< Previous40 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SNACK FOODS AND READY MEALS on the go With the removal of lockdown and a return to working, on the go foods such as ready meals and snack foods continue to grow, but new trends leaning toward health and sustainability dominate the sector. Always 40-45.qxp_Layout 1 27/05/2022 14:55 Page 1Food & Drink International 41 www.fdiforum.net SNACK FOODS AND READY MEALS © stock.adobe.com/Prostock-studio G iven the hustle and bustle of working life, it’s no wonder that ready meals remain a staple of many people’s weekly food plans. Amidst a push for a return to office-based working, a 2022 study found that the most common reason for choosing a ready meal is convenience, with the average time taking 27 minutes to cook, instead of the 41 minutes to prepare a meal from scratch. With ready meals costing an average of 68 pence per person more than freshly cooked meals, this remains an area of interest for food manufacturers. Yet, as with most things, there are regular shifts in market trends. This article will explore two of the foremost trends within this area, healthier options for ready meals (such as vegan and plant -based selections) and environmentally conscious packaging. Healthy options Ready meals do not generally have a reputation for being healthy. High levels of salt, sugar and fat for preservation purposes can place consumers over their recommended daily intake in one sitting. Furthermore, the thermal processing for ready meals, which require higher temperatures and long cooking times can significantly reduce vitamin C, thiamine (B1) and folic acid as well as numerous naturally occurring antioxidants in fruits, vegetables, and herbs. A rise in health-conscious consumer behaviour has led to a growth in the market for plant-based, meat-free, and vegan ready meal options. Since 2018, there has been a 92% rise in the amount of plant based 42 Á 40-45.qxp_Layout 1 27/05/2022 14:55 Page 242 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SNACK FOODS AND READY MEALS ready meals available to consumers. Whilst this might indicate a potential for the market to become overcrowded, not having these options available might damage consumer perception of the business. Veganism and clean eating are no longer an alternative lifestyle, as increasing numbers of the population adopt some level of these eating habits amidst concerns for their health and the environmental impact of the meat industry. It is becoming increasingly necessary to offer some level of option, as unless a business is specifically a meat-based product manufacturer, it can appear to the consumer that, in not providing these options, a company is demonstrating a lack of concern for the prescient consumer worries of health and environment. One way to add healthy options, is to take inspiration from cultural dishes. Italian cuisines (such as pizza) are the most common options available for ready meals, whilst other cuisines have only a 6% share, showing there is opportunity to expand global cuisines such as Mexican and Asian pork ready meals, which currently have limited representation. This provides an opportunity to fill two gaps, with healthy representations of famous cultural dishes. Ideas could include a 5 bean chilli or exploring a low-sodium version of sweet and sour pork. Environmentally conscious packaging Approximately 60% of all plastics produced globally are for food packaging. Certainly, traditional ready meal packaging is often heavily made up of single use materials, such as thin plastic film and foil trays. Currently, none of these can be recycled, something that the public grows increasingly concerned with. Innovating more sustainable ways of eating could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the use of water by 70% and 50%, respectively. As with the previous section, consumers demonstrate their support for causes by choosing products from manufacturers whose views align with their own. Furthermore, although there may be some upfront costs related to research and development when designing more streamlined packaging, studies suggest that 74% of consumers would be willing © stock.adobe.com/nolonely 44 Á 40-45.qxp_Layout 1 27/05/2022 14:55 Page 37+(+20(2)9,6&286 3803,1*62/87,216 Kecolhaveover25yearsof experienceinhandlingalltypes ofviscousproductsinthefood, pharmaceuticalandcosmetics markets,aswellasgeneral industrialapplications. ᅚ Honey ᅚ PetroleumJelly ᅚ Mascara ᅚ Sauces ᅚ Lanolin ᅚ LipGloss ᅚ Essences ᅚ EyeOintment ᅚ MeatPaste ᅚ ParaffinWax ᅚ FaceScrub ᅚ TeethingGel ᅚ TomatoPuree ᅚ MedicalAdhesives ᅚ VeterinaryCreams ᅚ FruitPaste ᅚ Toothpaste ᅚ Malt ᅚ Jam ᅚ Wax Asampleofproductswealreadypump… T: +44 (0)1746 764311 E: sales@kecol.co.uk W: www.kecolpumps.com 40-45.qxp_Layout 1 27/05/2022 14:55 Page 444 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SNACK FOODS AND READY MEALS We specialise in Halal Certification of Food Ingredients, Beverages Dairy, Confectionery, Flavourings, Colourings, Pharmaceuticals, Toiletries, Cosmetics and other non-food items. We also certify