Health, wellness, and specialty products are driving a disproportionate number of sales in the nearly $90 billion snack industry, with such items accounting for 20 percent of products and 70 percent of dollar sales growth, said Molly Hjelm, vice president of marketing for SPINS at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, Tuesday.
“Consumers are really looking for brands that help them live their best, most healthy lives, and brands that play an active stewardship role,” said Hjelm.
Among the fastest movers are items that are paleo (116.2 percent), organic (9.8 percent), and those that are labeled non-GMO (12.1 percent), allergy friendly (13 percent), and fair trade (13 percent).
The rice cake segment is the fastest growing category with sales spiking 45.7 percent, followed by frozen desserts, up 17.7 percent, and candy, growing 11.7 percent.
Skinny Pop is driving innovations with its core ingredient in the rice cake category, while Lundberg Farms is doing so with organic brown rice, and Bamboo Lane with its Rice Rollers, according to Hjelm. “All deliver a satisfying crunch and highly clean labels as well,” she said.
On the sweets side, candies making paleo and keto claims are appealing to consumers who adhere to these lifestyles, and specialty chocolate bites in resealable bags, such as Wild Ophelia Cold Brew Sea Salt Caramel Latte bites, allow for sharing and moderation.
Source: Specialty Food Association
