Health and Wellness

During the COVID-19 pandemic era there was an increase in sales of indulgence and comfort food, such as cookies, and confectionery. However, by 2022, there was a marked return to normality, with people seeking out products that were better for them.…

Health claims related to xylitol remain relevant in the Finnish snacks market, and snack products containing xylitol are gaining in popularity. The Jenkki brand and its xylitol health claims have been present since the first xylitol sweetened gum was…

French consumers have long been cognisant of how sugar intake can be a significant contributory factor in the development of conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay, as the effects of this substance have been a focal point in media…

Demand for snack bars and fruit snacks in Germany experienced steady growth towards the end of the review period. With increasing interest in health and wellness, many local consumers are looking for convenient and on-the-go options that provide the…

The increasing awareness of the link between high sugar consumption and obesity, especially amongst children, has shed light on the importance of reducing the sugar content of highly calorific foods, including snacks. Indeed, growing awareness of the…

The current health and wellness trend, which was accelerated by the emergence of the pandemic in Hong Kong, has resulted in the launch of a wide range of healthy snacks. Snacks based on vegetables and options accompanied by claims such as high…

In India, obesity has been on the rise for the last few years. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), about 6.4% of women and 4.0% of men aged between 15-49 are obese, considering a standard BMI (Body Mass Index) of more than 30.…

So-called “clean label” products – ie those that are less processed, contain fewer but more nutritious ingredients and are lower in sugar, salt, fat etc – continued to perform positively in multiple snacks categories in Indonesia in 2022. These types…

The Irish health agenda, alongside post-pandemic health awareness behaviour, has drastically changed snack purchasing habits among local consumers. In December 2021, the new HFSS (High Fat, Salt and Sugar) rules were unveiled by the Advertising…

Rising awareness of healthier ingredients and overall health and wellbeing continued to influence consumers’ purchasing decisions in 2022. In particular, there were an increasing number of players highlighting locally produced snacks that utilise…

The pandemic adversely affected consumption of snack bars with these products having fallen out of favour as consumers spent more time at home, but with the return to normal life in 2022, sales also returned to growth. Convenience and taste were at…

The volume growth of snacks in Japan has been hampered by the fact that the population is facing a declining trend. Moreover, companies have been having difficulty controlling product costs and maintaining their profits, as raw materials, energy, and…

Within the broader context, snacks is a dynamic category with almost constant new product launches and growth fuelled by innovation. However, snacks are rarely, if ever, seen as essential products and this means that most consumers are willing to…

While health and wellness preferences have been an important growth driver in plant-based and vegan snacks, consumers’ increased awareness of the environmental impact of their consumption patterns has become a key factor. Greenhouse gas emissions…

The return to snacking as a common dietary habit among the Norwegian population during the post-pandemic era supported positive growth across many categories of health and wellness snacks during 2022 as local people returned to their active…

With rising awareness of healthy food, Polish consumers have been gradually turning towards healthy snacks whenever they can, including on-the-go, for school, work, and picnics. Producers of packaged snacks therefore aim to provide consumers with…

The offer of and demand for healthier snacks continued to grow significantly during 2022, in line with rising health consciousness amongst consumers. The COVID-19 pandemic raised consumers’ awareness of the importance of healthy lifestyles, including…

The global energy crunch in 2022 led to cost inflation which adversely impacted Singapore’s import-reliant snacks industry, resulting in price-sensitive consumers’ shift to favouring snacks in larger pack sizes which offer better value for money.…

Private label snacks have grown in popularity as South Africans seek affordable alternatives to well-known, established brands. Retailers are capitalising on this trend by investing in research and development to create innovative snacks that cater…

Increasing media coverage about high consumption of sugar, fat and salt raising the chances of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer, has increased demand for products low in these ingredients. Concerns about…