in a
July 2015
nutshell
The sustainable peanut
When it comes to sustainability, U.S. peanut farmers have dramatically improved their
environmentally favourable crop production practices over the years. The result? A
nutritious and delicious crop that Canadians have come to know and love.
The American Peanut Council (APC) makes it a priority to implement policies and practices
that directly affect the food Canadians consume. The APC also ensures quality peanuts
are produced using sound agricultural practices, and as a result peanuts consistently come
out with a lower water footprint than other nuts. With this, yields have risen dramatically,
making the U.S. the lowest-cost producer in the world.
The role and responsibility of the American peanut farmer is adopted with great care and
dedication to ensure the provision of an ample, high-quality and safe supply of peanuts to
food manufacturers and consumers. Over the years, the industry has worked to improve environmental crop production
practices in terms of efficiencies in energy and water use, soil erosion, land use and greenhouse gases.
Next time you open a jar of peanut butter or crack open a peanut shell, consider the labour of love that went into producing
a high-quality product that’s both loaded with nutritional benefits and produced using sound environmental practices.
Sources: American Peanut Council, Peanut Bureau of Canada
Big Apple event spreads the word
about Peanut Butter for the Hungry
What happens when peanut butter lovers take on New York?
In April, the National Peanut Board “spread” the peanut butter
love in New York City, with activities including social mediafueled PB&J deliveries, nutrition sessions and delicious
recipes. To mark the end of a nutty week and celebrate
National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day, American peanut farmers
teamed up to make 1,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
for the city’s hungry – accomplished under one hour.
The result? With the help of countless volunteers and partners,
1,059 PB&J sandwiches were made and delivered to The
Bowery Mission. Plus, the #PowerfulPeanut pop-up
stands also raised more than $3,000 for Peanut
Butter for the Hungry.
Continued on page 2
www.peanutsusa.com
in a
2
nutshell
Consumer research
In the previous issue of In a Nutshell, you read
about the love Canadians have for peanuts and
peanut butter. Canadians enjoy peanut butter for
a variety of reasons such as taste, conveneince
and health attributes, but there’s more to the story!
Did you know?
• 81% believe peanut butter is nutritious and
high in protein and 80% believe peanut butter
provides a quick energy boost
• Almost 40% consistently enjoy peanut butter
in their diet
• 81% feel peanut butter makes a good snack
for kids; 82% for adults
• 62% of health-conscious consumers prefer
creamy peanut butter
• Majority of peanut butter eaters like it for the
taste, usage and nutrition (86%)
Continued from page 1
Big Apple event spreads the word
about Peanut Butter for the Hungry
Managed by the American Peanut Council (APC), Peanut Butter
for the Hungry is a program that involves all members of the
U.S. peanut industry, from growers to manufacturers. The
program’s goal is to help severely malnourished children,
doing so through the production and delivery of ready-to-use
therapeutic food (RUTF) to countries in the developing world.
RUTF is a ready-to-eat, vitamin-enriched staple that uses
peanut butter as its base. Nutritionist-developed, RUTF has
been shown to cure and prevent malnutrition. In 2013 alone,
UNICEF received enough RUTF paste packets to treat 2.6
million children in 56 countries; this supply covers approximately
15 per cent of those with severe acute malnutrition (SAM)
globally. This supply level has been at an all-time high since
2000, and is expected to increase with the greater demand to
manage acute malnutrition.
• In Canada, peanut butter is most likely to be
consumed in the morning
• The most common way to enjoy peanut
butter is on toast, bread or baked goods
• Dipping right into the peanut butter jar
increased to 31% from 26%
Peanut butter is a pantry staple in Canadian
households and has been for years. With the
endless health benefits and versatility when it
comes to recipe ideas, it’s no wonder this mighty
legume is at the top of our grocery lists.
Source: Erickson Research
More peanutty pop-ups are planned for cities across the
United States, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago and
Washington, D.C.
Sources: National Peanut Board, United States Department of
Agriculture, UNICEF.org
in a
3
nutshell
Health and nutrition corner: Harley Pasternak on the powerful peanut
If you’re nuts for peanuts, you’re in good company!
