Despite Australians being amongst the most health-conscious consumers on the planet, snacking has long been a part of their everyday lives.

From the mid-morning tea-dunked Tim Tam to the hastily scoffed Vegemite on Sao lunch or the mid-afternoon Red Bull caffeine hit, we all sidestep health and nutrition from time to time in favour of convenience.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers and hospitality vendors scrambled to keep up with increased demand from the 90% of Australians looking to boost their energy and immunity with healthy and convenient snack options.

Any time is snack time

Snacking is no longer just an absent-minded activity.

Australian shoppers are consciously seeking out tasty, nutritious, convenient and healthy snacks to tide them over until their next meal. And they’ll do that anywhere, any time.

So how do retailers and hospitality vendors meet the needs of hungry Australians seeking healthy snacks to go? The answer is closer to home than you think.

Retailers and hospitality vendors have a unique opportunity to tap into this emerging snack market by stocking low sugar, high-powered ingredients, plant-based innovations, and mini meals for Australians wanting to preserve their health on the go.

Where NZ packaged goods shine brightest

New Zealand is recognised all over the world for its “care factor”. It’s fiercely protective of its pristine taiao (environment). If the natural world is healthy – then so are its people.

It’s this approach that sets New Zealand’ best snacks brands apart from the rest. Aside from convenience, they promise so much more than filling the gap between standard mealtimes.

Leading Australasian snack ball brand Tom & Luke set the bar for other packaged convenience good suppliers. Their range of healthy snack foods has flourished thanks to carefully and ethically sourced ingredients, all lovingly wrapped in 100% recyclable packaging.

Understanding that everyone holds individual views on health, Tom & Luke snackbllas has gradually expanded its product line to include gluten-free, vegan, nut-free snack bars and balls. And they’ve done so while purposefully choosing ingredients that are nutritionally beneficial and as close to their original state as possible.

And with serious commitment to the environment in play, Luke himself has become a Jedi master in the sustainable food production space. He sits on several sustainability advisory boards in New Zealand and Australia to accelerate solutions to our global plastics problem.

C is for cookie, that’s good enough for me

For the cookie monster in (almost) all of us, there haven’t been many options for those looking for a guilt-free treat to enjoy with a cuppa.

So, when gluten- and dairy-intolerant Justine Muollo started to experiment with her ultra-low carb protein-fortified cookie and brownie range, the market responded. Using only the finest ingredients, including pure New Zealand milk protein, Justine’s Cookies’ extensive product range, made without wheat, gluten or sugar, is the perfect solution for people wanting something ’a little bit naughty’ without the guilt.

Never skip breakfast again

Almost half of Australians skip breakfast during the week, despite understanding the benefits of nourishing their bodies before they begin their busy day.

Fortunately, Blue Frog is nuts about breakfast. And because it’s so passionate about health and taste, it’s no wonder the company grew by more than 50% in 2021. Perhaps it’s their world-first probiotic porridge or their organically sourced Wild Kakadu Plum and Marine Collagen cereal, created just for Aussies, that’s putting the boom back into breakfast.

And because breakfast tastes better when it’s helping the planet, Blue Frog cereal is working towards its Zero Waste to Landfill 2025 pledge, and is certified carbon positive by Ekos – meaning they offset 120% of their carbon emissions.

New Zealand producers are leading the way in the era of healthy snacks options and are committed to sustainable products that are good for you too. Make an enquiry today.