Trends into trade

Demand for snacks is on the rise and offers great future potential for food to go operators prepared to reflect the current trends and preoccupations of their customers, feel the sector’s suppliers.

Positive Snacking

“Millennials and Gen Z are two generations that have been at the forefront of changing eating trends in recent years. Both generations prioritise healthy and sustainable food choices, with an increasing number of people adopting plant-based diets or reducing their meat consumption,” reports Bobby Patel, founder of Human Nature, who are currently working on closing a contract with well known food to go operator.

The London-based brand launched its award-wining plant-based snacks with Degusta box in the UK as part of its online shop launch in January. The company won a Great Taste Award for its Hot Jalapeño & Lime Lentil Sticks along with another for its Sour cream and Onion, being described as “very appetising, exciting and moreish and an innovative alternative to traditional crisps” by the judges.

The range is made using only nutritious vegan ingredients including peas, red lentils, and even real jalapenos. The snacks contain 13g of protein, are a great source of fibre and have 40% less fat than regular fried crisps.

Accelerating Growth

Europe Snacks, a European producer of savoury snacks for third party brands, announced the acquisition of 100% of Burts Snacks recently, enabling them to accelerate its growth in Europe’s largest snacking market, say the company.

Founded in France in 1990, Europe Snacks produces savoury snacks for third party brands, having significantly gained in scale over the past few years through organic growth and mergers and acquisitions, notably through the acquisition of Kolak Snack Foods in 2016 (UK) and Grupo Ibersnacks in 2018 (Spain). Founded in the UK in 1995, Burts is a high quality premium snacking manufacturer with a strong track record of delivering growth especially in the hand-cooked crisps segment.

Supported by private equity firm, Apax Partners, Europe Snacks entered the UK market with the acquisition of Kolak Snack Foods back in 2016 with the acquisition of Burts representing a further step in expanding the group’s presence in the UK, its product portfolio being highly complementary, say Europe Snacks.

The combination of the two companies in the UK will enable the Group to better serve existing clients and unlock growth through a wider offer of delicious snacking products and a market leading innovation pipeline. Europe Snacks and Burts combined manufacturing and supply chains will facilitate the Group to further invest in additional capacity and service excellence. Burts will continue to operate from its two manufacturing facilities in Plymouth and Leicester, led by current managing director, Dave McNulty.

Etienne Lecomte, CEO of Europe Snacks, said: “Within a highly uncertain economic context, it is key to reach a size that allows us to keep investing in our people and in our factories. Thanks to the trust of our shareholders, it has been made possible and I am very proud to welcome the Burts team to the group.”

Jitu Patel, chairman of Burts, added: “Burts provides high quality snacking and has a strong track record of delivering growth without ever compromising on quality. Since investing in the company back in 2006, it has been a very enjoyable and impressive journey. I have a huge admiration for Europe Snacks: I am convinced this acquisition will open up new opportunities, as both businesses are complementary to each other and share deep common values. It has been an honour to work with the Burts Family over the years and I would like to take this opportunity to wish the combined company every success in the years ahead.”

Bruno Candelier, Partner at Apax, added: “Since our initial investment in Europe Snacks, we have continuously supported the company and its management team to position itself at the forefront of innovation and scale its business, notably in the UK with the transformational acquisition of Kolak in 2016. The acquisition of Burts is fully in line with the roadmap set when we originally invested.”