MEAT snack sales are on the up in convenience stores and, according to producers, this growth is set to continue as meat brands tap into trends that are likely to stick around through 2017.
Pavan Chandra of Jack Link’s, parent firm of Peperami, said meat snacks are growing as consumers turn to high-protein snacks “to fuel active, busy lives and stay fuller for longer.”
Chandra added that though the meat snack market is relatively young, its expansion will be a “key-trend” in food to go.
Chris Whenham, of Taste Inc agreed the future looks bright for meat snack sales.
Whenham reckons customers shopping in c-stores are more likely to be shopping for items missed or products they can take away, providing retailers with an opportunity to “generate key impulse sales” by stocking a wide range of convenient food to go products.
“Easy hand-holdable formats and convenient packaging are must stock food-to-go products,” said Whenham.
For retailers looking to drive incremental sales, Michael Holton, marketing brand manager of Pork Farms and Wall’s Pastry suggested meat snacks make for an ideal meal deal offer.
“The demand for more choice in snacks and the increasing popularity of meal deal offers are two fundamental growth trends in the food-to-go market,” he said.
“By reflecting this in food to go, with meal deals which offer lots of different food choices and different combination options, c-stores can really grab the attention of shoppers and drive sales in their snacking ranges.”
Jerky and biltong are perfectly placed to meet the current explosion of healthy trends around snacks, according to James Newitt, MD of Meatsnacks Group.
“These products meet the need for snacks which are high in protein, gluten free, long life and made from natural ingredients,” he said. “This is resulting in strong growth in the jerky and biltong market which is currently worth around £20 million in retail sales. It is predicted to be in double digit growth for the next few years.”
