CONSUMABLES | HEALTHY SNACKS
Mindful Snacking Consumers are seeking out flavorful and nutritional snacking options By Sandra Levy
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ho among us didn’t snack more than usual in the early days of the pandemic? Hunkered down with responsibilities caring for family while working from home, many Americans found that snacking was convenient, and it offered solace. As the pandemic fades in the rearview mirror and face-to-face meetings return, many folks want to trim their waistlines and improve their health. According to FMCG Gurus, from April to July, there was a month-on-month increase in the proportion of consumers who said they are worried about their waistlines (21%-32%-37%). In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are looking to improve their health, with 79% saying that they are making plans to eat and drink healthier. That’s why companies seeking to gain traction in this market have been focusing on “better for you” snacking options. While numbers are hard to come by for the healthy snack category, market research firm IRI pegged the snack bars/granola bars category at around $5.7 billion, snack nuts/ seeds/corn nuts at $4.8 billion and ready-toeat popcorn at $1.5 billion, between total U.S. multi-outlet for the 52 weeks ending Oct. 3, 2021.
Optimal Protein Products that are high in protein and low in sugar and net carbs are among the strategies that companies are betting on. Take the case of Quest Nutrition, based in El Segundo, Calif. “Whatever the format, bars, cookies or confections, the key is to look at the nutrition panel and see if it’s checking the boxes of optimal protein while being lower in sugar and net carbs,” said Linda Zink, Quest Nutrition’s chief marketing officer.
To meet those goals, Quest Nutrition launched gluten-free Quest Dipped Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bars, with 1 g of sugar, 3 g of net carbs and 17 g of protein, and Quest Frosted Cookies, which have less than 1 g of sugar, 1 g of net carbs and 5 g of protein. Scott Parker, chief marketing officer of Denver-based Atkins Brand, agreed that more consumers are continuously learning about the health-and-wellness benefits
of limiting carbs and sugar. “We’re continuing to focus on awareness of the Atkins lifestyle and our variety of products, including our on-the-go snacks, as well as indulgent options that fit into our consumers’ lifestyle without compromising their nutritional or health goals,” he said. Atkins recently debuted a new Chocolate Crème Wafer Crisps snack bar and Atkins Protein Cookies, with 10 g of protein and 3 g of net carbs, in chocolate chip, peanut
DRUGSTORENEWS.COM December 2021
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