Snac World - November 2017 - 12

CATEGORY TRENDS

Enough to Go Around
The versatility and healthy attributes of spreads
and dried fruit chips make them a popular choice.
BY NICO ROESLER

implicity translates to success in many snack
categories, and there are several reasons why.
Consumers perceive simple ingredient lists
as better for them. Wholesome ingredients convey a
healthy halo and eliminate the need for artificial colors,
flavors and preservatives. Spreads and dried fruit chips
are perfectly placed in the snacking world to capitalize
on this movement.
According to an internet survey by Lightspeed GMI/
Mintel, 59% of consumers agree "the fewer ingredients
a product has, the healthier it is." Another 53% of those
surveyed "worry quite a bit about potentially harmful ingredients in the food they buy." And 71% believe
"there are probably more harmful or excess ingredients
in foods than manufacturers are telling us."
That's why companies like Hope Foods, Louisville, CO,
maker of a variety of hummus dips and spreads, are able
to connect with consumers who may be feeling this
apprehension toward unfamiliar ingredients. "Consumer
demand for cleaner and more natural ingredients
is prompting brands, especially corporate giants, to
overhaul their products and clean up their labels," said
Robbie Rech, president of Hope Foods.
According to data released by IRI for the latest 52
weeks ending Sept. 10, Hope Foods is bucking the trend
of flat sales of many of the larger hummus and spread
producers. The company has seen tremendous growth
reaching almost $6 million in sales, up more than 200%
over the previous 52 weeks. Other leading companies
like Sabra Dipping Co., Astoria, NY, and Tribe Mediter-

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November 2017

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ranean Foods, Taunton, MA, have either plateaued or
lost some share of the market. As a category, spreads
have seen a slight decrease in dollar sales, unit sales and
volume sales this year compared to last. That said, the
category remains strong as more snack companies take
advantage of the changing eating habits of consumers who might prefer a healthy spread over crackers or
chips vs. a full meal. "Consumers are opting for fresh,
organic dips and spreads that offer innovative flavors,"
Mr. Rech said. "We believe that our consistent brand
promise, which is communicated across all available
channels, is what has resonated most with consumers."
In the dried fruit chips category, the consumer trend
toward simple snacks with a healthy halo is reflected in
the sales numbers. The category is up more than 15%
this year compared to last, reaching $85.1 million in
sales over the past 52 weeks. Bare Snacks, San Francisco,
a category leader, operates under the motto "Snacks
Gone Simple." The product line includes a range of
crunchy baked fruit chips including Apple Chips, Coconut Chips and Banana Chips. Each are made from whole
fruit that's never fried and include nothing artificial.
"Bananas are the No. 1 consumed fruit in the
country, surpassing even apples and watermelon.
Our unique baking process locks in the sweet flavor
of fresh bananas while adding a satisfying crunch
for a delicious new way to enjoy America's favorite
fruit," noted Dana Ginsburg, director of marketing at
Bare Snacks. "Bare Crunchy Banana Chips stay true
to our philosophy of creating incredibly tasty snacks

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