Low sugar and natural ingredients inspire next-gen snack creations, flags Solina

21 Dec 2021 --- Snack manufacturer Solina has revealed that 82% of European consumers are concerned with physical fitness and health, leaving F&B companies hard-pressed to advance the sensory aspects of these products while meeting rigorous wellness demands.

The company has revealed that consumers are focused on reducing their intake of sugar, fat and salt, important to the moreishness of snacks.

“Much of the focus in the snacking category this year has been on health and well-being,” Fanny Legave, category manager snacks Solina, tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

While the consumption of crisps has increased significantly during COVID-19 people are selecting “better-for-you” options that deliver on health claims. The impact of the pandemic has accelerated the demand for brands that support a healthier lifestyle.

Nutritional benefits dominate snacking category
Consumers are focusing on low sugar, natural ingredients and functional or nutritional benefits. as never before, as they take an increasingly holistic view of their well-being following the pandemic, Legave explains.

Sugar reduction remains a crucial theme for industry as consumers and governments push for healthier food and beverages.

Concern over sugar intake and interest in sugar reduction is driving a sophisticated approach to sweetening foods and beverages, according to Innova Market Insights. The market researcher says there is a clear focus on three parallel areas: natural sweeteners, less sweetening and no sweetness.

Unifying health benefits with tasteTaste remains the deciding factor when choosing snacks.
Consumers are looking for options that are “better-for-you” but aren’t willing to compromise on taste, underscores Legave.

Taste remains the deciding factor when choosing a snack, therefore, brands are launching products with “new and unique ingredients to attract consumers while bridging health benefits,” she states.

The near-universal concern about physical fitness and health reflects the long-term shift to healthier lifestyles and the impact of the pandemic, which accelerated the trend by re-emphasising the effect of diet on well-being. 

“People are more demanding of their snacks,” says Legave.

For example, the natural colors’ space is shifting toward close-to-nature ingredients, phasing out artificial dyes. Aside from this, there is a growing demand for nutritionally functional solutions, which provides significant opportunities in the world of clean label pigments.

Provenance completes the story
“With the economic impact of COVID-19 weighing on the minds of consumers and their inclination towards the products which provide more perceived value for money is on the rise, without compromising on quality,” says Legave. 

Quality and inexpensive ingredients are the most frequent factors cited by consumers in their perception of value for money. Organic, provenance and simple ingredients have also been shortlisted.

Beverage innovators in particular have leaned into the provenance trend by using uplifting flavor profiles.

Healthy snacking has been promoted through initiatives such as Nutri-Score, which enables consumers to quickly see the nutritional properties of products.

Moreover, market research commissioned by Solina shows that front-of-pack information boosts demand for healthier snacking and has a strong impact on the choices of consumers. 

Reformulation is one solution that can enable manufacturers to align their products with consumer demands for foods with natural ingredients that provide functional benefits.

By Inga de Jong, with additional reporting by Elizabeth Green