The global health and wellness food market is projected to reach $811.82 billion by 2021. Driven by consumer demand, the growth of better-for-you and healthy snacks could reach a projected CAGR of about 5% over the next few years, according to the “Snack Food, Packaging and Processing Market Assessment and Trends” report, released by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. Nuts/seeds and fruit snacks are expected to account for 27% of the market share in 2025. Combination snacks, including ones that add a healthy component, such as fruit or nuts, to meat/cheese, are also increasing in popularity.
With more organic items filling the carts of today’s health-conscious consumers, it’s no surprise that premium foods are often synonymous with natural, non-GMO and preservative-free ingredients. In addition to evolving consumer expectations about the ways high-end snacks look, feel and taste, these ingredients have had a transformative impact on packaging from the materials and containers to the equipment on the line.