At a time when healthy eating has been propelled to the top of household agendas, the frozen finger food market is at an ultimatum.
Relinquishing cravings for deep-fried and processed treats, shoppers are reaching out toward frozen finger foods that will answer to their diet and wellness tendencies. In that respect, the category of frozen snacks and appetizers has changed significantly: from serving basic, convenient options to a broad-based, advanced offering.
That evolution has come hand in hand with increased consumer demand for high-quality restaurant experiences at home. Indeed, entrepreneurs push the boundaries even further by innovating products with gourmet, artisanal, and ethnically diverse inputs. This trend toward premium, ready-to-serve products will enable companies to respond to the increased demand of consumers for convenience with quality taste and without wastage.
According to a report by Grand View Research, the global healthy snacks market was valued at USD95.61bn in 2023, while growth would be annual, at a rate of 6.2% from 2024 to 2030. Growing busy lifestyles, more city dwellers, changes in food preferences of consumers, and demand for convenient and portable snacks that can be consumed at any time on the go-the key end-drivers of the industry.
They want snacks that are convenient to take along with them and consume, and those that fall under their dietary specification. The growth in dietary restrictions and preference for gluten-free, animal-free, and organic foods has really driven manufacturers to become more innovative and diversify their products to meet these needs.
People are putting in place healthier ways of eating due to the increased cases of obesity and chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that out of every ten Americans, four were obese.
In Europe, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development showed that out of every six individuals, one was obese while over 50 percent of adults in the region weighed more than their ideal weight. Healthy snacking is observed to counteract such health issues due to the low calorie, sugar, and fat content when compared with traditional snacking foods.
Whisps-whose high-protein snack foods are made from real cheese-presented a new survey in light of changed trends in American snacking behavior. The latest survey, which took in more than 2,000 American adults this April 2023, illustrates that it is big to see a trend of people replacing an average of four meals per week with snacks. While more people were grazing throughout the day, an astonishing 79% of adults wanted to snack healthier.
This information helps a growing trend toward convenience and nutrition in snack foods among Americans, reflecting a new tide in eating more thoughtfully and desiring healthier snacking options. Companies also introduce healthy, convenient, delicious, and attractive snacks for a wide variety of tastes and eating behaviors.
The low/ no sugar snacks segment share was 39.0% in 2023. According to a survey done by Whisps, in 2023, 79% of Americans are trying to eat healthier snacks. Another trend is toward protein-based snacks. The gluten-free snacks category will grow at an annualized rate of 7.5% per year from 2024 to 2030. Increasingly growing awareness associated with gluten sensitivity and the escalating demand for dietary alternatives by consumers is driving the gluten-free claims market in the healthy snacks category.
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