‘Snacking’ is a dirty word in Britain; more for the food involved than anything else. Per head, Brits spend more on chocolate than any other country. On last count, twenty percent of us will eat an entire packet of biscuits in one session. And at the time of writing, the media is in meltdown, as a supposed ‘crisp crisis’ is set to hit Britain due to recent heatwaves wreaking havoc with potato crops.
Contrary to news hype, it’s looking less likely we’d mourn the loss of the crisp, as more than half of all adults in the UK now opt for more beneficial alternatives to crisps, chocolate, and breakfast bars. ‘People are moving away from traditional confectionery, whether it’s crisps or sweets,’ says Suzie Walker, founder of The Primal Pantry. ‘The manufacturers are panicking – gone are the days when you could just launch another purple Cadbury’s bar.’
Some brands, like Suzie’s, are changing the stigma associated with snacking. Suzie started out in the food industry fifteen years ago selling Kit Kats and Polos out the back of her Vauxhall Vectra for Nestlé. Now, she’s still slinging snacks, but of a very different kind. It began five years ago – armed with a blender and some nuts, Suzie was seized by a little inspiration. With some trialling, and a production kitchen willing to accept her no-compromise approach, her snack and protein bar brand was born.