Snack World - February 2016 - (Page 8)

NEWS Snack trend: Think thin Thinning is winning in the snack aisle, as food companies introduce thinner, crispier cookies and crackers. "Less is more" is the essence of the "thin" trend - less thickness means more pieces the consumer can eat for fewer or the same amount of calories as the original or thicker counterparts. A recent addition to the leaner lineup is Mondelez's Wheat Thins Even Thinner. The crackers are 14% thinner, allowing snackers to eat 22 crackers rather than 16 of the original Wheat Thins for the same calorie count. Consumer demand for healthier options has driven this trend, said James Russo, senior vice-president of global consumer insights at Nielsen. The New York City-based company found that portion control is most popular in North America as a means of managing weight and staying healthy, so slimmer snacks cater to that movement. "Two trends are playing heavily into the 'thins' snacking trend, the first being the growth of health ® SNACK FOOD ASSOCIATION An International Trade Association Quality & Innovation Management Course - Feb. 24-26 The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH www.sfa.org SNAXPO 2016 - March 19-22 Hilton Americas-Houston and George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX www.snaxpo.com Legislative Summit - June 7-8 The Liaison Hotel, Washington, DC www.sfa.org Executive Leadership Forum - Sept. 29-Oct. 1 The Boulders, Carefree, AZ www.sfa.org Emerging Leaders Program - Nov. 2-4 Georgetown University, Washington, DC www.sfa.org Affiliated Events Texas A&M Short Course - March 13-18 Snack Foods Processing: Extruded Snacks and Tortilla Chips College Station, TX foodprotein.tamu.edu/extrusion B&CMA Technical Conference - May 1-4 Atlanta, GA www.thebcma.org 8 Snack World February 2016 www.sfa.org and wellness within the grocery food space," Mr. Russo said. "Consumers are actively opting for healthier options in grocery. The second ties to a shift of how Americans are eating today. We are becoming a nation of grazing snackers as we shift away from the traditional meal times. Here is where the two trends collide - when it comes to snacking, consumers want both indulgent and healthy options. With this, the 'thinning' trend we are seeing in the grocery snack aisle reflects another way for consumers to indulge in their favorite snacks with a little less guilt." Americas to continue dominating cereal bars market The global cereal bars market is set to reach about $14 billion by 2020, and the Americas will continue to have the largest share of the market, according to a new report from Technavio, a global technology research and advisory company. New products, an increase in demand for low-fat cereal bars, the increasing popularity of on-the-go breakfasts, the change in snacking culture and broad retail distribution that encourages both planned and impulse buying decisions are expected to be key drivers in the category over the next five years, Technavio said. The report identifies Europe as the second largest market for cereal bars. Growth in the region is being driven by the busy and hectic lifestyle of its population, thus prompting consumers to look for on-the-go consumption options, such as cereal bars, Technavio said. Wal-Mart to close 269 stores Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has announced plans to close 269 stores across the world, including all 102 WalMart Express outlets. The move follows a strategic review of the company's portfolio that has been under way since last fall. As part of that review, Wal-Mart executives looked at the retailer's nearly 11,600 worldwide stores, examining financial performance as well as strategic alignment with long-term plans. In total, the affected stores represent less than 1% of both global square footage and revenue, Wal-Mart said. "Actively managing our portfolio of assets is essential to maintaining a healthy business," said Doug McMillon, president and CEO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. "Closing stores is never an easy decision, but it is necessary to keep the company strong and positioned for the future. It's important to remember that we'll open well more than 300 stores around the world next year. So we are committed to growing, but we are being disciplined about it," he added. http://www.sfa.org http://www.snaxpo.com http://www.sfa.org http://www.sfa.org http://www.sfa.org http://foodprotein.tamu.edu/extrusion http://www.thebcma.org http://www.sfa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Snack World - February 2016

Snack World - February 2016
Letter from SFA - Continuing the Work
News - Snack trend: Think thin
Americas to continue dominating cereal bars market
Wal-Mart to close 269 stores
Government Affairs - Year in Review, Looking Ahead
Business Member Profile - Entrepreneurial Roots
Associate Member Profile - Global Presence, ‘Can-Do’ Attitude
SNAXPO Preview - Houston, Here We Come!
SNAXPO schedule of events
Products & Services
Ad Index

Snack World - February 2016