Italians love seeds and nuts

A report by Canadean has found that, in the Italian savoury snacks market, nuts and seeds is the second largest category, and is set to reach 27.4 million kg by 2018.

Nuts and seeds are popular due to their indulgent taste, convenient nature, and nutritious content. According to Veronika Zhupanova, Analyst at Canadean: “To maximise their moments of “me-time”, consumers will look for decadent flavours, such as cashew with chilli or pistachio with pomegranate. However, basic flavours will remain on demand, granting consumers an option to return to their comfort zone.”

In addition, as Italian consumers eat nuts and seeds the demand for packaging, suitable for on-the-go consumption, is expected to rise. Manufacturers should put more focus on making single-serve packs smaller and hence more convenient for carrying.

Over 20% of nuts and seeds consumption in Italy is motivated by age-related needs, such as high protein to support muscle mass, calcium for bone health for those aged 0-15 and over 55, and vitamin E for anti-aging effects for middle-aged consumers. Zhupanova suggests that manufacturers should take advantage of this and offer a range of products with age-aligned benefits, varied by type of nut.