cocoa, and coffee beans, the product has a very “raw” and homemade flavor to it. It has a dry but chewy consistency, with pleasant notes of dried fruit and nuts, followed by decent note of cocoa and a hint of coffee to the finish. All in all, it’s a very pleasant and satisfying bar to eat. Nutritionally, this bar has 230 calories, 6g of fiber, and 16g of protein, which is certainly enough substance for us. That leaves us with the packaging, which is the largest area for improvement. Specifically, there’s something that’s unappealing about the design, especially compared to the better designs of other players in the category. We’d probably say the same for the name, which sounds like something that’s more appropriate for a supplement product. Overall, very enjoyable flavor and nutrition, but needs work on the packaging.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

ProBar: Apple Cinnamon Crunch

ProBar’s Apple Cinnamon Crunch is a bit different than most of the other ProBar products that we’ve sampled. First of all, it’s sticky to the touch and has a slight crunch to it. There’s a decent apple flavor to it, followed by dates, raisins, seeds, and nuts – typical ProBar ingredients. The resulting mix has good fruit flavor – and the dried apples are a nice change of pace from what we typically see used as flavoring in bars. Same goes for the packaging, which has big and bright images of apples with cinnamon sticks mixed in as well. Overall, we found this bar to be very enjoyable.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Calories: 370
Fat: 19g
Fiber: 7g
Protein: 9g;

ProBar: Nutty Banana Boom

ProBar has hit the nail on the head yet again with this one, a pleasant bar that blends nuts, seeds, and fruit into an awesome tasting “whole food meal.” The bar has multiple layers of flavor, including notes of oats, dates, dried bananas, and nuts, all of which are perfectly balanced and working in unison. Like other ProBar products, this product one is extremely satisfying and nourishing, which is the result of the organic and unprocessed nature of the bar (your body will be thankful!). The bar has a variety of key nutrients, including fiber, protein, potassium, calcium and iron. Packaging is extremely appealing, with images of bananas, nuts, and seeds on the front — it whet our appetite very quickly. Overall, this is a great choice for a meal replacement bar. We’ll definitely be reaching for this one again.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Calories: 380
Fat: 6g
Fiber: 7g
Protein: 9g

Go Raw: Real Live Flax Bar

Made with sprouted organic flax seeds, organic apricot, organic raisin, organic date, and organic lime juice, this bar is a tour de force of the organic and raw way of life. The bar itself eats like something that’s on par with “fruit leather”, those chewy pressed fruit snacks that most of us had as kids. However, that’s where the similarities end, for this is a far superior product in just about every aspect. Flavor comes in the form of dried fruit, which is a mixture of apricot, raisin, and date flavors, and the sprouted flax seed. It has noticeably earthy flavor to it, which is to be expected given the use of flax. Nutritionally, this vegan, non-GMO, USDA Organic bar has a nice hit of protein, fiber, and omega-3, plus the benefits of eating raw and unprocessed food. Packaging is busy, but effective, with an extremely text heavy design that works for some strange reason. However, we do think that calling attention to the fact that it’s made in a solar powered production facility might be a marketable benefit. Overall, a stellar bar – definitely one to try.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Calories: 164
Fat: 7g
Fiber: 7g
Protein: 5g

ProBar: Art’s Original Blend

Art’s Original Blend is named after Art Eggersten, the founder of ProBar. It’s a soft and chewy bar that basically tastes like a trail mix bar, delivering a soft base of oats that is accented with peanut butter, nuts, seeds, raisins, dried fruit, dates, and chocolate chips. But, unlike other trail mixes that we’ve tried, this one has just the right amount of savory and sweet. Plus, it’s loaded with nutrition, including 9g of protein, 6g of fiber, calcium, iron, and Omega 3 and 6. Like other ProBar varieties, this bar is definitely something that is substantial enough to be a meal replacement product. It seems like the perfect product for the person who is on the go or for those occasions (like a long car trip) where you can’t necessarily get something healthy to eat. Packaging is bright and colorful, but we’re not sure that it’s an accurate portrayal of what’s inside the wrapper. Specifically, it seems to emphasize the fruits that are in the bar, which might lead one to believe that this is some sort of fruit bar rather than the trail mix product that it really is. Nit picking aside, this is one of those products that we’d reach for again and again — a true classic.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Weil by Nature’s Path Organic: Banana Manna

Billed as a bar that’s flavored with pure fruit and nuts, this product is, unfortunately, not much more than a mushy mess of dates. Yes, it’s vegan, organic, made with only a handful of ingredients, and has no sugar added, but it just isn’t an enjoyable bar to eat. There’s a little bit of banana and almond flavor, but not enough to make it a palatable experience. Really, this bar is going to sell because of its affiliation with Dr. Weil and the implied credibility that comes with that. Otherwise, there’s not really much to like about this product.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Go Raw: Banana Bread Flax Bar

