Snack World - May 2012 - 38

S TA T E O F T H E I N D U S T R Y R E P O R T

SNACK NUTS AND SEEDS

Crazy After All These Years
Snack manufacturers are going a bit kooky in the nut category. No longer do they just include salted nuts packaged in a jar, bag or grab-and-go packet. Rather, nut producers now incorporate them into their own energy bars, health bars, trail mixes and even nut clusters. Snak King Corp., City of Industry, CA, introduced its Whole Earth Bite-Size Nut Clusters as a healthy option for breakfast, lunch or any snack occasion. “Nut Clusters are primarily assorted nuts held together with a clean sugar base with no other additives,” said Jeff Roberts, marketing manager. “Snacks are becoming meal replacements for many consumers who are on-the-run but still want some healthy alternatives.” Snak King’s Whole Earth Cashew, Almond and Cranberry and Cashew, Almond and Pistachio Nut Clusters come in a 1.25-oz bag in addition to a 5-oz size and provide a good source of protein and fiber, he added. Snak King also offers various trail mixes with nuts. “ we like As to use our own phrase for marketing, these are ‘Earth Snacks.’ These types of snacks all have healthy components: natural, nothing artificial and packed with protein,” Mr. Roberts said. Meanwhile, Fisher Nuts, Elgin, IL, has seen increased sales in almonds and trail mixes, noted Howard Brandeisky, vice-president, global marketing, innovation and customer solutions. Its two new almond varieties include Cocoa Mocha and Vanilla Bean. “Flavored almonds have been real growth drivers,” he noted. Fisher also relaunched its Fisher Fusions line as Fisher Trail Mix, which is available in Summit, Energy, Sweet Nut, Tropical and Cheddar varieties. Mr. Brandeisky noted the products now come in 4-oz or less packages to better fit consumers’ on-the-go consumption. Snak King also downsized its portions to encourage healthier snacking, Mr. Roberts said. Planters by Kraft Foods, Northfield, IL, broadened its line of Nut-rition items with such products as Men’s Health nuts and even an array of snack and energy bars. “Typical of efforts to present products as having functions beyond tiding one from one meal to the next are Planters Nut-rition mixes and bars that combine nuts with various other ingredients pegged to particular benefits such as antioxidants, energy and heart health,” noted John Rodwan, editorial director, BMC Information Services, a division of Beverage Marketing Corp., which produces an annual Snack Food in the US report. In the seeds segment, the core consumers tend to be baseball and other sports players who range from teenage to mid-20year-old males, according to Dan Skinner, manager of public relations and social media, ConAgra Foods, Omaha, NE. The company’s top-selling varieties under the David sunflower seeds brand include Original, Barbeque, Nacho Cheese and Dill Pickle, Mr. Skinner said. Thanasi Foods, Boulder, CO, just added Hidden Valley Ranchflavored sunflower seeds to its Bigs line. The company has seen “tremendous growth” in sunflower seeds with its co-branding and product offerings of larger sunflower seeds with big flavors, noted Justin Havlick, Thanasi’s president. “The majority of our company’s SKUs are flavored with America’s favorite ingredients,” he explained. “Our dill pickle flavor is with real Vlasic dill pickle juice, our Buffalo wing flavor is made with Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce, and Sizzlin’ Bacon is made with bacon salt. So some great ingredients and some fantastic innovations are coming together.” — Susan Malovany

BROUGHT TO YOU BY FUCHS NORTH AMERICA, HEAT AND CONTROL, J.R. SHORT, MINSA, PRINTPACK, INC., AND TNA NORTH AMERICA

Snack World

May 2012

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Snack World - May 2012

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