Speciality Food Magazine - May 2025

snacks that not only taste great but also reflect their values, and that’s where Burts continues to shine. We see a continued appetite for exciting flavour profiles, but that doesn’t mean tradition is going anywhere. Classics remain popular, but they’re being joined by bolder more adventurous combinations that bring something new to the snacking aisle.” Sophie believes that the UK’s specialityfoodmagazine.com 25 STOCK CHECK BURTS CHEDDAR & CARAMELISED ONION CRISPS The perfect blend of rich, savoury cheddar sourced locally from Quicke’s complemented by the sweet tang of caramelised onion chutney. burtschips.com SIMPLY ROASTED DUCK & HOISIN An award-winning flavour for the brand, featuring a vegan seasoning inspired by the restaurant classic. Vegan friendly and only 93 calories per bag. simplyroastedcrisps.co.uk FOREST FEAST HEATHER HONEY PEANUTS & CASHEWS Peanuts and cashews glazed with Scottish heather honey and roasted with hand-harvested sea salt. forestfeast.com snacking sector will become increasingly experimental. “Having more alternative snacks so readily available I think is on the rise more than ever, and consumers will step away from the traditional products and flavour profiles. Alongside this, creators can also feel confident to use unexpected and exciting ingredients and know there will be the demand for them.” TWO FARMERS HEREFORD HOP CHEESE & ONION Homegrown potatoes, sliced, cooked in small batches, and seasoned with a dusting of sharp Hereford Hop cheese and onion. twofarmers.co.uk SERIOUS PIG SNACKING PICKLES The finest Indian gherkins pickled for the perfect balance of saltiness and tang, and featuring a fresh hit of dill. seriouspig.co.uk SOFFLE’S PITTA CHIPS ROSEMARY & THYME Crunchy, all natural pitta chips seasoned with classic herbs. soffles.com As innovative snacks are becomingmore available for the consumer, they can nowmake different choices when choosingwhat to buy For more information contact: louise.barnes@artichokehq.com 01206 508629 SNACK BUYER 2025 COMING SOON For Natasha, the future looks bright for the UK snacking sector despite the challenges of previous years. “On the go snacking is yet to fully recover from the pandemic, with the sector still rising rapidly but not yet at pre-COVID levels. I’d expect those to catch up by the end of next year, however, with the increase in consumption occasions and our return to busy lifestyles,” she says. “Snacking through retail, on the other hand, is holding firmand as pockets continue to be squeezed, our premium handcooked crisps are seen as an affordable luxury. I would also expect that to continue, with little impact fromHFSS on smaller, independent retailers except a wider selection of snacks to stock! Froma shopper attitude point of view, I can only see localismand sustainability becoming evenmore important.” Retailers undoubtedly have a role to play when it comes to supporting the growth of the snacking industry – and the relationship ismutually beneficial. Bymerchandising products well – alongside products that could create a ‘moment’, for example – retailers can boost sales across segments. “Great merchandising can really help promote and sell snacks,” says Darcy. “Creating a World Foods display or section in-store really helps promote our products alongside curry pastes, sauces and rice products, making theman easymeal solution to shop together. As a brand we are more than happy to contribute towards POS free of charge if we are told this is how they will be merchandised in store to improve the shopping experience.”