June 2015
Introduction
Fabri-Kal, the leader in innovative packaging solutions, brings you the latest news and exciting
developments that are currently happening in the dynamic world of packaging and foodservice
operation. In this issue of Open Here:
Fabri-Kal Celebrates Snacking!
• Summer Snacking Season Is Here!
• Single-Serve & Snack-Size Portions on the Rise
• F-K Snack Packaging Solutions
• Helping College Students Avoid the `Freshman 15´
Summer Snacking Season Is Here!
The busy summer travel season is well underway, and that
often means lots of travel time in the car, whether for the
traditional family vacation, long weekend trips or just keeping
up with favorite summer activities like barbeques, baseball
games and lazy days at the beach. Taking advantage of this
“season of snacking” requires insights into consumer
behavior along with food and packaging trends.
Unlike the days of family dinners and scheduled lunch times,
today’s consumers spend half of their eating or drinking time
snacking. Since people are snacking more often, they want
more nutrients in their snack choices. Often people don’t
know when the “snack attack” will strike, but they plan ahead for the eventual need by keeping a few options in their
desk drawer, lunch bag or glove compartment. They also rely heavily on quick-serve stores or restaurants. When
preparing snacks for on-the-go consumption, here are a few suggestions to keep in mind:
Time of day contributes to what snacks consumers crave
- Morning calls for snacks that are more focused on health and wellness
- Late in the day, people tend to indulge more in treats and sweets
Play to your regional strengths, offering niche snacks with hyper-local flavors that
connect people to their culinary heritage
Don’t stop at salty snacks! Even though salty snacks are still the snack sales leader, many
consumers are looking for healthier options, such as trail mix, yogurt and protein bars
Single-Serve & Snack-Size Portions on the Rise
As we’ve seen from consumer behavior studies, grocery scan data and quick-serve restaurant menu
surveys, smaller portions – whether it be in serving or package size – are on the rise. Often, this may
mean that familiar food has been repackaged in smaller containers. Consider this:
• While hummus has been a grocery staple for decades, its popularity soared when it was paired with
dipping chips in single-serve containers
• Candy bars have long been snack favorites, typically merchandised in the grocery check-out line
as an impulse item. Responding to consumer demand for smaller portions that can be shared, candy maker Mars Inc.
began offering larger bags of bite-size candy bars, which have grown in popularity four times faster than the overall
chocolate market in the past few years.
Darren Seifer, NPD Group’s food and beverage industry analyst, puts the snacking opportunity in perspective with this
data point: “Each day, 28 million Americans will buy at least one snack food.”
Fabri-Kal Snack-Packaging Solutions
Whether you’re looking for high-quality plastic drink cups, portion cups, on-the-go boxes or deli and dessert
containers, Fabri-Kal’s experts will work with you to identify the design and materials attributes that are most
important to you and your needs. Choosing from clear PET drinking cups, to durable polystyrene (PS) portion cups
or choosing our 100% plant-based Greenware® line, your Fabri-Kal team will deliver the best packaging solution.
Perfect for Grab-N-Go Snackers - Greenware® On-The-Go Boxes
- Put together your own snacking combo with these crystal clear containers
featuring 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-cell designs with one flat lid that fits all.
- Made from Ingeo™ biopolymer, a PLA resin derived entirely from plants.
- Plant sources are domestically grown and annually renewable.
We All Scream for Ice Cream –
with Indulge™ Dessert Containers!
- From sundaes to sorbets, satisfy your customers' sweet tooth
with these unique crystal-clear dessert containers.
- Made from PET that contains a minimum of 20% post-consumer recycled PET plastic bottles.
- Available in three sizes, ranging from 5 to 12 ounces and with several
lid options: versatile dome lid for frozen confections, low-profile “swirl” dome with hole, or flat-top dome that can serve as a dish.
Helping College Students Avoid the `Freshman 15´
An expression that’s been around for decades among college students and
their families, the “Freshman 15”, is more than just a myth. Researchers have
proven that college students do tend to gain weight during the first year of
college. Here are some tips to share with this fall’s incoming freshman:
•
Eat breakfast – Provides energy for early morning classes and helps
to eliminate the need to grab a candy bar before lunch.
•
Try new foods – Instead of relying on the same food choices for dinner, experts encourage students to expand their taste profile by trying new things – especially vegetarian offerings that provide healthier options.
•
Choose drinks wisely – Sodas and alcoholic drinks are loaded with sugar and calories. Cut back on these, opting for lots of water throughout the day instead.
•
Watch late-night snacks – College students invariably find themselves working late on term papers or
preparing for tomorrow’s quiz. Instead of a late-night pizza run, keep healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables handy to fill the hunger cravings.
•
Get some sleep – really! A good night’s sleep helps keep students healthy and can help prevent the
Freshman 15.
Do your part by suggesting healthy snacks that are affordable, are easy to make and taste good:
•
Mixed nuts, especially with added raisins or cranberries to keep students full longer and help satisfy
that sweet tooth.
•
Yogurt – Greek yogurt is a healthy snack that mixes well with a wide variety of toppings, from fresh fruit
to granola, honey, even chocolate chips!
•
And the classic snack – Pretzels are much healthier than chips and cookies, and they pair with nearly everything mentioned above.
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