THE rising cost of dining out, or ordering a takeaway, is providing a significant boost for the big-night-in market, especially for quick-to-prepare hot snacks, reckons Kepak Convenience Foods.
The company says consumers (young adults especially) are spending more time at home in the evenings, and they’re eating micro-snacking products including those in its Rustlers and Zugo’s Deli Café ranges, while watching movies, playing on games consoles or simply hanging out online.
“People enjoying a night in, whether it’s a few drinks with friends, watching a film or playing the latest computer games, want tasty, filling snacks that don’t interrupt what they’re doing,” said John Armstrong, marketing director of Kepak Convenience Foods.
“That’s where micro-snacking products really come into their own. One of the advantages of all Kepak products is that they can be heated up in less time than it takes to boil a kettle.”
For those craving a burger he prescribes the Rustlers Pub Menu: Beef & Pepper Sauce and Chicken & Stuffing Mayo. He said: “The Rustlers Pub Menu range takes inspiration from traditional pub classics that our consumers know and love, delivering tasty favourites at a £1 price point.”
For consumers looking for a taste of India Kepak has Rustlers Hot Naans. The range – Jalfrezi Chicken and Tikka Chicken – is made using chargrilled chicken with a hand-pulled naan and a sachet of sauce.
“We’ve taken the two most popular Indian flavours and developed these tasty products to enable retailers to offer shoppers their favourite Indian flavours in a convenient hot, quick and tasty format,” Armstrong said.
• Sales of instant hot snacks such as Pot Noodle typically rise during Freshers Week with students seeking quick and convenient meals, according to brand owner Unilever.
The company quotes IRI figures showing that volume sales of pot snacks are up 13% on last year. Spicy and hot variants are, it adds, becoming increasingly popular as consumers are prepared to be more adventurous and are increasingly willing to try new tastes.
Pot Noodle’s latest NPD included last year’s Piri Piri Chicken launch and this year’s World Cup special edition, Brazilian BBQ Steak.
