Cranberry trail blaze

Cranberry ingredient supplier Ocean Spray claims healthy fruit snack, developed with German nutritional foods manufacturer Farmer's Snack, has seen strong sales in the German market and is soon to be launched on other European markets.

German nutritional foods manufacturer Farmer's Snack and fruit ingredient specialist Ocean Spray ITG have teamed up to develop a healthy snack, containing dried fruit, nuts and sweetened dried cranberries.

The product, 'Studentenfutter ohne Rosinen', is a raisin-free, trailmix style snack. Ocean Spray said that including the sweetened dried cranberries (SDCs) adds visual appeal as well as flavour and nutritional benefits. The cranberry pieces which provide a natural sweet taste contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

Farmer's Snack marketing manager Cornelia Ahrens said: "A distinguishing feature of the product is that it doesn't contain raisins. However we wanted to maintain the fruit aspect which is integral to the taste and healthy balance of trailmix."

She added that snack appealed to the younger generation and offered an innovative taste.

Ocean Spray said it has seen 'excellent' sales of the product since its launch on the German market, particularly among the under-30s. Farmer's Snack now plans to introduce the cranberry trailmix to a wider European audience.

The US grower-owned co-operative Ocean Spray ITG develops fruit ingredients with nutraceutical benefits and supplies cranberries in a wide range of formats, including frozen, fruit powders and concentrates.