An increasing trend towards healthy eating and home baking are the driving forces behind the growing UK market for dried fruit and nuts.
That is the verdict of a new report by international research group Mintel, which has revealed that the UK market for nuts, seeds and dried fruit hit £547m (€652m) in 2009.
In the report, Mintel suggested that the sector has an opportunity to help continue current consumption growth by tapping into the health market, pushing products up against competitors as a healthier alternative to traditional snacks, Food Navigator reported.
'Over a third (36 per cent) of existing buyers state that they buy dried fruit as an alternative to sweets, while 44 per cent of consumers are buying nuts as an alternative to snacks such as crisps,' the report said.
However, Mintel warned that rising costs would continue to limit growth opportunities in the sector as consumption increases.
'It is unlikely that manufacturers and retailers will be able to continue to absorb costs such as rising wholesale prices, caused by increased worldwide consumption, the weak UK pound and poor crop harvests.'
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