The future is now at the Specialty Foods Association Summer Fancy Food Show, and walnuts proved to be an ingredient with a wide range of applications on the show floor. Celebrity Chef Giada de Laurentiis addressed the crowd during this year’s keynote presentation, and gave her list of attributes every new product must possess:
- Create a wow factor
- Tell an authentic story
- Stand out on shelves
Her list mirrored the attributes that make walnuts the perfect ingredient for a variety of packaged foods. Here’s how walnuts can help specialty food manufacturers tick all of de Laurentiis’ boxes.
The ‘Wow’ Factor
The increasing demand for at-home meals with the same pizazz and “wow” factor as restaurants has confounded many in the food industry. How do you enhance an at-home meal without busting a consumer’s budget? The key is in using high quality ingredients, such as walnuts, that don’t carry a high price tag. Products such as salad kits with walnuts, cheeses, walnut sauces and more provide consumers with a reason to cook at home, and walnuts give extra flavor and an added crunch.
Tell an Authentic Story
Telling the story of a product starts with telling the story of the product’s ingredients and where they come from. Where are the ingredients grown? Who grows them? How do the ingredients you’re using connect the consumer to the land they originated from? California walnuts have an amazing story to tell, and you can learn about it here.
Stand Out On Shelves
We eat first with our eyes, thus great packaging and branding goes a long way. The aesthetics of a walnut-made product, especially in a saturated market like snacking, can be the difference between a purchase and a walk-by. We taste tested many made-with-walnut products at the show that satisfied de Laurentiis’ list for great products.
Fig and Walnut Bites, Fichi
They’re delicious, nutritious and versatile. They can be a standalone dessert or a fun addition to charcuterie boards. They’re gluten-free, vegan and made with no added sugars.
Hay There Raw Milk Cheese, Artikaas
The deli/cheese pavilion was chock full of product options, but the “wow” factor came from Artikaas’ fun packaging and creamy combination of walnuts and raw milk gouda cheese. This nut-flecked cheese was beautifully displayed in the case, providing a standout moment.
Forest Trail Mix, Nomad Mix
Named one of Food Business News’ standout startups from the show, Nomad Mix’s Forest variety features walnuts, mushroom jerky, carrot chips, apple and tarragon — a unique mix not seen anywhere else.
Walnut with Cranberry and Fennel Biscuits, Effie’s Homemade
Effie’s Homemade Walnut with Cranberry Fennel Biscuits are a sophisticated, yet classic combination. They provide a flavorful canvas for alpine cheeses, and the company also provides beer and wine pairing ideas and recipes.
Wild Blueberry Walnut Buckwheat Crackers, Maine Crisp
Savor naturally gluten-free buckwheat flecked with California walnuts, wild blueberries and rosemary. Pairing ideas are displayed on the packaging, along with sustainable sourcing information. Plus, they’re delicious on their own!
Formulating a made-with-walnut product? Tell us more at keith@walnuts.org.
