Dive Brief:
- The Hershey Company is rolling out an expanded product line and innovative food manufacturing technology at the National Confectioners Association’s annual Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago.
- Hershey's debut of products includes Brookside Fruit & Nut Bars, the introduction of Krave jerky, and Snack Bites.
- The 3D-printed chocolate comes from a food-friendly 3D printer developed in conjunction with 3D Systems. It is the "most advanced" 3D chocolate printer of its kind in its current updated form, previously premiering last year, according to a press release from the company.
Dive Insight:
3D printing is one of the latest tech innovations to hit the food industry. The practice is still in its early years and has a long way to go in terms of FDA approvals and updates to make the technology more affordable at the retail and consumer levels. But if 3D food printing takes off, it could revolutionize the way businesses and consumers think about food, which could now see improvements in versatility and creativity as a result of this technology.