Snacks brand scoops up award for 2026 celebrations
GLOBAL snacking firm Mars has scooped up a Product of the Year 2026 gong for its Cheez-It Snap’d range.
Formerly from Kellanova, Mars completed an acquisition of the firm in December 2025, the Cheez-It brand took home gold in the Cheesy Crisps & Snacks category for its Snap’d quartet comprising of Double Cheese, Cheese and Chilli, Sour Cream and Onion and, most recently, its new Cheese & Smokey Bacon variant.
Launched in August 2024, Cheez-It has resounded positively with consumers across the UK. The newcomer hit £24million in sales and sold over 16.3million packs in its first year, according to Circana data, which is the equivalent of one flying off the shelves every two seconds.
Already backed by a string of accolades, Mars says this latest win for the brand is set to catapult the range into even greater popularity and demand with consumers across the UK.
Product of the Year winners are decided by an annual panel of 8,000 UK consumers in an annual survey of product innovation. On average, previous Product of the Year winners have seen sales rise of between 10%-15%, according to the firm, making them key additions for a store’s stock.
The brand’s champion SKU, Snap’d Double Cheese, has delivered nearly £13million in sales across the UK, according to Circana data covering the 52 weeks to 9 August, showing shoppers have responded well to the brand and enjoy its bold flavour and crispy texture.
Cheez-It plans to bolster this success further across 2026 with plans for dual-branded activity that will also see its sister brand Pringles team up and leverage key occasions across the year.
Rui Frias, senior marketing manager at Cheez-It, said: “We are elated that Cheez-It has been awarded Product of the Year. Innovation is always at the heart of what we do; we knew British consumers would love the bold, authentic cheese flavour and unmistakable crunch, but seeing that belief validated by shoppers themselves means a great deal.
“We’ve been genuinely encouraged by how quickly Cheez-It has become a staple in British snacking culture, and this recognition gives us even more confidence to keep pushing the range forward – this is only the beginning.”
