China’s Lunar New Year offers snack and bakery producers big opportunities to boost annual sales.
According to market data from Criteo - a personalized retargeting company that works with Internet retailers - grocery sales have seen surges of more than 100% over the season. The celebratory season begins on February 16, 2018 and runs for two weeks as people celebrate with family and friends.
Sales predominantly take place online, mostly on mobile devices. BakeryandSnacks went online to find a selection of Asian snacks that are making the most of the channel to capitalize on sales.
Fishing for compliments
Nongshim’s Cuttlefish Snack resounds with the rich aroma and flavors of the sea.
The snack, made from wheat flour and rice bran oil, even resembles a grilled piece of cuttlefish, complete with the checkerboard cuts on the surface.
Enriched with taurine that is found in octopus and cuttlefish.
Available in 55 g packs for £0.99 ($1.39) online.
Snap and crack
The Ludlow Nut Company clusters of chilli rice crackers are low fat nibbles with a gentle chilli heat.
Made from rice flour and tapioca starch, they are low in fat – only 519kcal per 100 g pack – and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Available online in 65 g pack for £1.00 ($1.40); 250g packs for £3.50 ($4.92); 500 g packs for £6.50 ($9.15) and 1kg packs for £12.00 ($16.89).
Delicious sticks
Candysan’s umaibo (or “delicious stick” in Japanese) is a puffed corn snack available in several flavors, including teriyaki sauce, mentai (marinated roe of Pollock), vegetable salad and shrimp & mayonnaise, among other.
The wafer sticks are low in fat and a great everyday go-to snack.
Available for $0.14 to $0.29 (depending on flavour) for 10 g wafer stick.
Dairy-free ice cream mochi
Trader Joe’s Mango Mango Mochi, filled with mango ‘ice cream’, are dairy-free, soy-free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Wrapped in a thin layer of mochi made with glutinous rice flour, the mango sorbet contains an inner sphere of mango jam, delivering a double mango bite.
Available in packs of six for $3.49.
Fried corn nuts
Boy Bawang Cornicks – from Fillipino producer KSK Food Products – are fried corn nuts that can be shipped anywhere in the world.
Boy Bawang Cornick is available in eight different flavors, including Garlic, Chili Cheese, Adobo, Barbecue, Hot Garlic, Lechon Manok and Salt & Vinegar.
Available online for $2.50 for a single 100 g pack, or $8.50-$9.00 (depending on flavour) for 3-packs.
Also available in a baked – not fried – version.
Have your cake and eat it
Orion’s custard cake is a premium baked soft cake filled with a sweet customer cream that contains no preservatives, MS or artificial colors.
Available in boxes of 6 Pieces for £4.99 ($7.02).
A sea of umami
Trader Joe’s Organic Teriyaki Seaweed Snacks are made from pieces of the popular Asian ingredient nori known for its umami flavor profile.
The organically grown seaweed is dried and roasted, giving it an intriguing nutty flavor, then cut into strips.
The crunchy snacks are available sprinkled with sesame seeds or flavored with gluten-free teriyaki (sweet and salty) seasoning.
Available in a six-pack of 0.17 ounce (5 g), 30-calories packages for $3.49.