Meat, Poultry, Slaughtering, Cutting, Portioning, Processed and Ready Meals for national and international markets. www.halalfoodauthority.com | info@halalfoodauthority.com | 0044 (0) 20 8446 7127 LONDON - IRELAND - BELGIUM GLOBALLY RECOGNISED SINCE 1994 Halal Food Authority SYMBOL OF TRUST & AUTHENTICITY to pay 10% or more for eco-friendly packaged products. This means that companies can pass on these costs to the consumer, being relatively safe in the knowledge that there will be little backlash for this. One way to achieve this is to adopt or increase existing ranges of meal kits. Fresh delivery services such as Hello Fresh have seen a surge in popularity in recent times. These kits work by providing prepared ingredients in the exact quantity required, which the buyer then prepares themselves. The benefit of this method is that less packaging can be used, as some of the ingredients will not require their own container. Furthermore, providing exact amounts significantly reduces food waste. In fact, one study found that meal kits contribute 33% less to greenhouse gas emissions than grocery bought meals. These meal kits are also often touted as being healthier than traditional ready meals, as fresher ingredients are used. This fulfils a dual concern of cutting down on waste, and providing a healthier meal option, without compromising on the convenience. A second method for reducing packaging waste is to make the existing packaging compostable or recyclable. This adds to the convenience factor for the consumer, as they can easily place it in the recycling bin without having to research whether specific packaging components are recyclable. Such materials would include glass or stainless steel. Both materials could be reused within the home, or easily recycled. Furthermore, they don’t come with the associated health risks of 40-45.qxp_Layout 1 27/05/2022 14:55 Page 5Food & Drink International 45 www.fdiforum.net SNACK FOODS AND READY MEALS plastics which, upon beginning to degrade, have been associated with male and female infertility and tumour development. Alternatively, biodegradable materials are becoming more widely used in food packaging. Bamboo, for example, is durable and heat resistant, making it ideal for food packaging. Bamboo packaging would be ideal for rice or noodle-based dishes, as these are not heavy and could be sealed with a plastic free lid. Rice husk is another material rising to prominence. As a by-product of rice farming, this makes it a relatively low-cost material. It is also known for shatterproof properties, thus resilient enough to withstand both oven cooking and refrigeration. Both bamboo and rice husk can be either recycled or composted at home. Although the ready meal market is indeed competitive, research demonstrates that consumers have retained an appetite for convenient meal options. Conscious consumerism is a shift not just observed within the food industry, but retail generally, and shows no signs of slowing down. Finding a way to marry the two concepts will likely not just bolster sales but secure the continued survival of ready meal product lines. © stock.adobe.com/ Данияр Айбеков Non-contact, instant and accurate with MoistTech MoistTech Corp.® represents the diamond standard in robust, reliable, and dependable near-infrared (NIR) moisture measurement and control technology. Manufacturing a range of on-line sensors & at-line instruments for moisture measurement and real-time process control for numerous applications, the technology also has the ability to monitor oil and fat/protein content along with other elements that absorb NIR light. With varying moisture and oil content, on-line NIR measurement is a key tool to ensuring optimum efficiency and quality control. The ability to measure moisture and make process adjustments during the production cycle is key. Moisture content has a drastic effect on quality and can lead to excessive waste and downtime. Measuring the moisture or oil before and after drying will yield significant improvements to the finished product. The sensors require a one-time calibration and are manufactured with a non-drift optical design to provide continuous, reliable readings with zero maintenance. Production efficiency improvements due to accurate real- time measurements provide both energy savings and potential increased productivity with lower material losses. Our moisture detectors use state-of-the-art components allowing installation in the most extreme locations. info@moisttech.com www.moisttech.com +1 941.727.1800 40-45.qxp_Layout 1 27/05/2022 14:55 Page 6Sustainable Foods Summit European Edition 7 – 8 Jul Amsterdam, The Netherlands Since 2009, the Sustainable Foods Summit has been discussing leading issues the food industry faces concerning sustainability and eco-labels, such as Organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, etc. The aim of the Sustainable Foods Summit is to explore new horizons for eco-labels and sustainability in the food industry by discussing key industry issues. How do organic, fairtrade and other eco-labelling schemes further sustainability? Such questions are