The Trend Towards Crunchy Alternative to Crisps

With innovation happening across the snacking industry, there are plenty of new products to get excited by and customers of all generations are looking for something new as part of their daily snacking routine. A post-lockdown consumer focus on health & wellbeing coupled with upcoming high-fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) legislation mean snack suppliers are upping their game to create products that offer functionality and permissible indulgence, as competition in the market heats up.

Here to give us a healthy insight, the team at Boundless Activated Snacking.

Why is Activated Snacking, Healthy?

We’re all familiar to the buzzwords “healthy snacking”, the ever so broad term used to describe taking your snacking next level with health benefits. Within this ever-expanding category, there are the obvious subtypes: functional snacks, high fibre snacks, snacks packed with protein, vegan snacks, gluten free snacks, gym bag snacks… the list is never ending. The thing is, we’re in a world where you can’t meet a happy medium. Snacking, the ancient art of indulgence, is seen as a compromise. You can’t have your cake and eat it, after all!

So when brands are looking to promote healthier alternatives, we’re met with artificial ingredients lists longer than a biomedical sciences paper, manufacturer proteins & supplementary fibre to somehow improve its cardboard taste – and, more often than not, a hefty price point. This is where Boundless Activated Snacking has stepped in. We’ve taken the compromise out of the equation, by using 100% natural ingredients – already a powerhouse of nutrients by themselves – and raised the bar by activating them, to look after your guts digestion.

The weight of the pandemic on everyone’s minds is undeniable. I think it’s safe to say most of us look at our bodies look at our bodies differently than before. Primarily via the media, we are being told to improve our immunity & microbiome, and reduce our meat & dairy intake, in order to live a healthier life. It appears we’re listening. In fact, 48% of the UK agree that good digestive health is key to overall wellbeing (Mintel, July 2021). With consumers looking to boost their immune systems, and 70% of our immune system living in our gut, it isn’t hard to finish the rest of the equation.

It isn’t just 'high protein' or 'low fat' snacks consumers are looking for anymore, it’s snacks with real benefits. This is only on the rise, with the world opening back up. Workers heading back into offices are looking for healthy snacking choices on the go, to pair with lunch or fuel the commute home. Gut health is the phrase on everyone’s mind, but unlike those high protein and low calorie buzzwords we’ve seen before, this isn’t a trend – this is real, genuine health & it’s here to stay. 

So Who Are Boundless?

We launched just 3 years ago with our Activated Nuts & Seeds range; a range designed to offer the consumer the nutritional benefits of activated nuts & seeds in 30g on-the-go snack packs. Our Activated Nuts & Seeds soared with those already opting for healthier snacking to optimise their wellbeing, and in particular with our 90g sharing bags becoming the perfect lower waste options for independent retailers across the UK. It was the gut healthy product their core customer needed.

"Our unique selling point is activation: to put it simply, soaking out the stuff that messes with digestion gives you a snack that’s good to you & your gut"

Then came the leading innovation in our category: the world’s FIRST Activated Chips. We’ve taken the nation’s favourite snack, but revolutionised it by activating the most sustainable grain on the planet. Gut health is a complete maze to those unfamiliar with their microbiome – the key here is simplicity. If we can give consumers their favourite ever snacks, at the same price as a regular bag of chips, but with nutritional superpowers to feed their gut, who could ever turn down that proposal?!

We’re for the everyday consumer, who just wants to look after themselves a little better. There’s no supplementing this or that with us – we already fit into their lifestyle, with bold flavours daring enough to pique interest, and a versatility that makes it impossible for us not to be for everyone. We vow to be good to you, your gut & the planet – a promise not many healthier snacking brands could stick to. We’re here simply to make snacking well easy!

Rise in Healthy Snacking Opportunities

Our unique selling point is activation: to put it simply, soaking out the stuff that messes with digestion gives you a snack that’s good to you & your gut. With a little TLC, our nuts, seeds & ancient super grains are ready to unleash their impressive range of nutrients Mother Nature gave them to offer. The method might be simple, but the result is literally next level snacking.

Healthy Snacking is a phenomenon on its own, but we believe the real change will be within the Free From sector next year. Sales are rising up to 20% year on year in the free-from foods market, hitting the £1bn ceiling, and yet healthy snacking – especially for gut health – has been neglected.

We believe there’s a real opportunity for brands & retailers alike to work on improving their offerings, and really that should mean dialling back to basics. Less about what’s ADDED to a product to make it “better for you”, and more about what the ingredients have to offer to begin with. With our products, by soaking our nuts, seeds & grains, we remove Phytic Acid to let down nature’s defence mechanisms & give us full access to the good stuff. No more gimmicks on shelves! Consumers want, need & deserve transparency with what they’re consuming in order for snacks to truly be better for them.

Ordering Healthy Snacks with Epicurium

As experts in wholesome snacks, the team at Epicurium have curated an range of best in class healthy snacks for retailers - from sure fire hits to some of the freshest new brands on the market. Take a look at some of the new products you could be stocking to capture a greater share of the snacking audience. With a quick turnaround of 24-48 hours, no minimum order number and free delivery on any order over £80, our team here at Epicurium can have you tapping into freshest healthy snack and crisp alternatives in no time.