According to a report from Euromonitor, snacking is on the rise with ‘grab and go’ foods replacing meals for many consumers, particularly millenials, who eat snacks, such as biscuits, for breakfast, lunch and dinner nearly twice as often as any other generation.

This is a trend that Loacker business unit director René Ott-Kunold has noticed and he tells Caterer: “Quick easy foods and snacks are starting to replace traditional meals. A lot of people today like to eat small meals and meals on-the-go which is why biscuits are highly relevant to today’s consumer needs; given that they are valued in convenience.

"The trends over the past two years show that majority prefer bite-sized products; serving as a small indulgence and everyday treat that is regret-free, this is why we offer packages in different portion sizes to match consumers’ different portion intake and flavour preferences.”

As with many segments of the F&B industry, health consciousness among consumers is another trend affecting the biscuits and nibbles market — prompting people to pay closer attention to labels and ingredients lists.

Speaking about responding to this behaviour, Ott-Kunold reveals: “[Our]clients usually demand all-natural ingredients, that are free of any artificial trans fats, flavours or colours. Healthier options without added sugar that are available in portion-size options are also popular among consumers, all of which Loacker offers.”

He added that “wholesome ingredients like coconut oil” are in demand.

La Marquise International marketing manager Olga Mirtova also highlights an interest in healthier eating as an industry trend in the UAE.

“Some consumers have medical restrictions while others are just becoming more interested in what they eat and drink on a daily basis. As a result there is a growing demand for gluten-free and lactose-free products, as well as for healthy alternatives [to traditional products], without chemical preservatives,” she shares.

EMF Emirates general manager Pierre Feghali concurs and tells Caterer that “authentic products, made by quality raw materials, free from food colourings, preservatives, palm oil or GMOs” are often requested. 

He says that, at the same time, consumers also have high standards and expectations, wanting “a sophisticated taste, a burst of flavour and elegance”, stating: “What pleasure would there be in eating and drinking without refinement?”

In terms of challenges in the biscuits and nibbles industry at the moment, Feghali says that consumers expect companies to maintain the quality in the “authentic products they grew up with”, but added: “At a certain point, we all need variety — without losing authenticity — keeping the heritage taste.”

Quality is on Ott-Kunold’s mind as well, despite economic challenges.

“There is a lot of competition in the market, which results in lower prices available to consumers at first sight and, of course, the lower the cost of a product gets, the more the end product suffers.

"Cheap price doesn’t always equate to cheap quality but Loacker believes in investing in high quality ingredients that are indulgent enough even if you have a small bite a day.”

Article continues on next page

Story continues below
Advertisement