Real Cheese. Same Iconic Crunch. Added Protein.

KEY POINTS:

• Cheez-It^® Protein Original crackers deliver 7g of protein per serving while providing the signature cheesy, crunchy and salty flavor profile Cheez-It fans know and love.
• Made with 100% real cheese, Cheez-It Protein offers another taste-forward option for everyday snacking moments.
• Cheez-It Protein will begin rolling out on retail shelves nationwide in October 2026.

CHICAGO, Sep 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As consumers continue to seek more protein¹, Cheez-It^® is answering the call with a taste-forward cracker aisle upgrade. Introducing Cheez-It Protein Original — a brand-new snack delivering the bold, cheesy flavor and satisfying crunch Cheez-It fans know and love, now with 7g of protein per serving.

Made with 100% real cheese, Cheez-It Protein Original gives snackers a new way to enjoy the iconic cracker while adding protein to their everyday snacking routine.

Whether fighting 3 p.m. hunger, reaching for a savory fix on the go or settling in for a gaming session, Cheez-It Protein is made to fit seamlessly into the moments when snackers want something satisfying, savory and delicious.

“We’re always looking for new ways to innovate with Cheez-It. The introduction of Cheez-It Protein offers our fans a convenient way to add protein to daily snacking routines in a format they know and love,” said Nicole Sorensen, VP of Marketing for Cheez-It. “This new offering brings their needs together in one delicious cracker, delivering 7g of protein per serving alongside the bold, cheesy flavor and satisfying crunch of Cheez-It.”

Cheez-It Protein will begin rolling out on shelves nationwide in October 2026 for an MSRP of $4.49 for a 7.3 oz box. Be sure to follow @CheezIt on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for the latest snack drops and flavor collab news.

¹Source: The Shopper Shift: Decoding the New Consumer Journey, Nielsen, October 2025; Circana Snack Survey, 2025; MARS proprietary consumer research, December 2025.

ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. Based on combined Mars and Kellanova 2025 net sales, we are now a $65bn+ family-owned business, with a diverse portfolio of quality snacking and food products that delight millions of people every day, and leading pet care products and veterinary services that support pets all around the world. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN^®, PEDIGREE^®, WHISKAS^®, CESAR^®, M&M’S^®, SNICKERS^®, EXTRA^®, Pringles^®, Cheez-It^®, and BEN’S ORIGINAL™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™ and ANICURA™ span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH^® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles — Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom — inspire our approximately 170,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Media Hotline
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Rebecca Jakush
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rebecca.jakush@omc.com 

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SOURCE Mars, Incorporated