Trending in the Snack Industry: Healthy, Natural, and Convenient

Fruit Snack

Other Value Added Fruits

Colombia

Published Nov 5, 2019

The demand for natural and healthy products is increasing. Consumers are increasingly interested in healthy, convenient snacks, such as dried fruit bars. The Asian market for healthy snacks is projected to grow rapidly.

Consumers Want More Healthy Snacks

The demand for natural and healthy products is increasing. According to one study of L.E.K. Consulting, consumers want more out of their products, looking to buy products that are not just natural, but also healthy, organic, enhanced with nutrients, etc. Furthermore, the same study also found that among committed consumers, 73% to 86% is willing to pay extra for premium products, an increase of 15 to 20 percentage points compared to 2016.

Prime Foods, a Colombian producer of dried fruits and quinoa, sees this trend reflected in the sales of its dried fruit bars, Tropee bars. Tropee bars are 100% natural snackbars, using nothing but dried fruits as the ingredients. The company developed these bars as a response to the increased consumer awareness about healthy and natural products. Furthermore, as many consumers are not just eating healthier during their three main meals but also seek to eat healthier snacks, the company focused its efforts on creating nutritious snacks that could easily be eaten on-the-go.

Increased Interest in Healthy Snacks in Asia

Currently, Tropee bars are mainly sold locally and exported to the USA and Europe, to Germany in particular. Over the last year, export has increased significantly, by over 30%. Prime Foods sees possibilities for growth in the Asian market as well, as Asian consumers are becoming increasingly more aware of health-conscious snacking. For example, the Chinese healthy food market is expected to grow from RMB 237.6 billion (33.8 billion USD) in 2017 to RMB 300 billion (42.7 billion USD) in 2021. South Korea witnessed growth as well: the market for healthy snacks grew by 25% between 2013 and 2014, to 278 billion KRW (239.9 million USD). Asian consumers are very interested in healthy snacks that can be easily stored and eaten.

Higher Price Premium for Organic Certified Products

Products that are organic certified can often receive a higher price-premium than products that are labeled 100% natural. Compared to conventional products, items that are certified organic can receive a price premium of anywhere between 20% to 60%. Prime Foods is thus also looking into producing and exporting snackbars that are certified organic.