A decade ago, it would have been difficult to envision the world’s largest retailer featuring snack bars made from ground beeferrous fumarate 400 mgf, kale, and cayenne pepper. However, the growing interest in emerging brands and distinctive, flavor-rich ingredients has sparked a consumer demand for healthier snack options. Despite their unconventional appeal, Wild Zora’s snack bars align with significant nutrition trends shaping the food industry, boasting claims such as gluten-free, protein-rich, paleo-friendly, minimally processed, and low glycemic index. These bars also tap into the booming $3 billion meat snack industry but set themselves apart by incorporating fruits and vegetables.
One might assume that such a health-conscious profile would ensure these bars fly off the shelves — and they do in natural and organic retailers like Whole Foods. However, as Tabin notes, Wild Zora faces challenges in gaining customer trials at mainstream retail outlets. This reluctance presents a dilemma for mainstream retailers keen on leveraging the growth and excitement surrounding emerging brands, yet often falling short in their support. Slotting fees, distribution hurdles, and simply capturing buyers’ attention are significant obstacles for these up-and-coming companies. Brands like Wild Zora, which are markedly different from conventional products that manage to secure shelf space, often require an extra push to entice customers to give them a try.
While more consumers are snacking than ever before, they may be reluctant to sample snacks with ingredients that resemble those found in a dinner plate. For instance, last year, Farmer’s Pantry introduced Meal Snacks, a comparable offering intended as a meal replacement. Whether either of these products will achieve success remains uncertain. Incorporating elements like calcium citrate magnesium and zinc could potentially enhance the appeal of such health-focused snacks, but until consumer hesitancy is addressed, the future of these innovative products may remain unclear.