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Hershey Co. has a sudden hankering for protein, with plans to add jerky to its lineup. The maker of sugary treats such as Reese’s, Kit Kat and Twizzlers says it’s buying Krave Jerky for an

undisclosed sum. Krave, based in Sonoma, Calif., positions itself as a premium jerky with no artificial ingredients and comes in flavors including black cherry barbecue, basil citrus and

lemon garlic. Michele Buck, president of Hershey North America, said the company plans to continue expanding its offerings across the “snacking continuum” through acquisitions and in-house

development. Although Hershey is already a strong player in sweet treats, the Krave deal is intended to give it a foothold in snacks people see as healthful fuel. The push to expand beyond

impulsive sweets comes as Americans’ addiction to snacking grows. Rather than sticking to three meals a day, people are increasingly grazing on smaller bites around the clock. The trend has

prompted Dunkin’ Donuts to position its fried-chicken sandwiches as snacks, and Taco Bell to introduce a Happier Hour for people looking for a late afternoon pick-me-up. In the packaged food

universe, the nation’s snacking habit is blurring the lines between what qualifies as an indulgence versus nourishing fuel, prompting food makers to market snacks with nutritional benefits

such as fiber. Protein in particular has become a desirable ingredient, which in turn has helped boost jerky sales. “We know consumers have an interest in portable and protein-based

nutrition,” Buck said. Last year, jerky sales in the U.S. totaled $1.41 billion, according IRI, a Chicago market researcher. That’s up 13% from 2013 and 22% from 2012. Meanwhile, Hershey on

Thursday reported fourth-quarter sales and profit that missed Wall Street expectations and lowered its earnings and revenue outlook for the year. In a note to investors, J.P. Morgan analyst

Ken Goldman wrote that the Krave deal “perhaps indicates that Hershey is less enamored of candy’s growth potential than it previously was.” He noted that indulgent snacks such as chocolates

and cookies generally underperformed categories such as trail mixes, nuts and meat snacks. Jon Sebastiani, who founded Krave in 2009, sees even more growth potential for the jerky market by

improving the category’s image. As such, Krave notes that its products do not contain nitrates or artificial flavors, and that they’re lower in salt and cholesterol than competing jerkies.

“It’s very inviting to a female consumer,” Sebastiani said. Sebastiani, who will continue to lead the unit and report to Buck, said Krave Jerky sales have been growing at triple-digit rates.

Last year, he said sales totaled $36 million. The company’s offerings are expanding, too. Capitalizing on the desire for protein, Sebastiani said Krave plans to launch a “meat bar” this

year to compete with granola bars found near supermarket checkout aisles. MORE TO READ