Fruit snacks contract won

RH Amar, fine food distributor, has been awarded the contract to grow Kestrel Foods’ range of Forest Feast – premium dried fruit and nuts – across UK wholesale and independent channels as well as selected retail, impulse/convenience and food service targets.

With current listings across the UK marketplace including Waitrose,Tesco, Costco & Spar, the popularity of Forest Feast has been fuelled by two core consumer trends.
The first a surge in the fruit snacks category. The second, the well-publicised boom in home baking.

RH Amar will initially take on five product categories of Forest Feast: Premium Fruit Doypacks aimed at the home baking market; Mini Fruit Doypacks that address the healthy, on-the-go snacking market; the Chocolate Quads indulgent snack offering; Mini Snack International that combines exciting world flavours and nut mixes; and £1 price-marked Wholesnacks range targeted at the impulse and convenience sector.

Forest Feast’s Premium Fruit Doypacks, available in 130g to 250g sizes in resealable, foil packaging for freshness, have won seven Great Taste Awards affirming their exceptional taste and quality. The range, as well as including standard dried fruits such as dried Malatya Apricot and Jumbo Agen Prunes, also includes Fair Trade Exotic Dried Mango and a unique Coco Mango option that hold a strong appeal with the growing number of consumers concerned with product sourcing. These large fruit Doypacks are perfect for home baking as well as for healthy snacking in the home.

Mini Fruit Doypacks are well positioned to benefit as retailers increasingly align their impulse fixtures to range healthy snacking options. Meanwhile, the Chocolate Quads and Mini Snack Internationals complement the health range by adding an element of indulgence and excitement to the snacking fixture.

Forest Feast Snack International encompasses flavours from around the world, from hot and spicy Asian flavours to wholesome and mouthwatering European and Mediterranean inspired mixes.  The range holds strong appeal with the well-travelled consumer.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Forest Feast to further grow their exceptional range of dried fruit and nuts,” said James Amar, product marketing manager, RH Amar.  “The brand represents absolute quality and innovation.  It offers retailers a clear opportunity to add excitement to the snacking fixture while at once offering consumers a quality, healthier snacking alternative.  The addition of Forest Feast to our portfolio both boosts and complements our home baking and snacking ranges.”

“We are delighted that RH Amar will be working with Forest Feast to develop new distribution channels in the UK market,” says Tim McVicker, commercial director of Kestrel Foods.  “As a business they have an impressive track record of deepening and growing distribution across all areas of the food trade, working both with global brands and innovative new brands. We feel that RH Amar shares our excitement and passion for our Forest Feast product range as well as our ambitions for growth and development.”