Nooch: the next star of healthier snacking?
Popcorn in The Grocer Magazine
This feature about our Popcorn Plus is a literal quote from The Grocer Magazine focus on crisps, nuts and bagged snacks, 20th April 2024. It’s written by Nick Hughes and we really wanted to share his piece, as we think it’s great! Have you tried our Popcorn Plus yet?
Could cheesy popcorn be the next big thing in vegan snacking?
In January, plant-based ingredients supplier Marigold Health Foods made its first foray into bagged snacks, using its Engevita brand nutritional yeast for a product called Popcorn Plus.
Nutritional yeast – also known as nooch – is often included in vegan recipes to mimic the flavour of cheese.
With a portfolio already featuring bouillon, gravy and meat alternatives, Marigold spotted an opportunity to introduce its Engevita nooch to the mainstream snacks market.
“Combining nooch with high fibre, low fat popcorn seemed like a natural union,” explains marketing manager Sally Dorling. “When you look at healthy snacks, they’re either ‘low’ or ‘no’ (calories or fat) snacks,” she adds. “We felt that by adding nooch to something with as blank a canvas as popcorn we could add in things like vitamin D and B12, which is of particular interest to vegans as it’s something that’s hard for them to find in a natural diet.”
Taste is a key feature
Taste was another key driver of the innovation. “We thought that bringing out a popcorn with nooch that tastes great would demonstrate to consumers who haven’t used or tried Engevita what an excellent flavour it adds,” Dorling says.
Best on the go
Popcorn Plus, which comes in a 20g bag, is designed for a broad spectrum of snacking occasions. “You can have it post-exercise or when you’re refuelling or relaxing, and it’s easily portable,” adds Dorling. “Or you can add it as part of a packed lunch.”
The popcorn is currently available online from Amazon and fitness retailers. It is also stocked by a number of independents, and Marigold is in talks with major retailers.
The supplier’s snacks won’t end with Proper Popcorn, Dorling promises. “We have other NPD in the pipeline using nooch for snacking.”