NPD October 2017: Jimini crickets, yucca crunch and a whiff of smoke

Crawley snacks Jimini’s has introduced three popular British flavors – Salt & Vinegar, Spicy Chilli and Sour Cream & Onion – to its crispy insect snacks to make them more appealing to European consumers. The Buffalo Worms in Spicy Chilli and Sour Cream & Onion flavour are rich in protein and iron and have a nutty flavour, similar to cashews and peanuts. The Salt & Vinegar Crickets are also full of protein, vitamins and minerals and can be eaten as a snack on their own or sprinkled over salads and pasta dishes. The snacks are made at the company’s manufacturing facility in France from 100% European edible insects that are fed with GMO-free vegetal food. The insects are firstly dehydrated, then slowly baked at low temperatures to preserve the nutritional values before being seasoned with natural spices. Available online, the buffalo worms retail at £5.95 (R7.85), and the crickets for £6.82 ($9.00). Jimini’s has been producing insect snacks since 2012, including insect snack boxes, ready-to-cook insects, protein pasta, honey and protein snack bars. Whiff of smoke, hint of heat Landcrafted Food has expanded its Smoked Beef Sticks range to include flavors for the more adventurous consumer. Habanero BBQ and Spicy Cajun Smoked Beef Sticks join the company’s recently introduced Original and Sweet smoked beef sticks. All four flavors are made from 100% grass-fed cattle raised on the company’s small consortium of farms in the Grayson County, VA area, and are gluten-free and GMO-free. According to recent Nielsen data, the global meat snacks category is approaching $3bn in annual sales and continues to grow. Growth in meat snacks is far surpassing that of potato chips and other traditional snack foods, as shoppers increasingly look for higher protein and natural snacking alternatives. Vegan pick-me-up Deliciously Ella has launched a vegan oat bar range, packed with fruit, oats and fiber. Founder and blogger Ella Mills has released three flavors of the vegan snacks, including Cacao & Almond, Apricot & Coconut, and Apple, Raisin & Cinnamon. Mills claims the bars are completely natural and all the recipes have been guided by what has been most popular on her blog. The bars act as “great pick me up snack between meals, like our existing range of Energy Balls.” The oat bars are available in Tesco’s for 99p ($1.30) each, or £2.75 ($3.63) for a multipack of three. Mexican wave General Mills has introduced free-from tortillas under its Old El Paso brand in the UK to cater to allergy-conscious consumers amid a growing market for Mexican food. The tortillas use white corn rather than wheat, and have been launched in Sainsbury's and Asda supermarkets in 220 g packs of 10.According to Lindsay Hill, marketing manager for Old El Paso at General Mills’ UK arm, the tortillas will appeal to the 52% of UK households who buy free-from products, which includes people with allergies as well as gluten avoiders. Old El Paso also supplies complete Mexican meal kits, along with taco shells, seasonings, cooking sauces and tortilla chips. Cut the salt, not the taste US snack company Better Made has launched a reduced sodium version of its barbecue chips, following the success of its reduced sodium regular potato chips. The new flavor has roughly 50% less sodium than Better Made’s original barbecue chips. The chips are available in a family-size 9.5 oz bag, which retail for $3.69, and can be purchased in most retail outlets throughout the US, as well as online or at the Better Made retail store in Detroit. Just good food Orkla Finland’s Paulúns range has supplemented its product portfolio with gluten-free granola, containing only natural and healthy ingredients. The brand was developed by nutritional physiologist Fredrik Paulún in 2005 to help people to eat better in order to feel better and contains only good fats, no unnecessary additives or added sugar, a low salt content and naturally sweetened with fruit, berries and honey. The gluten-free granola is available in blueberry, rhubarb, cardamom and cinnamon and is aimed at both celiac and non-celiac patients. Sold in 350 g packs in retail outlets in Scandinavian countries. Big bite Yorkshire-based Bite UK has launched a range of rice, nut and coconut baked snack clusters in the UK, Finland and Middle East. The Pure Bite range is dairy-, gluten- and preservative-free, is high in fiber and protein, low in salt, sugar and calories. Since its introduction in 2015, founder Jason Bull claims over 1m of Bite UK’s various free-from snacks have been enjoyed by health conscious consumers worldwide. Pure Bite is available in five variants, including Popped Rice Clusters in Blueberry & Cranberry and Strawberry & Goji berry; Almond and Hot & Spicy Nut Clusters; and Strawberry Crunch Coconut Clusters. Bite UK is the retail arm from the stable of Eurostar Commodities. The products are being rolled out across the UK at £1.49 ($1.96) per 20g pack. A yucca moment Plant Snacks has launched Cassava Crunch chips in four flavors, including Cheddar, Beet with Goat’s Cheese, Seeds, Sea Salt and Kale. The Paleo friendly snacks are free from trans fat and MSG, and also contain no preservatives or artificial colors or flavors. Cassava, also known as yucca or manioc, is a root vegetable similar to a sweet potato, and is a staple food for people in South America, Africa and Asia. It is naturally gluten-free, delivers energy from carbs, is high in vitamin C, folate and magnesium, and is a good source of fiber. Plant Snacks sources its cassava flour from Brazil, which is made from the young, tender roots of the plant rather than the traditional large, mature roots that often have a grittiness to them. Cassava Crunch are sent to a third party lab (Genetic ID) for testing on a quarterly basis to ensure they are free from GMOs and cross contamination. Available online for $14.49 per three-pack.

NPD October 2017: Jimini crickets, yucca crunch and a whiff of smoke

BakeryandSnacks has been out scouting again to find some innovative new product releases, including insect snack bars and yucca chips.

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