Americans are forgoing three square meals a day, opting for full-force snackification, a term that perhaps unsurprisingly was coined by consumers themselves. Walnuts are a great nutritional snack, either as a stand-alone nut to grab in between larger meals or as an inclusion in a heartier snack. No matter if you’re opting for sweet or savory, walnuts are the perfect choice for all-day snacking.
Trend No. 1: All-Day Snacking
All-day snacking is becoming a way of life. Innova Market Insights says that 46% of Americans of all ages snack between meals in the afternoon, while 37% snack in the evening. Lunchtime (23%), dinner (17%) and even breakfast snacking (8%) are all on the rise. Meal substitutions are prompting snackers to reach for something a bit more nutritious. Innova’s report shows that salty snacks and mixes in particular are rising in launches, as manufacturers are seeking to answer the demand for nutritious nuts, fruits and other inclusions. New snack mixes, for example, rose at a compounded annual growth rate of 16% over the last couple of years.
Trend No. 2: Snackification Is the New Buzzword
It’s hardly a new concept, the idea of choosing larger-sized snacks or all-day grazing over three traditional sit-down meals per day, but in 2020, snackification has never been more “in.” Coined by consumers around 2014, snackification is even more prevalent due to the recent pandemic. Kids are homeschooling; parents are working from home — and with that brings eating at home more than ever.
Parents are clamoring for more nutritious offerings for their children, especially when one-third of calories consumed by children are eaten between traditional meals, according to a Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics study. Competition is ripe for nutritious snackification offerings, and we’re pleased to see the new made-with-walnuts snacking products launched in the past year. In fact, a Fortune Business Insights study found that there is an increasing demand for trail mixes that include nuts, attributed to their portability, convenience and availability of assorted flavors. Nuts and trail mixes “are also expected to grow at a faster pace due to the rising demand for natural, organic and clean label products.”
Trend No. 3: Taste
With innovation comes trial and error, and the differentiator in snacking products that will survive seems to be indulgence without guilt. Taste keeps consumers coming back, in both snacking products and in walnuts. In a 2019 consumer survey, taste was cited as the No. 1 reason for consuming walnuts. In addition, 90% of consumers recognize walnuts as a nutritious food and 78% said the health benefits of walnuts positively impacted their purchase decision. Further, 40% of U.S. consumers named taste as a reason to snack.
“Enjoyment is still a very strong driver behind snacks purchase,” Lu Ann Williams, head of innovation at Innova Market Insights, says. “When asked why they buy salty snacks, 40% of Americans named taste and a further 22% said it was to treat or reward themselves, so innovators need to balance nutrition and taste to ensure that salty snacks remain competitive for all snacking occasions.”
“Enjoyment is still a very strong driver behind snacks purchase,” Lu Ann Williams, head of innovation at Innova Market Insights, says. “When asked why they buy salty snacks, 40% of Americans named taste and a further 22% said it was to treat or reward themselves, so innovators need to balance nutrition and taste to ensure that salty snacks remain competitive for all snacking occasions.”
Further, in a “People’s Associations with Ideal Snacks” study, even though “tasty” was often mentioned as a word association with unhealthy snacking, it was named in the top 15 words to describe the ideal snack and mentioned almost equally as often as healthy snacks. This suggests that an ideal snack should be tasty, but being tasty does not equal unhealthy.
These recently launched made-with-walnuts products provide a wealth of trendy all-day snackification opportunities.
Ready to Eat Snack Walnuts, Diamond of California
August 2020 saw a launch of Diamond of California’s first-ever ready-to-eat snack walnuts line. The eight flavors are Hot Honey, Himalayan Pink Salt, Teriyaki & Wasabi, Salted Dark Chocolate, Hickory Smoked Bacon, Chile Lime, Cinnamon Churro and Sweet Maple.
Nut Butter Bites, Chocolate Walnut and Apple Cinnamon Walnut Varieties, Abby’s Better
Launched this spring, Abby’s Better Nut Butter Bites are great for on-the-go snacking situations. Chocolate Walnut Bites have just five ingredients: walnuts, dates, cocoa powder, pink Himalayan salt and almond flour. Apple Cinnamon Walnut Bites are plant-based, gluten-free, and soft, sweet and raw.
Bliss Bento Vanilla Crunch, Naturipe Snacks
Launched this summer, the Vanilla Crunch variety of Naturipe Snacks’ Bliss Bento line includes honey roasted walnuts, blueberries, grapes and mini vanilla formed granola. Vanilla Crunch comes in ready-to-eat packages and includes protein, fiber, vitamin C and calcium.
Bananas Foster Ungranola, Bubba’s Fine Foods
Grain Free Ungranola Bananas Foster variety hit the shelves this summer, and the made-with-walnuts snack pack also includes banana puree, organic coconut sugar, kettle-crisped green Saba bananas and coconut flakes. It’s gluten-, soy- and dairy-free, “perfect for those on restricted, low sugar diets,” according to Bubba’s Fine Foods.
