Snack Buyer July 2024

10 @specialityfood CRISPS Britain is a nation of crisp lovers. They’re adored across all regions and form a key part of all retailers’ snack offerings. Cheese and onion continues to rule the roost where flavour is concerned, followed by salted, and more recently by meaty and spicy options, which are striking a chord with younger shoppers. Consumers are paying more attention to ingredient lists, seeking out products made with purely natural flavours, and crisps cooked in rapeseed and olive oil. Although innovation continues to push the world of snacking forwards, consumers aren’t leaving their old favourites behind. They continue to reach for familiar, comforting flavours and formats that transport them to childhood, and for brands that share their sentiment for nostalgia and tradition. The soaring appetite for classics is difficult to ignore in retail right now, and it will pay dividends to invest in products that deliver on quality while giving a nod to the past. A CRAVING FOR CLASSICS FAIRFIELDS FARM CRISPS PRAWN COCKTAIL Does it get any more retro? These tangy, yet creamy-tasting new nibbles really do give that classic 70s vibe. And they’re vegan and gluten-free, too. fairfieldsfarmcrisps.co.uk JUST CRISPS SEA SALT Cooked in the brand’s own cold-pressed rapeseed oil and finished with a sprinkle of sea salt, there are just three ingredients in each packet, tapping into consumer demand for cleaner, shorter decks. justcrisps.co.uk MADE FOR DRINK BARON BIGOD & ONION A moreish combination of one of Britain’s finest farmhouse Brie-style cheeses, and piquant onion. A delectable take on the nation’s favourite flavour. madefordrink.com We’ve seen a huge trend for Millennials trying to get joy from nostalgia. It’s definitely a significant trend within our core market. Our bestsellers remain Salt & Vinegar and Lightly Salted, but I would say we are seeing a surge in those meaty flavours. Roast Rib of Beef does really well for us, and Bacon & Tomato is starting to take over. That reflects the market as a whole. There are definitely a lot more spicy and meaty flavours TASH JONES, FAIRFIELDS FARM