ITC jumps on healthy snacks bandwagon

ITC Ltd is entering the healthy snacks segment by launching a range of baked chips chips made of healthy products under its Bingo brand in a bid to take the first-mover advantage among the larger brands and expand its share in packaged snacks against main competitor, PepsiCo.

The new product, Bingo! Starters, is made from pulses such as chana, urad, moong and masoor, and the company plans to expand the range with other products like grains. The company has retained the Rs 10 entry price point and will be targeting millennials who are looking for tasty and healthy snacks, said Hemant Malik, divisional chief executive (foods division) at ITC.

The company has engaged actor Ranveer Singh for endorsing the product.

“Bingo! Starters has been crafted based on years of extensive research and understanding about the best ingredients that can be used effectively to blend health and taste,” said Malik. “It has been powered by deep consumer insights on the eating patterns of the average Indian consumer and the fact that today consumers are look for healthier and tastier snacking options.”

The total salty snacks market in India is estimated at Rs 29,000 crore, with an annual growth of 24%. The health snacks sub-segment is estimated to be around 2% of the overall snacks market. Bingo! Starters will compete against a host of imported brands, apart from RP Sanjiv Goenka Group’s Too Yumm and smaller brands that sell through modern retail and e-commerce.

ITC’s move to enter the healthy snacks segment is part of its plans to build a big basket of products in healthy food which are free from unhealthy ingredients and food with functional benefits such as those able to treat lifestyle diseases. It recently launched Aashirvaad Nature’s Super Foods range including ragi flour, multi millet mix and gluten free flour, and sugar release control atta.

Source:-https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/personal-care-pet-supplies-liquor/itc-jumps-on-healthy-snacks-bandwagon/70301536