Special Report: Freeeze Dried Snacking

Special Report

Freeze-Dried Snacking

Freeze-dried produce allows for households to eat a balanced diet that includes the health benefits fruits and vegetables provide without having to beat the clock and enjoy these items before they perish or bruise. During the last year and a half shopping trips have involved stocking up and leaving with fuller baskets and carts to stretch time between store visits. Shelf stable items like freeze-dried snacking products allow for families to load up without worrying about quick turnarounds on expiration dates. Longer shelf lives give people time between outings, which has been a key component of shopping since early 2020. Suppliers in the freezedried snacking category responded to consumers’ demands this year with enhanced pack sizes while continuing to offer a simple way to snack on-the-go between meals throughout the day.

“We always aim to deliver on what the customer wants, and in this case, it was the larger package size,” said Andy Keane, Marketing Manager for Brothers International Food. “After the success of our 1 oz. Strawberry, we now offer our longstanding favorite Fuji-Apple fruit crisps and a brand new flavor, Mango, in our 1 oz., resealable package. The new packaging not only makes the fruit perfect for convenient, on-the-go snacking, but gives the customers a larger package they can snack on throughout the day. Our products are always made from real fruit with zero artificial colors or preservatives and are also largely allergen-free, allowing us to reach a wide variety of customers!”

The events of the last year propelled shoppers to adopt sound eating habits if they hadn’t already and those who were already including fruits and vegetables into their diet had a newfound commitment and drive. “More than ever, consumers are focused on healthy living and seek out healthy options as health continues to be an area of concern,” said Shaby Fisher, Global Marketing Manager for Chaucer’s Crunchies Food Co. “Specifically to the freeze-dried snacking category, we are continuing to see growth as consumers are looking for healthy, shelf stable options. We continue to deliver on these needs by offering simple products, with simple ingredients, and spreading the word that snacking can be healthy. We highlight the health benefits of our products, all while focusing on the transparency of where they come from.”

Social media has been a proven medium and avenue for companies to educate and inform new and existing consumers about freeze-dried products and discuss what freeze-dried is not.

“It is extremely important for consumers to stay up-to-date and informed when it comes to freeze-dried snacking,” Keane said. “Often, other freezedried products contain preservatives, and/or added sugar, making it important to understand the ingredients of the product that you are buying. We have utilized the combination of our social media, blog and monthly newsletters to educate and connect with our customers and retail buyers about the benefits of our products seriously.”

“What sets us apart from many other products on the shelf is the fact that Brothers International has capabilities to source any fruit globally,” he added. “Our product is unique and the one ingredient you begin the process with is the one and only ingredient that you end with, allowing the consumer to retain all of the natural flavors, aromas, sugars, and colors.”

During the last year, which has been marked with anxiety and unpredictability, companies would like for consumers to know that the suppliers within the category are dependable and the products themselves are a constant in their basket or cart. “We want our retailers to know that in a time of uncertainty, freeze-dried snacking continues to be a certainty,” Fisher said. “It not only provides a superior nutritional benefit above other snacks, but the preservation method also allows for pantry loading without compromising quality or nutrition. Crunchies continues to educate consumers in everything we do; from programs supporting our growing partners to our growing presence on social media. We also think it’s important to educate consumers from the shelf, and made some minor enhancements to our packaging to highlight the nutritional benefits of our freeze-dried fruit snacks.”

Companies within the freeze-dried snacking space have made their mark while simultaneously earning trust of their retail and distribution partners as they thrive in the industry. “Brothers All Natural has continuously worked hard to provide our products and stay as a leader in the freeze-dried category, as well as a trusted supplier in the greater grocery industry,” Keane said. “Many traditional companies are pivoting to include healthier alternatives and we are proud to state we’ve always been at the forefront of this initiative. We aim to be the healthiest and tastiest snack available. As consumers continue to be more adventurous and health aware with their snacking, freeze-dried allows consumers accessible and convenient shelf-stable exotic fruits, making the category exciting and ever-changing. Our steadfast beliefs are that less is always more and that our products are made perfectly with simple, shelf-stable ingredients containing zero additives or preservatives.”

“Crunchies has always stuck to its core values—traceability, reliability, and quality,” Fisher said. “With these core values and having strong policies and practices in place, it has allowed us to focus on providing innovative solutions to our retail partners, in turn allowing them to focus on their commitment to supporting their communities and consumers. We have been diligent in ensuring our continuity in the supply chain which is an area we have always led within the freeze-dried industry.”

Companies are hopeful for 2022 and expect to see continued growth. They are eager to continue offering choices and juicy flavors while keeping snacking occasions interesting and filling. “Brothers All Natural is excited for the new year!” Keane said. “During 2021, the freeze-dried space has continued to grow and in 2022 we hope to launch some new innovative products to continue growing the category and offer customers even more choices. We are working to continue extending product lines, grow sales, and improve internal processes for better efficiency.”