Showing posts with label SNACK FOODS. Show all posts

Friday, 3 October 2014

Trending Foods examines the latest news, market trends, surveys and stats that are helping shape the food industry.

Global Snack Food Sales Hit $374 Billion in 2014

October 02, 2014 - Blog

The competitive landscape in the snacking industry is fierce with annual global snack food sales increasing 2 percent to $374 billion in 2014, according to the just-released “Nielsen Global Survey of Snacking" report.

“Demand is driven primarily by taste and health considerations and consumers are not willing to compromise on either. The right balance is ultimately decided by the consumer at the point of purchase. Understanding the ‘why before the buy’ provides the foresight necessary to deliver the right product to the right consumer at the right time," said Susan Dunn, executive vice president, Global Professional Services, Nielsen.

According to the report, while Europe and North America make up the majority of global snack sales—$167 billion and $124 billion, respectively—annual snack sales are growing faster in the largely developing regions, including Asia-Pacific ($46 billion), Latin America ($30 billion) and Middle East/Africa ($7 billion).

For the report, more than 30,000 online consumers in 60 countries were polled to identify which snacks are most popular around the world and which health, taste and texture attributes are most important in the selection criteria. Here’s what they found.

Confectionery comprises the biggest sales contribution to the overall snacks category in Europe ($46.5 billion) and the Middle East/Africa ($1.9B). Salty snacks contribute more than one-fifth of snack sales in North America ($27.7B), refrigerated snacks comprise almost one-third of snacks in Asia-Pacific ($13.7 billion), and cookies and snack cakes make up more than one-fourth of total snacks in Latin America ($8.6B).

But what are the fastest-growing snack categories? Sales of savory snacks increased 21 percent in the last year in Latin America. Meat snacks grew 25 percent in the Middle East/Africa and 15 percent in North America. Refrigerated snacks rose 6.4 percent in Asia-Pacific, while dips and spreads increased 6.8 percent in Europe.

“Non-sugary snacks closely aligned with meal-replacement foods are showing strong growth, which signals a shift in a consumer mindset to one focused on health," Dunn said. “While conventional cookies, cakes and confections categories still hold the majority of snack sales, more innovation in the healthy snacking and portable food space is necessary to adjust to this changing dynamic."

With that brings a massive untapped opportunity to gain market share in the nutritious, portable and easy-to-eat meal alternative market that snack manufacturers could fill. Seventy-six percent of global respondents eat snacks often or sometimes to satisfy their hunger between meals or to satisfy a craving, and 45 percent consume snacks as a meal alternative—52 percent for breakfast, 43 percent for lunch and 40 percent for dinner.

When it comes to overall favorite snacks, fresh fruit and chocolate reign supreme. According to the report, global respondents say that fresh fruit (18 percent) is the one snack they would choose above all others from a list of 47 different snacking options, followed by chocolate (15 percent). Over a span of 30 days, however, global respondents say they ate a wide variety of snacks, including chocolate (64 percent), fresh fruit (62 percent), vegetables (52 percent), cookies (51 percent), bread/sandwich (50 percent) and yogurt (50 percent). Forty-six percent consumed cheese, potato chips/tortilla chips/crisps (44 percent) and nuts/seeds (41 percent). One-third chewed gum (33 percent) and ate ice cream/gelato (33 percent), while about one-fourth consumed popcorn (29 percent), crackers (28 percent) and cereal (27 percent). Softer offerings like dumplings (26 percent) and instant noodles (26 percent) were also popular with a quarter of global respondents.

Taste preferences for snack options are noticeably different around the world. Exceeding the global averages, large percentages of respondents snack on vegetables in Asia-Pacific (57 percent), cheese in Europe (58 percent), ice cream/gelato in Latin America (63 percent) and potato chips/tortilla chips in North America (63 percent).

