SHAPING UP FOR 2019 STARTS WITH HEALTHY FOOD AND SNACKING

One thing this year is almost a dead cert. Healthy eating is going to be high on the food industry’s agenda because it’s high on the consumer agenda. And while that doesn’t mean the entire population is going to stop feasting on pizza, chocolate and fizzy drinks anytime soon, it does mean that growing numbers of people will shift to diets that make an impactful difference.

Whether that’s reducing the negative effects of consumption on the planet, or improving personal health and wellbeing, or both, the general consensus is the way that people are choosing to eat and snack is changing, and the food industry will be redoubling its efforts to stay in step.

The plant-based revolution is here

According to new research from The International Food and Drink Event (IFE), 35% of food and drink businesses will be affected by the growing plant-based trend. Seed butters, and food products with cannabis plant extracts, for example, along with snacks containing higher levels of pre and probiotics and fibre are just some of the rising stars expected to take centre stage this year. Combined with further drives toward an overall reduction in the consumption of ‘sinful esses’ (salt, sugar, and saturated fats) 2019 looks set to become a millennial landmark for healthier food and snacks. And lest we forget, this is very much a consumer-led movement.

Increasingly tired of, among other things, polluting plastic, unnecessary waste, and gut-churning glutens, consumers are checking labels more insistently than ever, demanding compostable packaging, hunting for provenance proof, and investigating levels of food processing—all before rooting for brand products with their wallets. Consumers want a greater say in the sources, lifecycles, and supply chains of the food they eat.

But who will be the stars on the 2019 healthy food stage?

Certainly, we’ll see an increase in natural fruit sugars rather than added sugar. Gut-friendly foods are tipped to be big as evidenced by major players such as Kellogs entering the market with its ‘Hi’, a range of cereals, which contains prebiotic, active strains of probiotics, and high levels of fibre.

Fruit-infused waters will also be pushing to take greater market share, especially from the likes of coconut water brands that have enjoyed huge success over the last few years. And both cactus and maple water are coming our way as people seek out the health benefits of more nuanced hydration sources.

In addition, with the vegan drive continuing unabated, a rise in the number of meat substitutes and alternatives such as soy, and dense fruits such as jackfruit, is almost certain. We also expect increased demand for minimally processed food ingredients, particularly within compound products such as fruit and nut bars. Joining the ranks of nut butters that proliferated in 2018, a range of seed butters are also on their way including pumpkin, watermelon, and sunflower.

Of course, much more will feature in the healthy food eating space in 2019, and it’s impossible to know what the next real runaway success story will be or from where it will stem. But right now, people are exploring new options like never before—trying, testing, tasting, and looking for foods and snacks that will give then an ongoing sense of physical and psychological wellbeing.

Improve your offering with Delicious Ideas Healthy Snacks – or your own private label

At Delicious Ideas, we create and make dozens of own-label healthy snacks, plus our branded portfolio of Healthyideas snacks to meet a fast growing demand from retailers and contract caterers in search of healthy options for their customers.

Of this range, more than half are vegan and all are vegetarian. From ‘Super Fruit, Nut & Seed Boost to Take The Trail Mix’ there are dozens of products with something to suit every taste, and last year we sold over three-million across the range.

Then there’s #SNACKBOOST launched in 2017. Of the ten products in this range, eight are vegetarian, four are vegan, five are CQUIN complaint (Green and Amber on the traffic light system) and all are deliciously tasty. Snacks such as ‘Raw Protein Power, Sour Cream & Onion Hit and Natures Nibbles are just some of the products on offer.

Then there are our bulk snacks which are great for baking, using as breakfast toppings, or as an alternative to confectionery pick ‘n’ mix. Again, half of these are vegan and gluten-free, and all are vegetarian.

There are plenty of mouthwatering bakery products, too, some of which are vegan AND gluten-free. To find out more, Why not check out the Delicious Ideas meets Bakeshed video we shot last year.

Did we mention your own private label products?

Right now, we’re keen to help other companies, including yours, create private label healthy snack brands from scratch through our BRC AA accredited production facility. With four state-of-the-art customer built packing lines and a 750,000 units per week capacity, plus the ability to pack cereals snacks, nuts, dried fruit, seeds and popcorn, we’re perfectly positioned to take large orders for brands of almost any size.

So…if you’re a contract caterer or a retailer keen to get behind the growing drive toward ‘vegan’, ‘vegetarian’, and ‘healthy’, call us now. We carry full BRC accreditation, and we’d love to help you grow and your customers eat food snacks they can really enjoy in 2019.

To order a Delicious Ideas Food Group catalogue, which covers ALL of the products in our range, please contact us today.