Exotic Snack Guys has that international snack you heard of

Have you seen an odd-flavored snack online that they don’t carry in any grocery stores? Want to try white peach Pepsi? Oreos flavored with strawberry, blueberry, peach and grape?

How about those Propitious brand mango ice cream bars  that have been taking the internet by storm?

All of the above and more is sold by the Exotic Snack Guys, a Chicago-based brand that’s been rapidly expanding since opening its first location in 2023.

In November, the company opened its first Lansing-area location in the Meridian Mall. The shop sells international food items, including  snacks, candy, soda and packaged dinners like ramen. Most items have never been sold in the U.S. except via import shops, and some, such as lemon Pepsi, have not been sold here for decades.

The offerings mirror what some international groceries already offer, but with a greater focus on snacks from several sources. It’s a trade-off of cost for convenience, with the shop offering a laundry list of international items at a premium. Most are from Asia, but not all; the brand’s co-founders are Middle Eastern.

The Meridian mall location’s manager did not respond to requests for comment.

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This year is looking to be a big one for new restaurants in the Frandor Shopping Center and adjacent strip malls. Build-your-own burrito chain Bubbakoo’s Burritos, chicken wing chain WingStop, fast casual burger joint Shake Shack, Smoothie King, and returning flame-broiled chicken spot YaYa’s Kitchen are all currently in progress, with some projected to open this month. City Pulse will have more information as it becomes available.