Nut flour! Almond meal sales surging, says Blue Diamond
Several factors have contributed to the recent boom in almond ingredients, including the growth of dairy alternatives such as almond milk, and wider use in everything from Greek yogurts to almond butter, ready to eat cereals, and snacks.
Almond meal, a protein-packed ‘flour’ of ground almonds, has been growing particularly rapidly, said Bill Morecraft, general manager of the global ingredients division at Blue Diamond, the world's largest almond marketer and processor.
Meanwhile, almonds - which have 6g protein and 4g fiber per ounce - are now the number one nut in new snack launches in North America, added Morecraft.
While the drought in California and lingering concerns about whether supply can meet future demand has pushed up the price of almonds recently, food and beverage manufacturers’ enthusiasm for them has continued unabated, he said.
