COVER STORY
Kennedy’s Confection finds out how walnuts can help meet the seemingly contradictory demands of today’s confectionery consumers.
CALIFORNIA
WALNUTS EXPLORING THE OPPORTUNITIES
C
KennedysConfection.com
onfectionery producers today are having to meet a variety of contradictory consumer demands – on the one hand consumers are craving premium and nostalgic treats to indulge in both for comfort and as a reward. On the other hand, a growing number of consumers are also seeking clean-label, all-natural chocolate confections that they can feel good about eating. California walnuts
can be a great ally for confectionery producers who want to meet all these demands with their product offerings. California walnuts are nutrient dense and are the only tree nut
to contain significant amounts of the plant-based Omega-3 ALA (2.7g/30g) as well as 4.7 grams of protein and 1.4 grams of fibre. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid that must be consumed as it cannot be manufactured by the body and is vital to maintain optimal health. In terms of health attributes, research reveals that eating walnuts as part of an overall healthy eating pattern, may have many benefits for the heart, brain, gut and more. Good gut health may be linked to a variety of health benefits including those for digestion, metabolism, and the immune system.
In addition to desiring foods that enhance overall health and
wellness, younger consumers are also showing a keen interest in supporting sustainable business practices. A trend report from Innova Market Insights also named transparency as the number one trend to accelerate innovation in 2021. This means that confectionery brands need to give more consideration to meet consumers growing ethical, environmental, and clean label demands. Walnuts can deliver a plant-based, clean label ingredient for use in a wide range of confectionery and bakery products. More than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States are grown in California’s Central Valley which are grown, harvested, and processed following
December 2021 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