regularly addressed at this international series of summits. For more visit www.sustainablefoodssummit.com/europe IFT’s Annual Meeting & Food Expo 10 – 13 Jul Chicago, USA IFT’s Annual Event and Food Expo is the largest business-to-business food innovation BevExpo 7 – 8 Jun Manchester, United Kingdom BevExpo is an opportunity for the wider beverage industry to meet, learn, discover and share the excellence of products and services supplied at all points of the chain, from start to finish. A mix of networking areas, workshops and knowledge hubs embraced within a showcase area for services and products - delivering a 365 “surround sound” experience of our industry. BevExpo is a fast paced and exciting event that celebrates achievements and developments within the supply chain. Manila Food and Beverage Expo 15 – 19 Jun Pasay, Philippines Manila Food and Beverage Expo (MAFBEX) showcases a complete range of food and beverage related products. This exhibition is set to bring together leading companies across the region and internationally to showcase their brands to the Philippines’ market. 46 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net Events Food & Drink © stock.adobe.com/ f11photo Food Ingredients China 30 May – 02 Jun Shanghai, China Food Ingredients China is one of the largest professional trade shows in the field of food additives and ingredients. The annually held trade event covers all fields of the food industry, with products like novel food & ingredients, natural & functional ingredients, food-related packing material and machinery, test equipment, and techniques. FIC is a highly industry-cohesive exhibition with well- known enterprises from countries and regions around the world. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, readers should be aware that events may have been cancelled or postponed. All dates correct as of publishing, but please check beforehand. expo. It will focus on IFT explores: Hacking the Food Supply: Can We Synthesize a More Sustainable Future. Join the conversation at FIRST as front-line scientists and product developers explore the potential promises and pitfalls of hacking the future of food. © stock.adobe.com/ fanjianhua 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 27/05/2022 14:57 Page 1BIOFACH Nuremburg 26 – 29 Jul Nuremberg, Germany BIOFACH Nuremberg is the world leading event focusing on organic foods. The event involves passionate exhibitors and visitors who are solely concerned about organic foods and want to spread awareness about the benefits of organic foods. Various exhibitors and professionals gather and conduct seminars to spread as much awareness as possible. A variety of organic products and services are exhibited by the professionals and demonstration of various tools and products are conducted by the professionals. Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo 28 - 30 Aug Los Angeles, USA The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo features educational sessions to bring knowledge to enhance your business savvy and boost profits, a New Product Showcase gives you the first look at the latest innovations in the industry and highlights the latest alcoholic beverage trends and how to engineer your beverage menu to maximize profits; and more. Good Food & Wine Show 3 – 5 Jun Melbourne, Australia The Good Food & Wine Show in Melbourne is one of the largest consumer exhibitions in Australia. With hundreds of local and international exhibitors your new favourite food and drinks are only a sample away. The Good Food & Wine Show offers you the chance to exhibit alongside local producers to industry leaders and reach this highly engaged audience. Food & Drink International 47 www.fdiforum.net © stock.adobe.com/Arnold Africa’s Big 7 19 – 21 Jun Johannesburg, South Africa Africa’s Big 7 is now entering its 19th edition and continues to be a trusted partner aligned with the needs of the industry - to offer quality, affordable food and beverage products that cater to the ever-increasing demands of consumers. Africa’s Big 7 brings together the best in the food & beverage business to identify growth opportunities and to close deals. 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 27/05/2022 14:57 Page 2FEATURES Health, Safety & Hygiene Spotlight Cold Storage Packaging Engineering & Components Dairy Industry Meet The Experts Import & Export Next month in July 2022 - Deadline 15th June INTERNATIONAL Visit us at www.fdiforum.net where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to our newsletters so you can have the latest news emailed to your inbox, in between printed issues? 48.qxp_Layout 1 27/05/2022 14:57 Page 1Classified You can feature your company in our hugely popular Online Directory with a description, contact details and a hyperlink If you would like further information please contact Vicky Hunt on +44 [0] 1472 310310 or email v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk or visit www.fdiforum.net/directory From field to fork, Food & Drink International is the voice of the industry. 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