PHOENIX, Jan. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading specialty food manufacturer, Inventure Foods (NASDAQ: SNAK), has entered into a licensing agreement with Vidalia Brands® Inc., the Georgia brand synonymous with great-tasting sweet onions, to develop a new line of prepackaged snacks for vending, grocery and convenience store distribution. This license agreement expands Inventure Foods' portfolio of nationally recognized brands that currently includes Jamba®, T.G.I. Friday's® and Nathan's Famous®.

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"We have a successful track record of taking consumer brands into the prepackaged, ready-to-eat space," said Steve Sklar, senior vice president of marketing for Inventure Foods. "With Vidalia Brands, we are combining powerful brand recognition with the latest in snack trends to introduce a product line that will certainly taste great, but will also feel immediately familiar to consumers."    

The first product introduced will be Vidalia® Sweet Onion Petals™, a baked snack made with real Vidalia® sweet onion puree that is extruded in the form of an onion stick. It features zero trans fats and just 130 calories per serving.  

Vidalia® Sweet Onion Petals will be available in 2.25 ounce and 3.5 ounce bags with a suggested retail price of $1.99 and $2.49, respectively. The product is available for wholesale pre-orders now. Consumers can expect to see Vidalia® Sweet Onion Petals in stores and in vending machines in the first quarter of 2013.

"We're excited to bring this product to market with the help of Inventure Foods," said Sandra Bland, president of Vidalia Brands. "We look forward to introducing the great taste of Vidalia® sweet onions to snack food fans across the nation."

About Inventure Foods, Inc.   
With manufacturing facilities in Arizona, Indiana and Washington, Inventure Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAK) is a marketer and manufacturer of specialty food brands in better-for-you and indulgent categories under a variety of Company owned and licensed brand names, including Boulder Canyon Natural Foods®, Jamba®, Rader Farms®, T.G.I. Friday's®, Nathan's Famous®, Vidalia Brands™, Poore Brothers®, Tato Skins® and Bob's Texas Style®. For further information about Inventure Foods, please visit www.inventurefoods.com.

About Vidalia Brands®    
Located in Glennville, Georgia, Vidalia Brands Inc. is a sister company of Bland Farms LLC, the industry leading grower, packer, and shipper of the world famous Vidalia® sweet onion. Vidalia Brands Inc. was started by Sandra Bland over ten years ago offering Vidalia® sweet onion flavored condiments, sauces and salsas year-round. Vidalia Brands is recognized as an innovator in the Vidalia® sweet onion category and has been instrumental in the growth and popularity of the Vidalia® sweet onion.

SOURCE Inventure Foods, Inc.