Snac World -- State of the Industry 2019 - 28

OTHER SNACKS

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

A Halo of

HEALTH

Healthy snacks a
appeal to today's consumer bebalance nutrition and indulgence.
cause they help b
surpassed chocolate-covered snacks,
Apple chips surp
yogurt-coated snacks in terms of growth
mixes and yogurt
this year.
y
Consumers, however, still love their chocolate indulgences. Chocolate-covered snacks grew 3.8%,
according to IRI. Campbell Snacks, Camden, NJ,
recently launched chocolate- and caramel-drizzled
Pretzel Crisps for its Snack Factory line, adding a little
indulgence to the healthier base.
Time of day also influences consumer snack choices. Snackers appear to be interested in starting the
day with healthier alternatives. Sweet, comforting and
indulgent snacks are more prevalent in the evening,
according to Mintel's 2017 "Snacking Motivations and
Attitudes" report. Afternoon snacks come from a combination of healthy, sweet and energizing, which fits
with the more permissible indulgence influence.
"As the day progresses, we see consumers reach
for more indulgent options to treat themselves," said
Hector Briones-Sanchez, vice-president of marketing,
innovation, Campbell Snacks.
Campbell Snacks' brands posted strong growth
over the past 52 weeks.
"Winter holidays are a great time for the indulgent
sweet taste of chocolate on a pretzel. We sell a lot of
gift and display tubs during that season," said Bob
Clark, vice-president of marketing, Herr Foods, Inc.,
Nottingham, PA.
Consumers can feel less guilty about their indulgences if they're combined with healthier elements
like low-fat pretzels, popcorn and fruit, or other plantbased formats like nuts, seeds and chickpeas.
"There's been a shift in what consumers expect from
snacks. Today, they look for snacks that are both functional and enjoyable," said Jared Johnson, vice-president; insights, analytics and category management;
Frito-Lay, Plano, Texas.
In Innova Market Insight's 2018 consumer research
survey, 42% of American consumers said they are trying
to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, while
two-thirds want to maintain the level they consume.
Snack manufacturers are on-trend with these preferences

SNAC WORLD 2019

by producing items like chips made with fruits.
"Rhythm Superfoods' dehydrated fruit snacks like
Organic Watermelon Slices, Crunchy Pineapple and
Crunchy Mango Bites are a good example of this
trend," said Tom Vierhile, vice-president, strategic insights, North America, Innova Market Insights, about
the Austin, TX-based company.
While 49% of consumers view snacks as an important component of a healthy diet, older consumers
do not think this is as important as younger ones.
Additionally, organic snacks are far more important
to millennial and Generation X consumers than baby
boomers, according to IRI. Producers must consider
age when marketing specific health claims.
For those seeking more fruit in their snacks, Bare
Foods, San Francisco, a PepsiCo brand, offers a variety of baked fruit and vegetable chips. The products
are all-natural with clean labels, and some chips are
made using organic fruit. Several flavor variations are
available on different fruit bases, including Cinnamon
Apple, Strawberry Banana and Chocolate Coconut.

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Snac World -- State of the Industry 2019

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