“In the dichotomy of snacking, consumers want healthy, but yet indulgent options are still going strong," Dunn said. “A better understanding of consumer demand and the need states that drive demographic profile preferences will help manufacturers crack the code on the right portfolio balance between indulgence and healthy. It will also increase the odds of success in this ultra-competitive landscape."

In May, thousands of new confectionery and snack foods debuted this week during the 2014 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago that featured the hottest new products and innovations from 650 companies. Broader food industry trends, including ancient grains, power foods, herbs and spices, and a resurgence of classic flavors like peanut butter and coconut abound in the candy and snack industries this year. Click here to find out more about the 2014 Sweets & Snack Trends from the National Confectioner’s Association.

Wednesday, 27 November 2013

NUTS AMONG TOP 10 SNACK FOODS

Published November 27, 2013 in Food Product Design

Posted in News, Market Research, Market Trends, Consumer Panels, Consumer Preference, Nuts, Nuts and Seeds, Healthy, Healthy Foods, Weight Management, Nutrition, Diet, Snack Foods, Convenience Foods, Proteins, Demographic, Natural, Breakfast, Satiety, Retail

CHICAGO—Nuts rank among the top 10 snack-oriented convenience foods for U.S. consumers motivated by health and weight needs, according to new market research from the NPD Group.

NPD's report, "Snacking in America," found nuts are eaten throughout the day by health- and weight-conscious consumers who want a nutritious, natural, better-for-you snack. Consumers who are motivated to choose nuts and other better-for-you snacks based on health and weight needs tend to be seniors, empty nesters, adult females and higher-income households.

The consumption of nuts is not limited to the health- and weight-conscious. Seventy-seven percent of U.S. households have nuts or seeds on-hand and 19% of individuals eat nuts at least once in a 2-week period, research shows. Nuts are consumed primarily as an in-home snack but are often incorporated into morning, lunch and dinner meals. Nuts are also popular among consumers looking for a filling or quick grab-and-go snack.

“Whether to meet the needs of the health- and weight-conscious, or as an easy grab-and-go snack, nuts are a popular choice among snackers," said Darren Seifer, food and beverage industry analyst. “Food manufacturers and retailers have a variety of options and audiences for marketing nuts."

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Sunday, 22 September 2013

FOOD ON THE RUN’ AN EMERGING SECTOR WORTH $90 BILLION

Published September 20, 2013 in Food Product Design

Posted in News, Beverages, Breakfast, Consumer Preference, Convenience Foods, Diet, Frozen Foods,Frozen / Refrigerated Foods, Healthy, Healthy Foods, Market Trends, Market Research, Nutrition,Demographic, Retail, Science & Research, Snack Foods, Economics

CHICAGO—Recent research dove into the daily eating habits of Americans and found that the age-old image of a family seated around the dining room table enjoying a home-cooked meal is falling by the wayside, while the number of Americans grabbing food on the run is an emerging segment, currently valued at $90 billion, according to new market data from Information Resources, Inc. (IRI).

While 79% of Americans are planners and eat three meals or several smaller meals throughout the day, research shows 21% eat on the run. Dubbed “opportunists" by IRI, these eaters tend to grab food and drink throughout the day as the opportunity arises, with little consideration as to whether they are eating a meal or a snack, as reported in the study, “How America Eats: Capturing Growth with Food on the Run."
Compared to the planned eaters, opportunists are less inclined to factor healthy eating into their daily regimen. More opportunists (36%) split their healthy and indulgent behaviors equally, eating healthy half the time and eating more freely the rest of the time, compared to planners (31%). A large number of opportunist eaters (39%) grab convenient foods with little thought as to whether those foods are playing the role of a snack or meal.

Opportunists are also more value-driven, the research showed. For example, 31% of opportunists tend to buy whatever food/beverage is on sale with little concern for nutritional value, compared to 18% of planners. Likewise, available coupons/discounts are a key influencer of meal/snack decisions for one-third of opportunists, versus about one-quarter of planners.

