Page 54 - Retail World Magazine Jan/Feb 2021 TOB

BACK TO SCHOOL FROM PAGE 51 ingredients, with no preservatives, no added sugar and no added flavours, and are not sourced from concentrate but all made from fruit and vegetables with vitamin C added. He adds that they are a source of fibre and a good source of energy, while the Sommer Breakfast Smoothie also includes oats, a source of protein. Snacking on nutrients “Good snacking choices often start with buying the right products at store, so retailers focusing on better-for-you products will help shoppers navigate the snacking aisle better,” said Alice Green, Brand Manager for Nice & Natural at New Zealand-based Griffin’s Food Company. She says that now more than ever, consumers are looking to prioritise their health, as well as their children’s. “In the current climate, taking care of our health and our kids’ health is more important than ever,” she said. “At Nice & Natural we know that finding nutritious, convenient and great-tasting snacks can be a challenge.” With this knowledge, she says the brand offers a range of lunch box snacks for every occasion. “The Nice & Natural product range offers lots of options for a wide variety of tastes and needs,” Ms Green said. “From Probiotic Oat Bars, which contain probiotics and prebiotic fibre, to Protein Nut Bars and Protein Wholeseed Bars that all contain a source of protein and fibre. “Our Salted Caramel Flavour Protein Nut Bar and our Cranberry & Raspberry Flavour Protein Wholeseed Bar each have a five-star Health Star Rating. “For our Nice & Natural Roasted Nut Bar range, in 2018 we reduced the amount of sugar from the previous formulation, and most of these bars now have less than 6g of sugar per bar.” Expanding on what trends are circulating throughout schools at the moment, Ms Green touches on the popularity of sustainable practices. “As we understand it, a lot of New Zealand schools are now providing healthier options in their canteens and are paying more attention to what kids bring in their lunch boxes,” she said. “Some schools are also moving to litter-free lunch boxes and encouraging less packaging waste. “We need to make it easier for parents to prepare school lunches, and educate them about ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’ when it comes to food nutrition.” “Our new Nice & Natural Baked Oat Bars have no individual wrappers, for a litter-free lunch box, and are packaged in a home compostable film and recyclable cardboard tray, resulting in 60 per cent less packaging when compared with Nice & Natural Roasted Nut Bars in 192g.” Referring to the retailer’s role in promoting a better-for-you offering, Ms Green said: “Retailers could focus on promoting products with higher Health Star Ratings, especially around back-to- school time when parents are actively looking for snacks for the lunch box. “Expanding shelf space for better-for- you ranges and decreasing it for other options would also help encourage shoppers to pick up better choices for their snacking needs.” Beans with a twist Human Bean Co Chief Bean Officer Angus Wood discusses the critical role that businesses in the FMCG industry play in encouraging healthy eating among children. “Many young Aussies go to school without a balanced diet or without any lunch,” he said. “Some even have no breakfast. This compromises their learning ability, emotional wellbeing and mental health. “As a manufacturer, we need to make it easier for parents to prepare school lunches, and educate them about ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’ when it comes to food nutrition – empowering them to make the right choices for their kids and grandkids for generations to come.” Mr Wood says the Human Bean Co’s products include allergen-friendly and healthy snacks for children, with its Healthy Aussie Grown Faba Beans backed by a Health Star Rating of five stars. “They’re gluten and nut free, vegan and allergen friendly, and low in sugar and saturated fat,” he said. “The beans are dry roasted, rather than fried, making them tastier and crunchier while delivering on health. Each individual 20g pack has 5g-plus plant-based protein, which provides a sustainable energy for kids, and is the perfect size for the lunch box.” Mr Wood agrees that “it’s absolutely critical, now more than ever, putting extra effort into nutrition \\\[for children\\\]”. “Kids were less active when they were homebound last year,” he said. “Now it’s the perfect time to reset, restart and refocus on developing a well-balanced diet and lifestyle.” Retailers, he adds, can step in, “offering the right products at the right time” with “emphasis on the nutritional values” and making them “accessible for all to purchase”. 52 RETAIL WORLD JAN/FEB, 2021