5 Questions with John McGuckin, CEO of Clio Snacks

Clio Snacks is one of the fastest-growing brands in the refrigerated snacking category, combining BFY ingredients with a focus on convenience.
Clio is a first-of-its-kind refrigerated Greek Yogurt Bar, developed after the discovery of a leftover batch of strained Greek yogurt that resulted in a cheesecake-like texture. The happy accident has become one of the fastest-growing brands in the refrigerated snacking category, combining BFY ingredients with a focus on convenience.
Clio offers a line of handheld Greek Yogurt Bars that combine the benefits of whole milk Greek yogurt - high in protein and probiotics - with the feel of dessert and a decadent chocolate coating.
Available in over 28,000 retail locations nationwide, Clio produced over 90 million bars last year and is on track to hit $90 million in sales in 2025.
CEO John McGuckin has more than 25 years of experience in building F&B brands. Prior to joining Clio in 2021, McGuckin led the Mediterranean brand Sabra s as the EVP of North American sales and has served on numerous advisory boards including Kellogg’s, Conagra and Kraft.
Clio Snacks is celebrating a decade in business this year. Tell us about the brand and how its products are made?
At Clio, our philosophy is simple: We believe in better-for-you snacking that is effortless and delicious yet empowers you to indulge confidently anytime. Why settle for plain Greek yogurt when you can enjoy Greek yogurt covered in rich chocolatey coating? That kind of “genius bar” thinking is what drives everything we do.
We’ve grown to over 125 employees, producing about 135 million bars in our 80,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Every bar is crafted with high-quality ingredients, delivering better-for-you snacks that are delicious, convenient and satisfying!
Clio has rapidly expanded distribution over the last few years – to what do you attribute Clio’s ability to successfully scale?
Clio has been expanding distribution rapidly across multiple channels and the team works diligently to ensure production keeps up with the demand. Our strong velocity at existing retailers gives us a sense of what’s working and helps guide how we scale, but ultimately it comes down to close partnership between functions and our customers themselves. Having a collaborative cross-functional team committed to excellent customer service makes scaling run smoothly and builds the foundation for us to continue to grow.
One of your goals is changing how refrigerated snacking is treated in retail; tell us more about what you mean by that how Clio is disrupting the category?
Refrigerated snacking has traditionally been viewed as secondary to frozen or shelf-stable items. At Clio, we aim to elevate this category by offering premium, better-for-you options that stand out in taste and convenience. Through innovative flavors, attractive packaging and strategic merchandising, we’re demonstrating that refrigerated snacks can compete with mainstream snacks and deserve a central place in the consumer’s daily routine.
One of the biggest challenges for the refrigerated snacking category is findability. We’re eager to build a dedicated refrigerated snacking destination at retail, making it easier for consumers to discover and enjoy this exciting new category.
Clio has capitalized on snacking and ingredient trends – offering grab-and-go convenience in a BFY product. How does the brand approach R&D and product innovation?
At Clio, we pay close attention to consumer needs and behaviors, letting these insights guide our innovation process. R&D also focuses on continuous improvement; we’re always looking for ways to make our products better for our consumers. You can expect to see some really creative solutions coming soon, designed to elevate the snacking experience and tap into the growing trends in the category.
Clio recently released a limited-edition Pumpkin Spice Greek Yogurt Bar; what can we expect in 2026 and beyond?
This year, readers can look forward to another seasonal flavor – and my favorite – our Original Peppermint Hot Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bar, as well as our new Cookies & Cream Minis, beginning to hit shelves in grocery and mass market retailers later this year.
In 2026, we’re excited to continue innovating with another limited-edition seasonal flavor and new formats that align with evolving consumer needs.
Our goal is to inspire retailers and consumers alike to rethink what snacking can look like. We want every snack moment to feel fresh, exciting and satisfying, making better-for-you options easy to discover and enjoy!
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