South Mill Champs introduces mushroom-based snack brand

US mushroom producer South Mill Champs has launched a new mushroom-based snack brand, as a response to the rise in popularity of plant-based snacking.

Called Shrooms Snacks, four product lines are sold in the US in a total of 14 flavours.

Shrooms Crispy Mushrooms are crispy-crunchy snacks made from thick-cut mushrooms, available in five flavours: sea salt, spicy jalapeno, mesquite barbeque, pizza, and original portabella.

Meanwhile, Shrooms Mushroom Jerky is made from tender shiitake and meaty portabella mushroom caps. Flavours include honey chipotle shiitake, roasted teriyaki portabella, and original portabella.  

Shrooms Splits Jerky is a hybrid snack which pairs marinated mushroom jerky made from portabella mushroom caps with other jerky varieties including turkey, berries, filet mignon, and peppered beef.

Finally, Shrooms Snack Bar is said to be an allergy-friendly bar made from simple ingredients. Flavours include crispy mushroom chocolate chunk and crispy mushroom sweet and savoury.

South Mill Champs said mushrooms are a functional superfood, packed with nutrients such as vitamins D and B, selenium, potassium, zinc, copper and fibre. All Shrooms Snacks product lines are tree nut free and dairy free.

“We saw an opportunity to create something new and authentic using our 80 years of mushroom growing experience,” said David Eberwein, director of innovation and business development at Shrooms Snacks.

“As the popularity of plant-based snacking continues to rise, we started thinking about ways to reinvent the mushroom to create convenient, better-for-you snacks that taste amazing and use the fresh, whole mushrooms we’re growing and farming every day.

“After much development, we’ve created a line of snack products that are unlike anything else on shelves today, and we’re excited to bring them to mushroom lovers everywhere.”

South Mill Champs CEO Lewis Macleod added: “Mushrooms are experiencing a surge in popularity as people from all walks of life get smart about snacking. With more than 80 years of experience, we know mushrooms, so we’re a natural fit to lead the development of this category of great-tasting, better-for-you snacks. We really believe in this brand and product, and want to revolutionise how people think about mushrooms.”