Healthy foods in convenient packaging is a consumer need that is
growing in momentum, according to Datamonitor, with 59 per cent of
European and US consumers seeking a combination of the two selling
points.
People on low incomes consume just as much unhealthy food and drink
as the general population, and so bad diets are the result of
personal choice, according to a study published by the UK
regulator Sunday.
Guar gum, extensively used as an emulsifier, thickener and
stabiliser, may also have potential as a health ingredient for
lowering cholesterol levels, suggests new research.
Nestle is eyeing organic growth in health, wellness and nutrition
of five to six per cent over the next ten years, the chief
financial officer was due to told investors at a seminar today.
Following its decision to cut saturated fats from top snack lines,
European biscuit and crisp manufacturer United Biscuits UK (UBUK)
is venturing further into healthier reformulation with the relaunch
of a new, improved Hula Hoops...
Oat snack manufacturer Nairn's has launched new additions to its
product line-up to target health-conscious consumers who are tuning
into the nutritional benefits of a diet incorporating oats.
Manufacturers of nut snacks could boost lacklustre sales by
marketing the products from a health platform and being more
vociferous in publicising the nutritional benefits of a diet rich
in nuts, according to the American Peanut Council.
Food researchers in Italy have developed a new process for the
formulation of vegetable-based snacks in a bid to bridge the gap
between fast, on-the-go snacking and meeting consumer health
concerns
The furore over rising obesity rates has failed to dissuade UK
consumers from tucking into desserts such as cheesecakes, trifles
and cream cakes, judging from a new report from market analysts
Mintel.
Premium UK crisp maker Kettle Foods is adding to its Crispy Bakes
range, which offers consumers a healthier alternative to standard
crisps, sales of which are suffering in the anti-obesity backlash.
UK bakery supplier BakeMark UK, has developed a 'better-for-you'
cookie for the children's snack market in order to introduce
healthier snacking habits to sweet-toothed youngsters.
Innovation in the healthy crisp sector is booming with a raft of
new products aimed at re-establishing the snack as a low-fat treat
that need not be a dietary hazard.
A gap in the market for snack food that is simultaneously
convenient, healthy and indulgent is ripe for exploitation by canny
retailers, according to a new report from analyst group
Datamonitor.
The development of genetically modified crops to improve human
health could be the golden ticket for advocates to persuade the
wary public that GM is not a wholly nefarious idea after all. But
will a new, healthy spin be enough to...
US snack giant Frito-Lay has become the latest manufacturer to
invest in healthier innovation with the launch of fruit and
vegetable-based crisps under the Flat Earth brand name.
The UK sweet and salty snacks market has seen disappointing sales
in the wake of Government efforts to reduce obesity by alerting
consumers to the importance of a healthy diet.
Food products with lower levels of 'bad' ingredients, such as fat
and sugar, have seen a sharp rise in popularity over the past year,
according to Mintel.
Danish ingredients giant Danisco is set to host a seminar on
international sweet snacking to encourage new product development
in the bakery and confectionery industries.
A Finnish company is poised to take advantage of the emerging trend
towards healthier snacking with a range of soy-based crisps, nuts
and crunchy bites.
Healthy crisp company, Snapz Crisps, is introducing a new fruit
snacking option for kids in a bid to take advantage of the
anti-obesity backlash which has caused crisp sales to plummet in
the UK.
Healthy snacks are poised for significant growth, especially in the
niche seeds sector with sales expected to almost double over the
next five years to hit £39m (€58m) according to a new report.
Cereal companies may need to re-examine the health platform from
which they market cereal bars following a damning report from
consumer watchdog Which?
A genetically modified wheat variety that has significantly more
resistant starch than regular wheat could reach the market in five
years, say Australian scientists who have won financial backing to
commercialise the crop.
Scottish snack company Paterson's has become the latest business to
target the growing trend towards healthier and more traditional
snacking with a new addition to its own-brand range of flavoured
oatcakes.
Growth in the snacking industry is being driven by health concerns
coupled with the need for convenience, according to new reports
into both the fruit and hot snacks sectors.
On the back of growing demand for healthier snacking products,
cereal snacks are luring consumers away from traditional
indulgences such as crisps and confectionery - prompting snack
makers to diversify to keep up with the trend.
Sometimes I just love eating fatty, greasy, unquestionably
hazardous foods. But I don't like trans fats, that come as a
by-product in some processed foods, and have been linked to high
cholesterol and heart problems.
A year of acquisition and investment has proved profitable for UK
bakery company Finsbury Foods but now the group plans to further
build sales by targeting the growing health sector.
The market for healthy, convenience snacking is going from strength
to strength, according to UK snack group Glisten who posted
encouraging preliminary results today.
Following a £15m (€22.2m) investment in research and development at
the company, UK crisp giant Walkers has launched a new 'healthier'
range to attract snack-loving consumers worried about their
waistlines.
The iconic UK cereal brand Weetabix has added a new oat variety to
its portfolio in a bid to attract health-conscious consumers
seeking to benefit from its cholesterol-lowering properties.
Following its recent acquisition of snack manufacturing companies,
Humdinger and Readifoods, food buyout company Zetar has announced
growing profits for its second year of business.
The UK-based International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) has warned
snack food manufacturers that reluctance to address the growing
obesity epidemic could hit them where it hurts - their sales
figures.
The general trend towards healthier eating has resulted in American
consumers turning away from carefree snacks, and opting instead for
healthier products, according to Snack Food Trends in the US, a new
report by Packaged Facts.
In the wake of UK government concerns over childhood obesity and
pressure from health watchdogs, crisp manufacturers have been
pursuing healthier alternatives to kid-friendly brands.
UK food manufacturer RHM remains undeterred by last year's slump in
Mr Kipling cake sales - their financial second half results show
business is improving with the aid of healthy Hovis products.
Eating a Mediterranean diet with extra nuts or olive oil is
significantly better for heart health than a low-fat diet, says a
"landmark" clinical trial from Spain.
Europe's savoury snacks industry last week pledged its commitment
to nutrition and health and tackling obesity - but switching off
advertising is not seen as an effective solution to driving change
in the market.
