Frito-Lay Launching New Line of Healthier Snacks

Hoping to lure health-conscious consumers, Frito-Lay plans to introduce a line of premium nuts and baked crackers, the snack-maker’s parent company said Wednesday.

True North, a line of nuts, nut clusters and chips made of nuts, will launch in the first quarter, said John Compton, new head of the PepsiCo Inc. operating unit that includes Plano-based Frito-Lay.

The line, which will include almonds, pecans, peanuts and pistachios in clusters and crisps, will be made at existing U.S. plants.

The new items are designed to appeal to consumers looking for a snack with protein, the company said. It did not reveal prices.

Mr. Compton and other executives with PepsiCo announced plans for the company at a Morgan Stanley consumer and retail conference in New York.

Over the last several years, Frito-Lay has worked to revamp its portfolio, as weight-conscious consumers looked for healthier snack options.

Frito-Lay’s largest sellers still fall into the "fun for you" category that includes traditional salty snacks. But even some of those marquee brands will take on a healthier sheen with the introduction next year of low-fat snack crackers marketed under the Lay’s and Cheetos brands.

Next year, the company hopes to announce a line of snacks that contain "probiotics," dietary supplements containing bacteria or yeasts believed to aid digestion.