Consumers Are Okay With Pricier Healthy Foods

Despite complaints from organizations like the Ford Foundation that nutritious food is more expensive than junk food, consumers are finding enough incentives to include pricier healthy snacks in their diets. COVID concerns were one such incentive last year. At a recent U.K. nutrition conference, a Mars Edge exec said consumers are increasingly exploring new products in the health and wellness space. The U.K. marketing chief for KIND said consumers are linking healthier choices with higher prices. “Obviously,” John McManus said, “I’d like 15 million other consumers to make that choice as well. But we are seeing a rise in that and it’s a clear link that they are making.”  And anyway, Jean-Christophe Flatin noted, prices that now hover above conventional snacking products will be moving more into the mainstream. 

"Are healthy snacks a luxury most consumers can’t afford?", FoodNavigator.com, March 30, 2021

Women’s Health Mag Lists 15 Cereals Approved For Vegans

Vegans need to be careful when shopping for breakfast cereals because animal-based ingredients like milk proteins and sweeteners like honey can easily sneak into favorites, A nutritionist warns, for example, that white sugar might also be a no-no because the refining process may use bone char, a non-vegan animal product. And cereals can be fortified with nutrients like vitamin D3 that may be derived from the sheep-based product lanolin. That said, here are a few of the 15 breakfast cereals approved for vegans: Fiber One Original Bran, Bob's Red Mill Muesli Cereal, Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Granola, Three Wishes Grain-Free, Plant-Based Honey Cereal, One Degree Cereal Ancient Maize Flakes, Kashi GO Peanut Butter Crunch, McCann's Irish Traditional Steel Cut Oatmeal, and Food For Life Ezekiel 4:9 Organic Sprouted Grain Cereal.

"The 15 Best Vegan Cereals To Stock Your Pantry", Women’s Health Magazine , March 26, 2021

Honest Bean Co. Launches Fava Bean Snacks

The U.K. start-up’s new range of fava bean snacks – Chilli & Lemon, Lightly Salted, Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar, and BBQ – are made with British fava beans, targeted at "health-conscious consumers,” and positioned as eco-friendly alternatives to foreign-grown chick peas and hummus. Priced at $4.82 for a 300-gram package, Roasted Fava Bean snacks are made from locally-grown fava beans rich in fiber, protein, and nutrients such as B vitamins, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.

"The Honest Bean Co adds quartet of fava bean snacks", thegrocer.co.uk, March 25, 2021

Brad's Plant Based Partners With Keen Growth Capital

The partnership of the Pipersville, Pa.-based manufacturer of air-dried kale with Keen Growth Capital will take the company to a “new level of leadership” in the snacks market, thanks to Keen’s expertise in “the strategy, support, and development of new products." The company announced the launch in April of three keto-friendly product lines: four Veggie Keto Crisps, five Snackable Salad To Go, and four Veggie Flats. All of the new products are made with whole veggies, nutrient dense, minimally processed, keto-friendly and gluten-free, the company said.

"Brad's Plant Based Announces Keen Growth Capital Partnership And VP Of Sales & Marketing Hire To Accelerate Growth Of Plant-Based Snacks", GlobeNewswire, March 25, 2021

U.K. JV Invests In British BFY Snacks Business Insane Grain

The joint venture established by U.K. bakery major Warburtons and challenger-brand builder Mission Ventures has invested $344,980 into local healthy snacks business Insane Grain. It is Batch Ventures’ second deal following its investment in British biscuit manufacturer The Artful Baker in February. Insane Grain’s baked snacks are made with “supergrain” sorghum, which is rich in nutrients such as protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron and potassium. Two of London-based Insane Grain’s bagged snacks were recently listed in 70 Sainsbury's stores as part of the retailer's Future Brands initiative.

"Warburtons' Batch Ventures JV invests in snack brand Insane Grain", just-food global news, March 29, 2021

KP Snacks Names Sustainability Czar

The British (German-owned) snack maker has named Nicola Robinson to the newly created job of head of sustainability, reporting to CEO Mark Thorpe. She will lead KP Snacks’ sustainability agenda, overseeing strategy and initiatives to excel in this area, including packaging materials and formats.

"KP Snacks creates new head of sustainability role", Packaging News, March 25, 2021

Sound Nutrition Uses Premium Ingredients – And Ultrasonics – To Create Healthy Snacks

The two-year-old Los Angeles-based snack company says its ultrasonic – or high-frequency, low-amplitude – sound waves gently vibrate high-quality ingredients, such as whole egg crystals and real cacao, into the snacks' shape and form in a fraction of a second without the use of high heat, to preserve the nutritional integrity of the snack. The result is Sound Bites, oval-shaped snacks made with premium ingredients that “promote wellness through functional snacking.” The company says the benefits include: satiation without lethargy; a higher level of mental clarity; sustained physical energy; and confidence in making a nutritious snacking choice. Sound Bites are available in four flavors (Vanilla Lime, Coconut Surprise, Chocolate Raspberry, Mocha), two oval-shaped bites per pack (30 g each bite), 12 packs in a case for $72. 

"Sound Nutrition Creates Feel Good, Flavorful Snack to Reinvigorate Healthy Eating Movement; ", GlobeNewswire, March 30, 2021

Post Brands Says Grape-Nuts Famine Is Over

The Lakeville, Minn.--based breakfast cereals company announced it has resumed shipping the cereal at full capacity to stores nationwide following a pandemic-related shortage that sent prices soaring to as much as $110 a box on the online black market. The cereal-maker says it will reimburse eligible consumers who paid jacked-up prices. Consumers who paid $10 or more for a box of Grape-Nuts between Nov. 1, 2020, and March 15, 2021, can submit a receipt for a partial refund of up to $115 to help cover the difference between the amount paid and the suggested retail price. 

"Grape-Nuts shortage is over. Cereal maker to reimburse those who paid big.", St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota), March 25, 2021

Love Grown Foods Debuts Keto-Friendly Granolas

The new keto-friendly granola line from Denver-based maker of plant-based and gluten-free cereals and granolas comes in three gluten-free, low-sugar flavors: Chocolate Cherry Cashew, Maple Cashew Pecan, and Pumpkin Almond Cashew. Love Grown Keto Granolas are made from cashews, pecans, and almonds lightly sweetened with real maple syrup and monk fruit. They range from 150-160 calories per ⅓ cup serving, contain five grams of protein and four to six grams of net carbs. Gluten-free and grain-free, the products will be available at natural/specialty and conventional retailers beginning in the 2nd quarter of 2021.

"Love Grown Foods Announces Launch of New Keto Granola Line", PR Newswire, March 25, 2021

Study Finds Brits Are Over-Eating Before Lunch

A recent study by British protein oat bar maker Grenade Reload found that many Britons are eating 1,406 calories in a typical morning – almost all of their daily calorie allowance before lunch. In fact, according to the survey, the tradition of "elevenses" – eating a snack at 11 a.m. – has made a comeback in recent times: 72 percent said they now eat a snack at that time every day. Thirty-eight percent said they prefer biscuits (cookies) with a cup of tea; 36 percent choose packets of crisps (chips); 35 percent choose chocolate, while 15 percent eat a cheese toastie (grilled cheese) as their pre-lunch snack. But a disturbing finding had to do with perceived calories of breakfast items: respondents estimated a full English breakfast (two rashers of bacon, two fried eggs, two sausages, slice of buttered toast and beans) to be 513 calories. In fact, it contains about 950 calories.

"Return of snack attack", Retail Times UK, March 27, 2021