With the ongoing trend in consumer behaviour, healthy lifestyles are more popular than ever. This extends from the dinner table to food-to-go stands and everything in between, with each consumer taking their own approach to it. Some will primarily aim to eat healthier meals but still snack on their long-time favourites, whilst some will seek healthier options at every opportunity. Data shows that consumers still snack and treat themselves, even when they’re being good1! Whilst shoppers are keen to change their habits, many struggle not to buy snacks and as many as 96% of them are likely to snack within a two-week period, and 40% feel guilty when buying them2. This presents an opportunity to stock sweet and healthy snacks, low-calorie sweets and healthy drinks and meet consumer needs.
Many factors can make a product stand out and appease shoppers’ feelings about unhealthy snacking. These include no artificial ingredients or additives, natural ingredients, as well as natural ingredients, no, low, or reduced fat, sugar and salt, and enhanced recipes with high protein, fibre and vitamins. For retailers, this means that healthier snacks and drinks are a simple way to cater for this consumer trend because shoppers still want their sweet treats3.
The newly launched Healthier at Hancocks range is designed specifically to help our customers cater to these shoppers and broaden the horizons of our range of delicious lines to suit even more businesses and consumers. Among the new additions, there is a wonderful variety of treats and snacks that offer a variety of health benefits – but are still so tasty. From lines with boosted protein content to those with reduced calories, as well as plant-based and sugar-free treats and drinks with added benefits, too, there are plenty of lines to shop. So, allow us to introduce some of the new brands that have joined the Hancocks family.
Within the world of healthy snacks, high-protein options are among the most popular. Often seen as treats with a positive correlation to well-being4, lines with high protein are desirable and versatile stock. Whether seen as a better-for-you treat, a post-workout snack, or even an on-the-go breakfast, there are many reasons that shoppers would turn to them.
Whether you want to offer shoppers protein bars or something altogether more unique like protein cookies, or even savoury options, there is stock for you in our range of high-protein snacks.
Protein bars are a go-to product to support active lifestyles, and we have some wonderful picks that will enhance any range. With big names like Grenade and Warrior, plus the indulgent flavours of Barebells protein bars and ProDough’s dessert-inspired bars, you won’t be short of choice.
Littered across our range, there are creative and genius offerings that pull together high-protein content and a proposition that will have shoppers licking their lips. For example, Yummo’s Dough Dreamer Protein Cookies come in two irresistible flavours that each pack 10g of protein. When shoppers are seeking healthy sweet snacks, you can’t go wrong with these!
For those with less of a sweet tooth, you’ll be glad to read that we’ve got savoury picks, too. A staple for stores of all kinds, Wild West Beef Jerky is unmistakable and a moreish source of protein! Sticking on a savoury track, CheeseO’s are a delightfully crunchy, 100% cheese snack that is unique and perfect for shoppers seeking healthy options for snacks throughout the day.
Complimenting an active and healthy lifestyle, energy bars feature a carbohydrate-rich recipe that is primed to provide a timely energy boost. Designed with athletic performance in mind, energy bars are fast becoming a popular healthy snack5 – especially in the morning. A popular trend is seeing consumers swap out breakfast bars for energy bars to fuel their day, whilst they’re a popular choice within on-the-go missions, too.
For anyone acquainted with energy bars, the first name that springs to mind will be Clif. Their range includes delicious Clif Bars, Nut Butter Bars, and chewy Clif Bloks (chewy treats designed to release energy during exercise). With recipes that make the most out of natural ingredients, these tasty boosts are ideal for a wide range of consumers. Whether shoppers are looking for an ad hoc breakfast to fuel their day, getting ready for the gym or an adventure, or simply a tasty snack with natural ingredients, Clif bars have the answer.
Perhaps a more traditional approach to healthy snacking, treats that are lower in calories help shoppers feel as if they can have their can and eat it! Obviously, that isn’t the case, because these treats feature far fewer calories than cake – but the catch is that they taste just as good!
Among our range of low-calorie snacks, you’ll find a delightful variety, including Flower & White Meringue Bars, Belvita Breakfast Biscuits and the savoury sensation that is Olly’s Pretzel Thins. With a selection like this, offering shoppers snacks they are happy with on multiple fronts is as easy said as done.
Providing a concentration kick and a shot of momentum, energy drinks are a popular segment – particularly with younger shoppers. In recent years Prime has proven that shoppers now want more than just a boost – they are considering many other factors. Consumers are increasingly looking for added benefits in drinks, ranging from vitamins and minerals to sugar-free and natural recipes. This means that many new energy drinks are suitable for vegan demographics as well as those looking for healthy energy drinks.
A brand whose recipe meets all of these criteria is Sneak Energy. The energy drink started as a unique powdered formula and shot to notoriety within the gaming community. With active ingredients and natural caffeine that is fast-acting and boosts concentration and focus, Sneak shot to prominence with gamers and the younger generation. Here at Hancocks, we’re proudly the exclusive UK distributors of ready-to-drink Sneak Energy cans, meaning that you can offer shoppers a delicious boost that resonates with them. With strong brand recognition, these will enhance any range and make catering to a younger demographic a simple task6.
Consumers’ shift towards healthier lifestyles has led to a marked increase in the popularity of functional drinks. With varied benefits spanning gut health, enhanced hydration, immunity boosts, and improved brain function, drinks with benefits naturally appeal to a variety of customers. Interest in drinks that offer more than basic hydration has been on the rise in recent years7, so adding them to your range is an easy win with health-conscious consumers.
Within the Healthier at Hancocks range, of course, there are bulk functional drinks that shoppers love. Get More Vits, for example, makes onboarding vitamins a treat, whilst Gunna’s lemonade is also vitamin-boosted and comes in recyclable aluminium cans.
Functional drinks aren’t just about vitamins, either. Huel drinks have a nutritionally complete profile, that’s filled with 26 vitamins and minerals, and can offer customers a delicious, quick and easy meal alternative. For busy customers, these nutritious drinks offer balanced nutrition that couldn’t be simpler.
A cornerstone of the Hancocks success story has been our commitment to stocking the lines that help our customers serve consumers as best they can. Shoppers from all walks of life are seeking out healthier options, and with this new range, you can easily offer healthy snack suggestions and mouthwatering choices.
Whilst there are a lot of new brands and lines in the latest Hancocks range, you can still enjoy all of the wholesale perks we offer. Just like our extensive range of wholesale confectionery, you can bulk buy any of the lines in our new healthier range. Whether you shop online, in-store or prefer to use our free Click & Collect, you can provide irresistible stock for customers of all preferences. As always, we are happy to help and share our expertise - you can catch up on our latest Healthier at Hancocks for inspiration or contact us if there’s anything we can do.
1 Kantar: Shoppers are looking for healthier products more often than they think.
2 Mintel: Consumer Snacking Report 2023.
3 Innova Market Insights, Snacking with Benefits – Sweet Snacks – Global, May 2023.
4 Glanbia Nutritionals, Healthy Snacking U&A Study.
5 Mordor Intelligence: Energy Bar Market Size & Share Analysis – Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024-2029).
6 Mintel: Changing Consumer Demands in the Energy Drinks Industry.
7 Freedonia Group: Functional Beverage Market to Continue Growth through 2027.
