Reach for these Hippie Snacks

While the credo “everything in moderation” eases the guilt when we find ourselves indulging there’s now a plant-based alternative: Hippie Snacks, available at select Thrifty Foods and IGA stores across Canada. 

They’re all plant-based and a good source of protein, non-GMO and gluten-free 

The brand had a smash success with its grain-free granolas and coconut chips, before hitting it even bigger with their line of Crisps – made with cauliflower, almond and avocado. Their secret is to let real foods be the stars of the show, using healthy ingredients and minimal processing. In addition to producing fantastic snacks, Hippie Snacks operates as environmentally friendly as possible, an approach that is evident throughout the company. When it comes to manufacturing, Hippie Snacks has a low environmental footprint with reduced waste and energy consumption, minimal packaging, and choosing raw ingredient suppliers who champion similar environmental practices. With sustainability at the core of all decision-making at Hippie Snacks, the Hippie Snacks development team evaluate not only the company’s greenhouse gas emissions on a regular basis, but also the environmental factors like water usage, soil retention and habitat safety – analysing the entire supply chain. They’re all plant-based and a good source of protein, non-GMO and gluten-free.

We are conscious of our processes, from sourcing ingredients and upcycling, to manufacturing and distribution 

“Take for example our cauliflower crisps. We use the entire cauliflower, grinding the entire thing up. There is no [cauliflower] waste.”

Hippie Snacks is a Certified B-Corporation and Climate Smart certified, which helps keep companies accountable for their social and environmental performance. “These organizations hold us to account on a breadth of sustainability practices,” Maracle says, “so it’s not just the packaging or what’s in the product, it’s how it’s made, the power it takes to make and how we’ve acquired the ingredients.”

Hippie Snacks are made in-house in Burnaby, BC.

Hippie Snacks was first launched when Left Coast Naturals, the parent company of Hippie Snacks, was working on a line of organic tortilla chips made from grains, beans, and nuts in 2008.The name seeks to mirror the 1960s cultural movement which popularized the concept of keeping whole foods at the centre of your diet. We are conscious of our processes, from sourcing ingredients and upcycling, to manufacturing and distribution. Sobeys’ relationship with Hippie Snacks first began as part of our commitment to sourcing local suppliers for stores and has since grown to a national partnership. “Over the past few years, Sobeys has made a progressive point of emphasis on diversifying its snacks in all categories, going with more of a natural focus, knowing that this is a growing category,” Maracle says. All Hippie Snacks are made in-house in Burnaby, BC.

Next up for the snacking team? “Crisps with chocolate. Now that customers are identifying with our savoury things, our next step will be something sweet,” Maracle says. Now that’s a sweet treat!