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the needs of these millennials, where perhaps retail shelf space is not the guideline; rather, consumers needs are.” On top of challenges (and competition) Mr Tucker says convenience stores and other distribution channels are biting at the heels of supermarkets with improved offerings and ranges designed to meet consumer needs. “With the advent of the pandemic, the consumer has changed,” he said, citing heightened health concerns, purchasing behaviour and financial uncertainty. “Nimble retailers will take notice and change what they’ve always done and how they can safely and efficiently deliver what consumers are now demanding.” With such strong demand for healthier, premium snack offerings, overlaid with ecological and provenance concerns, Mr Tucker suggests that perhaps the shopping aisles or specific segments should reflect this. “A healthy snacking aisle with clear provenance cues will enable consumers to support what meets their values and needs, and differentiate these stores from competitors,” he said. “These sections should be driven by current consumer preference rather than historical business practices.” Considering the future of Tucker’s Natural, Mr Tucker says there’s an “exciting and no doubt bumpy road ahead”, but one his business is well equipped to ride. The brand has recently invested more than $3 million in a new European production line combining equipment from five major European brand suppliers, to meet the trending product attributes consumers are looking for, such as on the go and “snackable”. “We’ve got some exciting options to produce a wide range of sheeted and filled products, shape them and pack them in individual portions and also multipacks – so, we’re on the cusp of having a wave of new products tailored to the snacking category,” Mr Tucker said. “Consumer awareness of food provenance has been heightened since the pandemic \[began\]. This has resulted in stronger demand for local products across packaged food, including savoury snacks. With functionality, food safety and healthier ingredients, Tucker’s Natural is well placed to move with these consumer trends.” Cracking on with innovation As an Australian manufacturer, Fine Food Holdings (FFH), a division of the Gourmet Food Group, was established with the intention of reinvigorating the deli cracker category by setting a new benchmark in innovation, quality, and flavour. According to CEO Todd Wilson, both FFH’s premium cracker brands – OB Finest in the deli section and Olina’s Bakehouse in the grocery aisles – are performing “very strongly”. “While the categories have been performing strongly over the past years,” he said, “there’s clear evidence that the shift from out-of-home to in-home consumption has assisted growth in the latest quarter.” However, Mr Wilson admits that profiling demand in uncertain times can be challenging. “Working closely with retail replenishment teams is the best way to mitigate and respond to ensure product availability,” he said. In late 2019, FFH began operation from a new custom-designed manufacturing facility in Dandenong South, Melbourne. Representing an investment of $10 million-plus, the new premises more than doubles the capacity of the company’s previous plant at nearby Keysborough. This, says FFH, has enabled the company to manufacture a “large and diverse” range of premium cracker products under one roof. FINE FOOD SEP, 2020 RETAIL WORLD 41