In a recent article for People Magazine, Harley Pasternak
shared why peanuts are a nutritional powerhouse. Here’s a
recap of what the celebrity trainer and nutrition expert said
about our favourite legume:
Jam-packed with nutrients
Peanuts are a nutritional powerhouse packed with protein,
carbohydrates, fibre and many more good-for-you vitamins
and minerals. Plus, the majority of fat found in peanuts is
monounsaturated, which is important to heart health and
can help lower blood cholesterol. This trifecta of protein,
fibre and healthy fats also helps to moderate appetite.
Good-for-you goobers
Choose peanuts not only for taste, but also the health
benefits! Peanuts have been the subject of extensive
research which found:
• Peanuts reduce the risk of heart disease by 24%
• Eating peanuts helped decrease blood pressure, even
among those with high blood pressure
• Opting for peanuts or peanut butter in the morning
helped manage and decrease blood sugar spikes
throughout the day
Other powerful peanut
products
The market for peanutty
products is growing far
beyond the go-to jar of
peanut butter, including:
• Peanut oil: A smart
alternative for cooking,
peanut oil doesn’t impart
its flavour into the food
and can handle higher
temperatures than other
oils
• Peanut flour: A smart substitute for those who are
gluten-intolerant, peanut flour can be used as a
replacement for flour and breadcrumbs when baking
and breading
• Peanut protein powder: A great addition to smoothies,
yogurt and oatmeal, Pasternak recommends looking
for peanut protein powders with no added sugars or
flavourings
Read the full article here: People.com
Marketing and merchandising
Summer has arrived and so have our appetites! Consumers are already thinking everything outdoors - barbeques, sporting
events, camping and much more. Summer is a high-traffic shopping time of year when retail customers are out to browse
and buy.
To be prepared for the summer rush (and heat!), check out our merchandising tips to help put some sizzle in your sales.
• Be visual and visible: The appearance and environment in a retail setting is important to customers, so take some
time to set up some unique and highly-visible displays that showcase the versatility of in-shell peanuts. This may help
generate incremental sales.
• Be creative: Based on recent findings from Erickson Research, peanuts are the second most-preferred snack, next
to potato chips (66% and 60%), respectively. With this knowledge, consider tying in a wing display of in-shell peanuts
beside potato chip displays to show a healthier option.
Continued on page 4
in a
nutshell
Continued from page 3
Marketing and merchandising
• Offer a takeaway: More than ever, customers are health-conscious shoppers who
take opportunities to learn about healthy food options for their families. Consider
creating a brochure or handout that includes relevant health information. We all
know the health benefits of peanuts and peanut butter, so let’s spread the wealth!
• Personalized offers: In a recent article from CanadianGrocer.com, personalized
(digital, targeted e-couponing) offers whose redemption rates soar high above
the industry average and can help generate significantly more revenue. At the
same time, they help build shopper loyalty, which is of growing importance,
particularly as millennials begin to grow up and start shopping. Unlike Boomers
who still highly value print ads, millennials particularly have embraced electronic
communications is their preferred communications vehicle. Consider flash sales,
mobile applications, use of indoor location technology and social media to highlight and promote Quality U.S.A. (inshell) peanuts potentially coinciding with major Canadian sporting events being conducted in your marketplace(s) e.g.,
Pan-Am and Parapan Games, CFL Football, Blue Jays Baseball, etc. The sales results will be impressive on this high
gross margin item!
Sources: Erickson Research, CanadianGrocer.com
Recipe: Chili Chocolate Peanut Butter Popsicles
Kick your snacking routine up a notch! Inspired by the Mexican heat, these popsicles – or palatas – bring together the
classic combination of peanut butter and chocolcate, with a spicy kick to your palate. For the little ones, the amount of
cayenne pepper can be reduced. More great recipes can be found at www.peanutbureau.ca.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 6 hours
Makes about 8 popsicles (palatas)
Ingredients:
1 cup (250 mL)
⅓ cup (75 mL)
¾ tsp (4 mL)
¼ tsp (1 mL)
⅓ cup (75 mL)
1 cup (250 mL)
1 tbsp (15 mL)
peanut butter
liquid honey
cayenne pepper
salt
unsweetened cocoa powder
milk
peanuts, very finely chopped (optional)
Directions:
1. In a large (4-cup/1-L) measuring cup, stir peanut butter with honey, cayenne and salt. Stir in cocoa powder until smooth.
2. Very gradually whisk in milk, until the mixture is smooth and milk is completely combined.
3. Sprinkle base of popsicle molds with peanuts. Pour peanut butter mixture into molds and insert popsicle sticks. Freeze
until firm, about 6 hours.
4