Think the world’s healthiest fruit leather. Or banana jerky. Either way, we think they’re on to something with this four-ingredient, sprouted organic flax seed product. Made with dried bananas, coconut, dates and the aforementioned sprouted flax, the thin bar has the initial consistency of cardboard but chews into a healthy dried banana treat. Packaging is cheap and simple – just a clear wrapper and a “go raw” label. It needs to be jazzed up, and have the certified organic label on top, but the inside product, with a combination of unique taste and simple healthy ingredients, is surprisingly addictive.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Calories: 110
Fat: 5 g
Carbs: 15 g
Fiber: 5 g
Protein: 4 g

DDB Worldwide, San Francisco Named Agency of Record for SOYJOY(R)

Global Agency to Launch New Campaign for Whole Soy Product

NORTHRIDGE, Calif., March 27 /PRNewswire/ — Advertising agency DDB Worldwide in San Francisco has been named agency of record for SOYJOY(R), an all-natural, nutrient-rich snack baked with whole soy and real fruit. SOYJOY is owned by Los Angeles-based parent company Pharmavite(R) LLC. DDB will begin immediately creating and executing a multimedia advertising campaign for the product.

“DDB demonstrated great expertise and passion in the food and nutrition arena that came through in their strategy and creative work,” said Gary Kuchta, chief marketing officer for Pharmavite. “We are excited about the partnership and confident it will help us take SOYJOY to the next level.”

“We are thrilled to be selected as SOYJOY’s new agency partner,” said Lisa Bennett, DDB San Francisco Chief Creative Officer. “The team is energized and anxious to begin working on what will be a truly integrated campaign.”

The DDB team consisted of members from DDB, Tribal DDB and PhD all in San Francisco. DDB joins Pharmavite public relations agency of record Porter Novelli on the SOYJOY account. Both agencies are a part of Omnicom Group, Inc.

Pharmavite’s portfolio includes the Nature Made(R) vitamin, mineral, herb, and supplement brand – the number one selling broad-line brand of vitamins in the food, drug, mass, and club channels.

About Pharmavite

For more than 35 years, consumers and retailers have trusted Pharmavite for high-quality, research-based products that contribute to optimal health and overall wellness. As a provider of great-tasting, nutritious products, like SOYJOY, Pharmavite is dedicated to helping people lead healthier lives through nutrition education and awareness (Pharmavite.com).

ABOUT DDB

DDB Worldwide Communications Group Inc (www.ddb.com) is the largest consolidated advertising and marketing services global network in the world, according to Advertising Age. DDB also has been frequently ranked as the most awarded agency network in the world by Creativity magazine and The Gunn Report, among others. With more than 200 offices in over 90 countries, the DDB group believes that creativity is the most powerful force in business, building enduring and powerful brand experiences that create TalkValue(TM), influence social communities and drive results. DDB Worldwide is part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).

SOURCE SOYJOY

Review: YouBar (YouBars.com)

YouBars.com is a “build of bar site” founded by and run by a mother (Ava) and son (Anthony) team in Los Angeles, CA. Read more

Eat Natural: Macadamia and Fruit Bar

This bar is billed as a “luxurious bar full of premium quality ingredients and nothing else.” It delivers nicely on that promise, with a soft base of puffed rice, coconut, and sesame seeds, followed by some sweet apricot flavor before having just a touch of crunch from the nuts (macadamia and Brazil nuts). We really enjoyed the layers of flavor, especially since the bar tastes very raw and natural. They’ve carefully balanced the various flavors, resulting in something that gives your palate just the right amount of savory and sweet. From a nutrition point of view, this gluten free bar has 243 calories, 15g of fat, 3g of fiber, and 4g of protein. It also has 22g of carbohydrates, 8% RDA of iron, and 35mg of sodium. The packaging is straight forward and easy to understand, although it lacks the visual pizzazz that you’ll find in some competing bars (e.g. KIND). Punching up the look seems like the biggest opportunity for this bar. Otherwise, we wouldn’t change a thing.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Think Organic: Chocolate Coconut

Think Organic’s Chocolate Coconut bar is billed as a raw fruit & nut snack bar that’s gluten free and vegan. It has a heavy amount of dates as its base, follow buy a touch of cashew, a modest amount of coconut, and the slightest hint of chocolate to the finish. The combination is good, and while it delivers a nice coconut flavor, we were quite underwhelmed by the lack of chocolate flavor in the bar. Nutritionally, the bar packs 4g of protein, 3g of fiber, 300mg of potassium, trace vitamins and 9g of fat into a 160 calorie format. As it currently stands, it’s an edible bar, but it isn’t an overly memorable one. The same can be said for the packaging. It’s a clean design with proper handling of the various text elements, but it’s not a package that whets our appetite. Overall, it’s good, but a bit more chocolate flavor would be nice on the inside – and more visually appeal is needed on the outside.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars