Here are our top five products to stock in the snack category. For more information and insights see our latest issue of Supermarket News Magazine. Want to be listed in ‘What to Stock’? Contact Felicity – felicity@reviewmags.com or phone 09 304 01 42 ext 704.
GUARANTEED TO IMPRESS
Handcrafted by Loaf has made a number of advances in the ‘free from’ category over the past year, following the successful launch of their Bliss Bites in June 2016. Loaf’s Bliss Bites continue to sell well in hundreds of retailers across NZ as well as being exported to America. They’ve proven to be popular due to being individually wrapped multi-packs, with a soft texture and unique flavours that include renowned superfoods such as goji berries, chia seeds, dates, almonds and blueberries. Loaf’s Bliss Bites are made from all raw ingredients, and they’re free from gluten, wheat and dairy.
Loaf’s range has since been extended into Bliss Bars and Nutty Seed Bars, both being ranged in BP Connect stores across the country and selected supermarkets. BP was keen to take on the range to provide its customers with a nutritious option that didn’t include processed sugar, wheat, dairy or gluten. Elsewhere in the market, Loaf’s mini bite range, including its top selling gluten-free Rocky Road, is delivering the highest category growth in fresh cakes for Progressive at 117 percent MAT to 30/4/17. July sees Orchard Road added to the mini bite range and it is guaranteed to impress. A simple yet delicious blend of apricots, blueberries and marshmallows smothered in chocolate. It tastes fantastic and is gluten and nut free. Loaf is expecting big things from the latest addition. For more information contact Kirsty Heron, 09 527 4354 ext. 811 or visit www.loaf.co.nz.
SNACKS WITH PLANT-POWER
Mother Earth is based in the Waikato and produces delicious snacking products that are wholesome, use quality ingredients and deliver on taste. This is no exception for its Gluten-Free Nuts About range. The 'Nuts About' nut bars are specially formulated to be gluten-free, taste delicious, packed full of nuts and are affordable for consumers.
The Nuts About range has just had a packaging refresh. The new look emphasises the range’s gluten-free and source of protein claims. There’s a reduction in the height of the pack for a better shelf fit with no change to the bar size, and the Healthy Star Rating has been added to the front of the pack.
In addition, Mother Earth has launched a brand-new flavour – Mother Earth Nuts About Superseeds. This delicious bar combines peanuts and almonds with the goodness of linseed, sunflower, pumpkin, chia and sesame seeds. This product has a lot of plant power, which is a growing trend in the market and, like all Mother Earth bars, there are no artificial colours or flavours. For more information contact your Prolife Foods Sales Representative on 0800 80 80 88 or visit www.motherearth.co.nz.
FANTASTIC SNACKS
Fantastic is well-known for its gluten-free snack products. Fantastic Rice Crackers and Fantastic Delites are ‘fantastic’ go-to snacks to satisfy a variety of snacking needs from entertaining platters, hungry kids or a TV snack. Fantastic Delites are an oven baked crinkle cut rice snack that comes in a range of delicious flavours that will get consumers taste buds dancing with ‘delite’. The rice base offers a light texture making Fantastic Delites a great alternative to traditional crinkle cut snacks. Fantastic Delites are available in a range of flavours and stocked in supermarkets throughout NZ. Although they are free from gluten, they are full of flavour. Too often gluten-free snacking has been considered not as tasty as the ‘gluten included’ equivalent products but as gluten-free transcends from coeliac disease to a gluten-free lifestyle choice, manufacturer is reassessing flavours and developing full-flavoured snacks such as Fantastic Delites to cater for gluten-free snacking. Fantastic Delites have been on the market for over ten years and is one of the few gluten-free products that focus on flavour.
“We believed that just because you could not have gluten in your diet, this should not mean that you compromise flavour – especially when it comes to snacks,” said Erik de Roos, Chief Marketing Officer at Fantastic Snacks. “The Fantastic brand mantra is ‘taste fantastic’. We want consumers to taste our fantastic range of products and ensure that every product does, in fact, deliver on that promise.”
Fantastic is just launching a brand-new gluten-free snack called Fantastic Rice Minis into NZ stores. These bite-sized rice clusters come in three flavours – Honey Soy, Chicken and Chilli Salt & Pepper. Packed full of flavour, these crunchy clusters are another perfect gluten-free snacking option. The cluster texture gives these rice snacks a terrific crunch, perfect for munching and crunching at any occasion, or simply straight from the pack.
Fantastic has also re-launched their Facebook and Instagram pages as ‘Share the Fantastic’ which enables the company to share all things Fantastic with Kiwi fans, including competitions, new products and product ideas. As a brand that focusses on snacking, it believes snacking is a treat that is best shared with friends and family or as an indulgence. The revamped strategy will reflect this philosophy with a mix of shareable content and brand messages that will be shared amongst all fans encouraging them to engage and interact with the page to keep the content fresh and exciting. #sharethefantastic. For more information contact the NZ sales office on 09 980 1548 or visit www.fantasticsnacks.co.nz.
NUTRITIOUS SNACKS FOR THE LITTLIES
Category winner of the 2016 NZ Food Awards, Kiwigarden Coconut Raspberry Yoghurt Drops are a delicious and nutritious snack for the littlies. The product is 100 percent natural with no nasties, and fast-dissolving, they are perfect for children from around 10 months old, who are learning to self-feed. These yoghurt drops are NZ-made and contain live probiotics. They are also gluten-free and contain no refined sugar. Available in three other delicious flavours (in 20g re-sealable pouches): Natural Greek-Style, Passionfruit and Gold Kiwi. RRP $3.99.
Kiwigarden also has a lunchbox range, which come in retail boxes each containing five individual sachets (9g each). It includes Crunchy Apple Slices, Sweet Corn Kernels and three yoghurt drops (Banana & Honey, Mixed Berry and Strawberry).
For more information, contact your Alliance Marketing representative or email info@kiwigarden.co.nz.
TRADITIONAL FLAVOUR PERFECT SNACK
Snack food brand Canterbury Biltong have launched a new range to coincide with the construction of their new, purpose-built, factory in Christchurch. BITEMEAT is now ranged in Foodstuffs South Island and able to be ordered from the DC. These products are also being rolled out country-wide. It comes with some new flavour profiles and stunning packaging to sit comfortably in the meat snack grocery category.
“There is an ever-increasing demand from customers for healthy protein,” said sales and marketing director Nicole Stanley.
“Bitemeat provides that in an incredibly tasty snack that can go anywhere and has no additives or preservatives.”
The range does not need refrigeration and has a 12-month shelf-life.
“We have such a diverse customer base, so we created a totally new look for the snack food market.”
The range includes 50g snack sizes with some new mouth-watering flavours to sit alongside the Original or traditional flavour that is recognised worldwide and without which, no range of biltong products would be complete.
The Mighty Chilli has a punchy kick while the Tangy Pepper is subtly sweet and peppery. “We constantly strive to improve what we do while staying true to our original product.”
Canterbury Biltong’s supplies its products to supermarkets, convenience stores, service stations, liquor-stores, tourist outlets and school tuckshops in New Zealand and across Australia. Its new factory will enable it to increase capacity with further room for expansion on the site when required. For more information contact Nicole Stanley on 03 366 0455.
