Veggies Revitalize the Snack Market: 10 C-Store Products That Fit the Bill
By Abbey Lewis on Feb. 01, 2017ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Snacks owe their growth in part to consumer sensibilities. Consumers want more to choose from, and they want to eat them more often.
The category is such big business that tried-and-true convenience-store favorites (potato chips, pretzels, popcorn and jerky) aren't even the biggest movers in the category. Healthy alternatives, such as chips made with vegetables, are enjoying considerable growth and revitalizing the category as a whole, according to Packaged Facts' most recent report Snack Food Nutrition Trends: Pulses, Vegetables, and Grains in Salty Snacks and Crackers.
Poised to grow to $1.2 billion, alternative ingredient snacks made with different vegetables and grains such as chickpeas, sweet potatoes, kale and spinach, among others, are the product of not only increased incidence of snacking but also consumers' desires for healthier options.
"Looking at both present trends and towards the future, alternative ingredient snack sales are going to continue moderate to strong growth over the next few years, building on the larger healthier-for-you trend affecting the overall snack market and on the unique flavors and textures consumers are also craving," said David Sprinkle, research director at Packaged Facts.
Here are 10 c-store products that embody this new trend and the data to back up their growth ...
Boulder Canyon snack crisps
The strong growth of sales of alternative vegetable-based snacks, particularly salty snack versions, was the biggest reasing for the rise in sales in 2016, according to Packaged Facts.
Boulder Canyon has three new gluten-free snack crisps made with an array of wholesome ingredients, including lentils, peas, carrots, quinoa, amaranth and other ancient grains. Varieties include Lentil Carrot Quinoa Crisps in Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper and Balsamic Herb flavors; Snap Pea Crisps in Sea Salt and Creamy Ranch; and Ancient Grains Crisps in Roasted Red Salsa and Pink Himalayan Salt & Cracked Pepper. Crisps are available in 5.5-ounce bags for an SRP of $3.49 per package.
Enjoy Life Foods Thai Chili Lime and Moroccan Spice Plentils
Packaged Facts estimates the salty snack segment carried the alternative-ingredient snack market in 2016, with almost 7% growth.
Crafted from crunchy lentils, Thai Chili Lime and Moroccan Spice Plentils join Enjoy Life Foods’ allergy-friendly line of Plentils chips. Thai Chili Lime blends sweet and salty with tart lime and a hint of spice, while Moroccan Spice is aromatic, blending sweetness with bold Moroccan spices. Featuring 40% less fat than leading potato chips, each Plentils variety is made with 130 calories per serving.
Terra Real Freeze Dried Fruit
From 2006 to 2016, the amount of adults who usually only snack on healthy foods grew from 24% to 30%, according to Packaged Facts' report.
Terra Real Vegetable Chips is debuting Terra Real Freeze Dried Fruit in two varieties: honey-infused Fuji Apples and Tropical Blend with coconut oil. Both varieties are gluten-free, kosher certified and made with non-GMO ingredients. Terra Real Freeze Dried Fruit comes in 1-ounce resealable pouches for an SRP range of $3.99 to $4.99.
Flamous Falafel and Zatar chips
The most important market driver behind this trend, according to Packaged Facts, are demographic and have to do with age, specifically families with children and snackers of younger generations.
Falafel and Zatar chips are processed with a unique recipe of herbs, vegetables, spices and legumes. The chip pair well hummus, the company says. Chips are Non-GMO Project verified, gluten-free, vegan, kosher and rich in antioxidants. Flavors include Organic Original Falafel, Organic Spicy Falafel, Organic Sprouted Multigrain Zatar, All Natural Original Falafel, All Natural Spicy Falafel, Sprouted Multigrain Rosemary & Thyme and Spicy Fiesta.
Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs
While young families with children are extremely important for the alternative-ingredient snack market, the Packaged Facts study finds that all younger people are an important demographic driver.
Hippeas is a new brand of Organic Chickpea Puffs. Light and crunchy with a punch of protein and fiber, Hippeas are low in calories, certified organic, gluten-free, vegan, kosher and non-GMO. With 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein per 1-ounce bag, Hippeas are available in six flavors: Far Out Fajita, Pepper Power, Happenin’ Hickory, Maple Haze, Vegan White Cheddar and Sriracha Sunshine.
Bare Snacks Sweet Ginger and Coffee Bean Organic Coconut Chips
While novelty is a factor with millennials to be certain, the report from Packaged Facts finds the reason consumers choose alternative-ingredient snacks are the same across all age groups. Shoppers under the age of 50 just consume them much more often.
Bare Snacks is adding Sweet Ginger and Coffee Bean flavors to its Organic Coconut Chips lineup. These varieties join the existing Toasted Organic Coconut Chips. Sweet Ginger and Coffee Bean come in 2.8-ounce bags and are available for an SRP of $5.69. The company also makes apple chips and banana chips.
Beanfields Black Bean with Sea Salt and White Bean with Sea Salt
For any category of snack, the amount of adults with chilren in the house who eat the snack is 19% more than the amount of adults who eat the snack and who do not have any children in the house, according to Packaged Facts.
Beanfields is offering two varieties of chips: Black Bean with Sea Salt and White Bean with Sea Salt. Both are made with four simple ingredients or less and Beanfields special blend of beans, whole-grain brown rice and safflower or sunflower oil. Full-sized bags are available for an SRP range of $2.99 to $3.99, while snack-sized bags have an SRP range of $1.19 to $1.49.
Annie Chun’s Seaweed Crisps and Organic Seaweed Snacks
Annie Chun’s new low-calorie seaweed snacks tout the health benefits of marine veggies, including vitamins A, B and C, a broad range of minerals, essential iron, protein and fiber. Seaweed Crisps (available for an SRP of $3.49) combine seaweed with a brown-rice chip for a gluten-free crunch, while Organic Seaweed Snacks (SRP $1.99) are now made with USDA-certified organic ingredients in Sesame and Wasabi flavors.
Good Health Organic Black Bean & Rice Tortillas
The first tortilla chip variety to join the brand’s portfolio of savory snacks, Organic Black Bean & Rice Tortillas contain nutrients from broccoli, tomatoes, beets, spinach and carrots. Each serving contains 130 calories and 2 grams of fiber and protein. A 5-ounce bag is available for an SRP of $3.49.
Good Thins
Good Thins is introducing three new flavors: The Potato One White Cheddar, The Oat One Sweet Oat & Flax and The Corn One Sea Salt. Good Thins are baked thin and crispy without any artificial flavors, colors, cholesterol, partially hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup.