Airly Foods

Airly Foods is an American brand of snack crackers. The brand revolves around utilizing sustainable farming[1] and carbon credits to offset the total carbon emissions which would result from traditionally producing such a product.[2][3][4][5] Consequently, the crackers are produced in the shape of clouds.

The company follows three basic principles to ensure the positive environmental impacts of their crackers' production: no tilling of the soil, using prescriptive amounts of seed and fertilizer, ending over-fertilization, and planting legumes in fields between growing seasons for cash crops.[6]

History

In 2021, Post Holdings CEO Rob Vitale responded to changes in consumer patterns by telling two employees, Jennifer McKnight and Mark Izzo, to "find [him] something that has the potential to disrupt food and beverage."[7][2] They responded by forming Bright Future Foods, a subsidiary with the goal of focusing on climate-friendly snacking options.[8]

McKnight and Izzo formulated the idea for Airly Foods, a brand of crackers in which each box sold removed between eighteen and twenty-one grams of carbon dioxide from the air.[9][10] Soon, a third co-founder, Kris Corbin, became involved with the brand.

The crackers went into production in 2022. Originally, four flavors were available: cheddar, chocolate, sea salt, and salted caramel. In January 2023, two more flavors became available: butter and cinnamon.[6] Originally, they were sold only in specialty grocery stores, before hitting shelves in major supermarkets such as Walmart[11] and Target.

See also

References

  1. Geraldine Campbell. Snack Report: Airly Snack Crackers Clean Plates, 2021-08-03, retrieved 2023-09-16^
  2. St. Louis-born Airly is the world's first 'climate-friendly snack cracker' STLPR, retrieved 2023-09-16^
  3. Mary Anne Potts. Growing a Climate-Positive Snack: Sustainably-Sourced Airly Crackers Remove Carbon from the Atmosphere www.indigoag.com, retrieved 2023-09-16^
  4. How a snack brand made the first carbon-negative cracker Baking Business, retrieved 2024-01-31^
  5. Simon Mainwaring. Purpose At Work: What Do 2,900 Beach Balls Have To Do With How Airly Foods Helps Tame A ‘Big, Hairy’ Climate Challenge? Forbes, retrieved 2024-01-31^
  6. Jenny Agnew. St. Louis–based company creates environmentally friendly crackers St. Louis Magazine, 2022-11-18, retrieved 2023-09-16^
  7. St. Louis-based Airly Foods creates a climate-friendly cracker www.bizjournals.com, retrieved 2023-09-16^
  8. Airly Oat Cloud Crackers www.snackandbakery.com, retrieved 2023-09-16^
  9. Best New Products - Airly Crackers - NOSH Best of 2021 Awards www.nosh.com, retrieved 2023-09-16^
  10. Bright Future Foods: Airly Clarkmcdowall, retrieved 2023-09-16^
  11. Airly launches GHG-removing snacks World Bio Market Insights, 2023-04-18, retrieved 2023-09-16^