Plant-based preferences are rising, focus on health and better-for-you options

June 21, 2021 — Driven by the COVID-19, consumers are taking a more proactive approach to their holistic wellbeing, which is influenced by what they look for in snacks. Convenience snacks and healthy takeout foods are all the rage again as more consumers leave the home for work, education, and social events. Plant-based snacks in particular are gaining in importance.

FoodIngredientsFirst speaks to key suppliers to the snacking arena who will focus on the key issues that dominate the space.

According to John Powers, Marketing Director, Snacking and Baked Goods at ADM, snack buyers will notice recognizable and natural elements such as vegetable proteins and healthy ingredients as these snacks are often perceived as being of higher quality or better -you.

Click to enlargeNot only are consumers looking for healthier snacks to use at home, they also want a balance between enjoyment and health.“Our Outside VoiceSM research shows that more than 70 percent of consumers consider protein from plant sources to be healthy. Additionally, the growing interest in plant-based diets and snacks is tied to an increasing desire for a healthier lifestyle, sustainability and food safety, which has accelerated due to the pandemic. “

Changing the way consumers eat snacks
Last year’s uncertainty has had a huge impact on buying behavior, including the way people snack.

“As snacking becomes more prevalent, people expect it to play a bigger role in providing their daily diet,” Powers outlines. “Consumers have been opting for healthier snacks since the beginning of the pandemic and are turning to plant-based whole-food ingredients such as old grains, beans, nuts and seeds for their nutritional benefits and their fascinating texture and taste.”

In particular, snacks like puffed pea chips, multigrain crackers, and bars that are low in sugar, high in protein, and healthy fats are becoming increasingly popular as they appeal to conscious consumers of all ages, Powers said.

Plant-based nutrition heats up
For Myriam Snaet, Head of Market Intelligence and Consumer Insights at Beneo, the sector is developing rapidly. “Since every second consumer is ‘very or extremely’ interested in plant-based foods and beverages, many other manufacturers are looking for plant-based snack alternatives.”

Over half (52 percent) of parents in the UK say there should be more plant-based snacks for kids, she notes. “This demand is primarily driven by the perceived health benefits of herbal products, with 70 percent of consumers worldwide agreeing that long-term health is a major driver of wanting more plant-based nutrition.”

According to Beneo, 60 percent of global consumers say that herbal solutions are a taste preference.

Keeping an eye on the health of childrenClick to enlargeConsumers are taking a more proactive approach to their holistic wellbeing, which is influenced by what they look for in children’s snacks.
Health comes first for everyone and influences the type of snacks consumers choose.

“This trend is even more pronounced when buying snacks for children: three quarters of consumers worldwide say that it is ‘extremely or very important’ that children’s products ensure better nutrition,” says Snaet.

“Concern for long-term health affects children’s snacks as well as promoting digestive health (76 percent), as well as snacks that keep a child full longer (69 percent) and plant-based snacks (52 percent). . “

“Since health is the focus for old and young consumers alike, manufacturers must make it easier for buyers to switch to healthier snacks through transparent communication, labeling and claims. With this in mind, it is becoming increasingly important to use natural, functional ingredients that will appeal to parents and enable a healthier diet, ”she comments.

ADM’s Powers believes that parents and caregivers are much more likely to adhere to stricter health-focused guidelines when choosing snacks for their children, including low-sugar snacks and a range of clean-label free and clean label guidelines.

“76 percent of parents say they are trying to give their children more balanced snacks, and 83 percent are willing to prepare freshly made snacks for their children.”

In addition, families with children are willing to spend more on snacks and put more effort into finding options that the kids will want to eat.

“We see an opportunity for brands to develop parent-friendly offers that are free of biological and other future-oriented functional properties and also meet the taste expectations of children,” he explains.

Industry has to adapt
With many consumers now referring to themselves as vegan and flexitarian, these categories are proving to be incredibly popular and profitable.

“Our customers’ demand for support in developing dairy and meat-free recipe reformulations has increased significantly as they want to expand their range and offer more choices,” adds Snaet.

Seven out of ten consumers now say they would like healthier options across all luxury categories, she notes.

“The opportunity for food manufacturers is to fulfill that desire with more natural and cleaner meat-analog snacks that help dispel the perception of meat snacks as highly processed.”

In addition, there is enormous scope for products that promote acceptable enjoyment, thanks to planet-friendly offers with plant-based solutions with a high protein content and low or light positioning.

“As consumers demand more from their snacks, we expect more healthy snacks to hit the market that offer a number of other benefits,” notes Sneat.

Click to enlargeEnvironmental and animal welfare concerns are also motivating factors for the popularity of plant-based diets.

Stefan Wagemans, Account Manager at Bösch Boden Spies, says that huge fast-food restaurants want to become vegetarian and vegan-friendly, because environmentally and health-conscious consumers want to eat there too.

“Cooperation between fast food restaurants and manufacturers of meat alternatives has made tasty, plant-based products possible. This enables consumers to make conscious choices when snacking, ”he comments.

Blurred lines
Powers says there will also be more options for meat alternatives as the line between meals and snacks continues to blur.

“For example, 13 percent of consumers said they had snacked on a meal at least once in the past week, and 47 percent reported that they had snacked leftovers at least once in the past week.”

“As such, nutritious and plant-rich meatballs, meatballs, and schnitzel can turn into a quick, hearty snack. Vegetable alternatives to seafood such as crab cakes, fish fingers or breaded prawns are gaining in importance as starters and meal solutions, ”explains Powers.

ADM also sees consumer interest in versatile and practical formats such as alternatives to pork, poultry and beef schnitzel and bottoms that will speed up meal preparation for home cooks who have practiced their cooking skills during the pandemic.

Snacking beyond the pandemic
Consumers are more willing to replace their meat consumption with plant-based alternatives. However, the taste profile of plant-based alternatives is crucial.

“As the technology used to develop meat alternatives improves, consumer expectations continue to rise. High quality and value-adding ingredients and processing are a must to meet consumer demand. Business-to-business ingredients suppliers therefore play a decisive role in the switch to plant-based products, ”explains Wagemans from Bösch Boden Spies.

The pandemic has drawn consumers’ attention to their health. Combined with concerns about global warming and animal welfare, vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian lifestyles are becoming increasingly popular.

In order to give consumers the option to replace normal products with animal ingredients, the industry should look for plant-based solutions, Wagemans said.

“On-the-go snack packs and convenience snacks will increase as people leave home, when they reopen to work, school, stores, restaurants and travel,” adds ADM’s Powers.

“Plant-forward snack options, including meat analogues like alternative jerky or sticks, stand a unique opportunity as they tick the boxes for convenient, flavor-wrapped snacks while meeting consumer perceptions for healthier options.”

Additionally, emerging plant-based snacks with exotic flavor combinations are poised for further growth as they tempt people to travel through their taste buds, Powers predicts.

By Elizabeth Green

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source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/plant-based-preferences-are-rising-focus-on-health-and-better-for-you-options/