Almond Board of California: Snack Nuts Evolve with Changing Tastes

25 May 2017 --- A versatile ingredient, nuts account for a rising share of new product launches in the ever-evolving global snacks category. According to Innova Market Insights, snack nuts and seeds, like trail mixes, accounted for over 30 per cent of snack launches in 2016, up from 26.5 per cent five years previously.

Factors driving that growth include new research on nuts’ health attributes, greater availability of various nut types, and technological advances allowing for new coatings, flavors, and packaging formats. When it comes to snack nuts, almonds fit particularly well with new consumer eating habits, changing tastes, and various trends. In fact, nearly one-quarter of global snack nut products launched in 2016, featured almonds as an ingredient and enjoyed a 48 per cent regional share.

In November last year, Almonds were reported to be the no. 1 nut in new product introductions across Europe. This was the first time almonds had taken the top spot in Europe with the lead being particularly driven by increased consumer demand in the snacks and bars sectors as well as growing interest in lactose-free and gluten-free products.

Dariela Roffe-Rackind, Director for Europe for the Almond Board of California told FoodIngredientsFirst: “There is a general trend of looking for healthy snacks from a convenience standpoint with a need to eat smaller snacks throughout the day,” she explains. “People are looking for more natural, unprocessed snacks, and manufacturers are also looking for products that allow them to have a clear label, and almonds really provide that very nicely both from a consumer demand standpoint but they also meet that formulation need as well.”

“Snacking is our biggest area of focus from a trends perspective,” claims Roffe-Rackind, “The ever-expanding body of almond nutrition research totals more than 125 scientific publications to date, and this scientific evidence helps us communicate that clear message around nutrition and the benefits almonds provide to human health.”

Limitless Flavor
The range of snacks featuring almonds continues to widen beyond traditional raw or salted nuts to include smoked and caramelized variants that offer limitless potential. Thanks to almonds’ unique ability to blend with and carry such a wide variety of flavors, there are products in the market ranging from more traditional profiles like honey, lemon, and ginger towards exotic and spicy palates such as jalapeno and wasabi. On-trend combinations for almonds continue to evolve the standard for taste, pushing the boundaries of sweet and savory profiles. Today even Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper, Mint Mocha, and seasonal variants such as Pumpkin Pie are hitting the mark with consumers.

Premium Food Pairings 
Almonds feature strongly in mixes, not only in company with a range of other premium-style nuts, such as cashews and pecans, but even more so with fruit and seed mixes. These mixes are moving well beyond traditional dried fruit accompaniments, such as raisins, and manufacturers are now mixing almonds with less common single and mixed fruits, super fruits, and seeds. Often inspired by global trends, innovative add-ons include coconut, cottonseed, apricot, goji, mulberry and pineapple. 

Momentum in Clean Label 
40 per cent of global snack nut and seed launches (more than 60 per cent in the US) recorded by Innova Market Insights use a health claim of some kind. This research illustrates how the health benefits of nuts, including almonds, continue to resonate. 

Almonds align seamlessly with today’s relevant health claims like clean label, free from, and gluten free. Gluten free, the leading claim globally, accounted for 12 percent of launches, many of which included almonds as an ingredient. Furthermore, the clean label platform really encompasses more than just one claim. When natural, no additives/preservatives, and organic claims are combined, those claims account for 23 per cent of launches. Other key claims aligned with this trend are high in/source of fiber, high in/source of protein, low cholesterol, low sodium, and no trans fats.

Plant-Based Variety
Rising interest in vegan and plant-based diets continues to drive new product development utilizing various nuts, including almonds. While vegan-friendly labelling has risen markedly in recent years, many products using almonds have always been naturally vegan.  Just over six per cent of global snack nut and seed launches used vegan positioning in 2016, rising to 12 per cent in Western Europe, and to an astonishing 19 per cent in the UK. Alongside vegan friendly positioning, many products are also being created to align with fashionable lifestyle trends, including raw and paleo diets. In the case of plant-based products, almonds are most often utilized to add crunchy texture and visual appeal.

Packaging with Purpose
In line with snack packaging in general, packaging of snack nuts is becoming more sophisticated to target new consumers and occasions, offer recyclability, portability, and improved ease-of-use. Although traditional packets and snack bags still dominate shelves, more premium-style stand-up pouches now add value for the working consumer. Shareable tubs and cans with re-sealable lids are also increasingly common, and the contrasting single-serve sachets with calorie-counted options mean there’s a package for every type of occasion. There is also on-going use of clear packaging or packs with see-through windows for a (literally) clear view of the contents allowing consumers to see what is inside. For example, almonds’ unique shape and color make them an attractive visual cue to a wholesome ingredient.

On-The-Go and Cross-Categories
Almonds maintain appeal as a portable snack that is nutritious and delicious but also suitable for in-home between-meals snacking and consumption on-the-go. On-the-go positioning for nuts is now also penetrating the private label sector with products like variety snack packs in various size scales and multi-packs, promoted as “perfect for on-the-go snacking.”

Although, as might be expected, almonds have their strongest presence in the snack nuts sub-category, they also play a significant role as an ingredient in other snack sub-categories too. Country-specific increases include a 34 per cent increase in snacking new product introductions in France, while Germany has seen a huge 107 per cent increase in spreads. Almonds are the number one nut in the UK leading in 4 of the 5 leading categories for almonds, with particular increases of 33 per cent in bakery introductions and 15 per cent in bars.

According to Innova, salty snacks led in terms of using almonds as an ingredient, with product launch numbers growing 19 percent year on year. Most commonly in chopped format, almonds had a wide variety of applications in salty snacks as a filling or coating, or simply for distinct flavor. In the salty snack category, almonds are commonly used as an ingredient in crackers, thins, and crisp alternatives, usually combined with other nuts, seeds and vegetables. Beyond their textural benefits, almonds’ inherent gluten/wheat free properties, as well as their relatively low values of fat, make them ideal for salty snack applications like crisp alternatives. 

When it comes to the cereal and energy bars sub-category, almond flour and almond butter are commonly applied for added texture and flavor. However, across all categories, key industry trends like gluten free and clean label continue to create new market opportunities for snack nuts such as almonds, boosting new product activity.

by Elizabeth Green