Results show opportunists still enjoy cooking (49%), but look for convenience when evaluating food and beverage options. Two-thirds want foods that are quick and easy to prepare, and one-third prefer to eat heat-and-eat or ready-to-eat foods rather than preparing options from scratch. As a result, opportunists spent 60% more on frozen appetizers and snack rolls versus planners during the past year. Frozen appetizers and snack rolls, as well as a variety of other convenience-oriented categories, are expected to demonstrate high growth, especially among opportunist eaters versus the market as a whole.

Opportunist eaters hail from diverse backgrounds, cutting across age, income and household brackets. Two-thirds of opportunists are female, and 92% are of non-Hispanic origin. Skewing slightly to the lower end of the income spectrum, nearly two-thirds of opportunists come from single-member or two-member households. Many are living a bachelor/bachelorette life, or the life of a dual-income-no-kid family, where life is a bit less scheduled. Just under half are under the age of 45.

Sources:

IRi: IRI Research Examines How Americans Eat

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Saturday, 3 August 2013

GOOD NEWS: FRUITS, VEGETABLES CHEAPER THAN UNHEALTHY SNACKS

FRUITS, VEGETABLES CHEAPER THAN UNHEALTHY SNACKS

Published July 25, 2013 in Food Product Design

Posted in News, Science & Research, Fruits / Vegetables, Fruit Juice, Fruit, Vegetable, Healthy, Healthy Foods, Snack Foods, Packaging, Processing, Convenience Foods, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Consumer Preference, Costs, Economics, Retail, Foodservice, Apple, Grape, Candy,Confectionery, Chocolate, Cocoa, Calorie, Calorie Reduction, Potato, Chips, Salt, Sugar, Sucrose,Sucrose, Sweeteners, Blueberry, Yogurt, Dairy, Dairy Ingredients

WASHINGTON—Fruits and vegetables not only provide a more healthful option when choosing something to snack on, but they are often more affordable than packaged snacks and side dishes, according to a new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Health-conscious consumers are looking for more nutritious foods to snack on, and new research indicates these healthy foods do not have to break the bank. Researchers analyzed 20 popular snack and 19 side dish items, half of them fruits or vegetables. The average price per serving of the fruit or vegetable snacks was $0.34, while the unhealthy packaged snacks cost about twice as much at $0.67. Healthy vegetable side dishes cost $0.27 per serving, and less healthy packaged side dishes cost $0.31 per serving.

While a half-cup serving of apple costs $0.26, one Fruit by the Foot roll costs $0.45. A half-cup of grapes cost $0.46 (50 calories), while a package of M&M’s costs $0.75 (230 calories). For side dishes, a 150-calorie serving of Stovetop Stuffing costs $0.38, while a 110-calorie serving of sweet potato costs $0.31. An ounce of Lay’s Potato Chips—about 15 chips and 160 calories—costs $0.27, while a half-cup of sliced cucumber costs just $0.14 and contains five calories.

“The notion that healthy fruits and vegetables are expensive and that packaged snacks are cheaper is an urban myth that deserves to be put out to pasture once and for all," said Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “Very few Americans are actually eating recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables—and most of us would do well to consume fewer packaged convenience foods and snacks, which are often higher in calories, salt and sugars."

The fruit and vegetable snacks had fewer calories when compared to packaged snacks, and the same was found for the vegetable side dishes compared to packaged side dishes. For a 2,000 calorie diet, government guidelines recommend that the average person eats two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables per day.

“This may seem tough to some people, but it is probably easier than you think," Wootan said. "Eating a half-cup of blueberries with yogurt and a half-cup of orange juice at breakfast, a large apple as a snack, a half-cup of baby carrots with lunch, and a large sweet potato and a cup of broccoli at dinner will get you there."

Eating healthy can be much more affordable than people think. A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that people can purchase the daily recommended amount of fruits and vegetables for $2.00 to $2.50 a day. Even when dining out, research shows healthy options on the menu cost much less than expected.