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SNACKING NEWS SAVORY SEE PAGE 14 n Three New Varieties, Two New Pack Sizes of Skinny Salamis n Shoppers Shape the Snack Food Aisle with Conscious Cravings www.snackingnews.com April 2018 Volume 2 • Issue 2 BY ROBIN MATHER Trade shows are always busy, exciting places, but some are more important than others for snacking retailers. As lines blur between snack and meal, retailers need to understand how to position these category- hopping products in fresh, new ways. They'll find that and more at the industry's only show focused specifically on the spe- cialty candy and snacks industry. "What I get out of the show every year is what's new and different, whether it's the major players or the small companies trying to break through," says Jeff Spear of Jacksonville, Florida, whose Studio Spear is a global branding agency special- izing in food and beverages. "I'm also in- trigued by seeing what the international producers are showing that might catch on. We all know fruit leather, right? But I The Scramble to Find New Sugar Substitutes BY ROBIN MATHER As evidence mounts about sugar's effects on the body, consumers across genera- tional segments are driving new demand for alternative sweeteners, and manufac- turers are responding. Millennials may lead the charge, says global market research company Mintel, but the desire to cut back on sugar spans all generational segments. "Sugar reduc- tion is a trend among most consumers (89 percent)," Mintel says in a 2017 report, noting that Millennials have more reason than other segments to make this change. While almost all consumers agree that cutting sugar helps with weight loss, younger consumers also cite other con- cerns, such as dental health and improving Continued on Page 6 Chocolate Consumers Deepen Their Understanding of the Product They Love BY ROBIN MATHER Once upon a time, the customer who had a taste for a little chocolate dropped into the nearest drug or grocery store and picked up a bar of milk chocolate at the checkstand. Those days have vanished, however, as chocolate consumers have learned more and more about how their favorite treat is produced. Now they want to know where the chocolate is produced, whether the cocoa beans are Fair Trade, and how Continued on Page 8 Continued on Page 8 Continued on Page 21 With changing lifestyles across the globe, the food habits of people are also chang- ing. Sedentary yet hectic lifestyles have changed the way people consume food. Food preferences have altered, inclining consumers towards easy to eat and serve food and snacks. Cheese snacks are consumed across the globe considering cheese being a filling food item and is consumed at short snack time periods. Altering taste preferences and growing westernization are also responsible for the rising intake of cheese snacks across the globe. As a result, the global cheese snacks market is expected to rise at a CAGR of 5.2 percent from 2017 to 2025. Insights like these have been presented in a new re- port by Persistence Market Research titled "Cheese Snacks Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) & Forecast (2017- 2025)." Growing Preference of Savory Snacks to Bode Well for the Market Tiring schedules and arduous lifestyles are diminishing the time spent on preparing healthy and nutritious meals. Skipping breakfasts and lunches these days is a common phenomenon amongst con- sumers who are trying to keep pace with the hectic lifestyle. As a result, easily available and convenient food items such as snacks have become a likeable and pre- ferred option amongst almost all age group of consumers. Furthermore, traditional snacks are being remodeled in all regions and are heavily in- fluenced by the trend for innovative flavors. Cheese snacks have been popular in regions Lifestyle Changes Trigger High Cheese Snacks Consumption Sweets and Snacks Expo Opens May 22 SWEET SEE PAGE 17 n Divine Chocolate Honored as a '2017 Best for the World' B Corporation n Amazing Fruit Products-US Helps Kids "Fuel Your Amazin'" SWEET SHOTS: J&M Foods SEE PAGE 18 SUPPLEMENT: Sweets & Snacks Preview SEE PAGE 19 SAVORY SHOTS: Good Groceries SEE PAGE 16

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