The New Age of Snacking

As a sushi addict, when Sarah Sturtevant, CEO and founder of yusō onigiri, offered to come into the office and let me sample her innovative new Japanese-inspired snack, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Onigiri is a triangle-shaped rice ball (as I learned this week during Sturtevant’s visit) that comes with delicious fillings like smoked fish or even mashed chickpeas, a vegetarian variety offered by yusō.

Sturtevant had a decades-long career as an investment analyst, which allowed her to travel the world. It was during a business trip to Japan that she first discovered the popular on-the-go snack food and made it her mission to bring it to the U.S.

Whole Foods just released its top trend predictions for 2017, and unique, Japanese- inspired snacks such as yusō are absolutely on-trend, according to the retailer. The product also speaks to consumers’ desire for better-for- you products. Made in small batches in Massachusetts, yusō boasts qualities such as high-protein, low-fat, gluten-free, GMO free, antibiotic free and rich in omega-3s.

Another important trend over the past year has been convenient, eye- catching and creative packaging, something yusō definitely achieves. The impressive packaging consists of two layers of cellophane with tabs that make it easy to unwrap. The double wrapper also makes it so that the rice and nori come into contact for the first time when the consumer opens the packaging, keeping the nori crisp.

Retailers can benefit from keeping an eye on these types of consumer trends, as well as exciting new items that follow them. If I were walking down the grocery aisles and spotted yusō, something that fits my tastes but is completely new to me, I would probably be intrigued and pick it up. I would also probably make a mental check that this particular retailer carries items that I would be unlikely to find anywhere else.