At the 2022 Sweets & Snacks Expo, snackification came to life as every eating occasion spurred a personalized approach to packaging. This was especially true in the case of walnut snack mixes on the show floor.
Anne Scott Livingston, Euromonitor research analyst, said in her “Snackification: The Future of Occasions in a Post-Pandemic Normal” presentation that major opportunities for snack manufacturers include both convenience and indulgence. “Things like travel are expensive. And if consumers can’t travel, they’re looking for ways to indulge at home,” she said.
As a result, more manufacturers are creating new formats for these new snacking occasions that allow for permissible indulgence, which include late-night snacking, working from home and premium experiences. Further, convenience, she said, connotes convenient prices to consumers, and one way that private label manufacturers are aiming to meet the mark is with smaller snack packs juxtaposed with larger bags to satisfy “small and large” eating occasions. After all, once someone finds their favorite walnut mix, having a large bag for an at-home movie and a small bag to pack in the car is convenience personified.
Stand-up bags were a convenient trend at the show, perfect for less mess during an array of snacking occasions. They not only hit the mark with ease of use, but they look great on store shelves as evidenced by the wide range of bag product displays at the show.
Sweet & Salty Original, Chunk Nibbles
To our sweet surprise, we turned the corner at the Innovation Awards Showcase and saw this walnut product had been awarded Most Innovative New Product Finalist — Gourmet/Premium Snack. This stand-up-packaged snack mix includes walnuts, pretzels and corn squares with a sweet coating.
Power Up Mega Omega Trail Mix, GourmetNut
GourmetNut brought a wide assortment of walnut-packed packs to Sweets & Snacks Expo. In addition to being an omega-3-friendly product (one ounce of walnuts offers 18 grams of total fat, 2.5 grams of monounsaturated fat and 13 grams of polyunsaturated fat including 2.5 grams of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) – the plant-based omega-3) Mega Omega’s display included a large bag and an eight-pack variety great for on-the-go snacking.
Energy Boost Smart Mix, Second Nature Snacks
We were energized to see this stand-up 10-ounce pouch in the Innovation Showcase, smartly marketed as an energizing “super snack” complete with walnuts. The snack provides 4 grams of plant-based protein per one-ounce serving.
72% Dark Chocolate Antioxidant Blend Trail Mix, The 72 Chocolate Collection
What is a baobab? It’s a superfruit pod that is full of antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber and potassium. And it just so happens to mix wonderfully with walnuts and 72% dark chocolate to make this delicious trail mix that also made the Innovation Showcase shelf.
Mediterranean Raw Trail Mix, Otto Nuts
Walnuts are a mega ingredient in the world of the Mediterranean diet, and we were transported to the region with this premium packaged product. Walnuts and sultana raisins give this non-GMO, unsalted 5.5-ounce snack pack the perfect combination of nutrition and flavor.
Looking ahead to Sweets & Snacks Expo 2023? Formulate the perfect made-with-walnut snack for next year’s show by visiting walnuts.org for inspiration.
