Inspiration for On-The-Go Foods and Beverages

Discover the value almonds can bring to convenience products, such as:

• Packaged Oats
• Ready-To-Drink Protein Shake
• Almond Flour Wrap

Providing a convenient, healthy, and ready-to-consume product can help differentiate your offering from the competition-especially because consumers are becoming more cost-conscious and are seeking more benefits from their purchases. A report found that the top purchase drivers for consumers in 2023 are affordability, immunity support, and convenience¹, making the healthy, on-the-go market a huge growth opportunity for food brands. Formulators must navigate ongoing consumer trends, such as clean label and plant-based, with convenience foods and beverages that consumers can trust to grab off the shelves and enjoy.

Here are three ways to meet the consumer demand for convenience foods and beverages:

1. Honey Almond Overnight Oats

Almond inclusions are perfect for a nutritious, on-the-go breakfast such as oatmeal. Add a crunchy texture with whole, sliced, diced, slivered, or split almonds, and a drizzle of almond butter to offer a combination of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Consumers can add hot water or milk, stir, and enjoy on-the-go without needing to use a stove or get any dishes dirty in the process. Almond ingredients complement other inclusions like fruit, producing a wide range of textures and flavors, while still remaining gluten-free and clean label.

2. Ready-To-Drink (RTD) Almond Protein Shake

RTD protein shakes with almond protein powder can be a midday snack, or a quick, nutritious meal replacement. According to data, the global ready-to-drink protein beverages market will reach $2.67 billion USD by 2031, growing 6.8% annually². The incorporation of plant-based protein within a convenient RTD beverage, allows consumers to grab-and-go without compromising nutrition. While some plant-based proteins can produce an unappealing mouthfeel or “earthy” flavor, almond protein powder provides a smooth mouthfeel, with neutral, flavor-masking characteristics that blend well with other flavors and ingredients.

3. To-Go Almond Flour Wrap

Provide a quick and easy lunch for gluten-free consumers with a wrap made from almond flour. Depending on the texture desired, formulators can choose between a natural almond flour, which offers a more natural and rustic appearance, or an extra-fine blanched almond flour, which is great for creating a soft, delicate wrap. Regardless of the almond flour variety chosen, the almond base offers excellent flavor with all the healthy fats and important nutrients consumers are looking for, like fiber, magnesium, and vitamin E.

Want to learn more about how almond ingredients can help you innovate convenient, nutritious products, contact us or request a sample today.

References:

 

¹ “Consumers focused on affordability, convenience in food shopping,” Drug Store News. 2023.
² “Ready-To-Drink (RTD) Protein Beverages Market Size, Trends, Shares, Growth Status, Report And Forecast 2030,” Alliance News. 2023.