SF-SnackBuyer-20

7 specialityfoodmagazine.com A-Z THE CURATORS PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT Lovers of big flavours and bold adventures, Max and Ed founded The Curators to take inspiration from around the globe to give their British-Made snacks with a mouth-watering twist. The latest launch from this creative food collective is a range of “sensationally seasoned” craft nuts, packaged in 100% PLASTIC FREE packs made entirely from paper – a groundbreaking first in snacks. “Sustainable packaging is critical to the future of our planet, we want to lead the charge” says co-founder, Ed Hauck. Available in three delicious almond recipes – Smoky BBQ, Sea Salt & Black Pepper, Espresso Caramel and the exquisite Cocoa Caramel Peanuts. Available fromWholegood. wearethecurators.com JERKY While relatively unheard of just a few years ago, jerky has risen to be a key player in the snacking industry. Appreciated for its high protein content and therefore popular with gym-goers as well as meat lovers, it’s a filling snack with loads of flavour – especially if you opt for one of the myriad of options around, from smoky and spicy to internationally-inspired. Traditional beef jerky is the market leader but there are other options, such as chicken and even vegetarian/vegan coconut strips. Also check out Biltong: jerky’s South African cousin and equally as satisfying. HEALTHY It should come as no surprise that shoppers are more health conscious than before, and while snacking is sometimes seen as an unnecessary route to excess calories there are plenty of health-driven products on the market which will satisfy health-aware shoppers. As well as keeping your eyes peeled for the obvious pointers such as short ingredients lists – ideally featuring ingredients you’d find in your own storecupboard – look out for functional foods such as those clearly stating benefits such as high protein content, for example jerky, and use of natural sugars rather than highly refined ones. CRUNCHY CRITTERS WORMS, BEANS & PEAS SEA SALT & CIDER VINEGAR Ready to eat dried crunchy mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) with sea salt and cider vinegar roasted fava beans and peas. crunchycritters.com EAT GRUB CRUNCHY ROASTED CRICKETS These delicious bags of crunchy roasted crickets are a celebration of the humble insect. eatgrub.co.uk INSECTS While the ‘ick’ factor remains in place for many shoppers, there’s no doubting that some quarters of the UK food industry are catching up with other countries in their recognition of insects as a sustainable protein source. Requiring less space and fewer resources to grow than other snacking foods, and arguably more beneficial to the environment, dried insects maintain their position in the British snacking market. I J H JIMINI’S DARK CHOCOLATE & FIG PROTEIN BAR Gluten and dairy-free protein bars enriched with cricket flour. jiminis.co.uk The wealth of better-for-you NPD has contributed to ongoing growth for this mature market. Consumers’ ongoing appetite for more choice in healthier options, both for adults and specifically for children, signals that this area continues to offer opportunities and warrant attention. With taste remaining the top priority within this category, products will need to prove their worth on this front in order to win over consumers ALICE PILKINGTON, FOOD AND DRINK ANALYST AT MINTEL