Natural food stores prepare for a snack attack

摘要

If there's a recession going on, then someone forgot to tell the snack sector of the Natural Products Industry. There's no doubt that some areas of the economy are still suffering a hang-over, but for natural snack makers, these are the boom years. How else could one characterize this category's remarkable growth rate? According to SPINSscan and ACNielsen Scantrack, sales of natural chips, pretzels, and snacks through natural food stores grew 16 percent to 103 million dollar for the year ended May 18, 2002. But for natural snacks, it's about more than preaching to the converted. Folks who shop natural food stores are already familiar with this category, but Mr. and Mrs. Average American Shopper are just getting acquainted with it. And it looks likeit will be a lasting relationship, as sales of natural chips, pretzels, and snacks grew an incredible 39 percent through mainstream food, drug, and mass-merchandisers for the year ended May 18, 2002, per SPINSscan and ACNielsen Scantrack.