MODESTO, CA — The Almond Board of California (ABC) is on the hunt for the next innovation in almond-based snack products.
ABC recently kicked off its Tastemaker Trials student competition, a nationwide challenge for college and university students in the US. Entrants are asked to develop a new almond-based snack and consider the technical, nutrition, processing and marketing information and demands. This is the next evolution from ABC’s first student competition, held last year in partnership with Drexel University.
“We are excited to host the Tastemaker Trials and to see all the great ideas students have across the country,” said Charice Grace, trade marketing and stewardship manager of ABC. “We hope to be a great resource for young people as they enter the sphere of culinary innovation and incorporate almonds in new ways. I can’t wait to see what’s in store to shake up and add more value to the way we’ve been snacking.”
Students will be provided with food and beverage trend insights from Tastewise, a generative AI platform, as a form of inspiration for these entries. The platform identified three key trends:
- Sharpening the Lens on Health: Gen Z and millennial consumers are focusing on specific health claims related to traits such as gut health and stress relief as opposed to a generic “healthy” label.
- Eco-Conscious Eating: Younger consumers are also more interested in claims including natural, organic and food waste. Vegan is also a key claim that appeals to these generations as cites environmental and personal health reasons for adopting a plant-based lifestyle.
- Connectivity Through Consumption: Food is also viewed as a form of self-expression. Embracing smaller treats to meet personal needs and values, Gen Z and millennials want something that can create a shareable experience and an indulgent escape.
The competition will be judged in two rounds, with preliminary written submissions due Feb. 23. A panel of food and beverage industry experts will judge all eligible written submissions and select up to five finalist teams to develop the same prototypes, pitch their almond-based snack and participate in a Q&A with the judges in May. The winning team will be notified in late May and the winner will receive a trip and celebration at IFT First in July 2024 and virtual mentorship opportunities.