Combination packages with nuts are on the upswing.
 

On one hand, nut allergies have spurred a host of changes to the labeling and production of a variety of products. On the other hand, many consumers are still nuts about nuts.

According to research firm Euromonitor, sales of nuts, seeds and trail mixes have continued to boom around the world.  In the United States, retail value of nuts, seeds and trail mixes are pegged to top $6.6 billion by the end of this year, up from last year, by Euromonitor’s estimate.

New nut products and packaging underscore consumers' interest in nuts as a convenient, high-protein snack. On the convenience front, there are more single-serve nut packages available.  The Boulder, Colo.-based OLOMOMO Nut Co., for example, recently rolled out a new line of single-serve nuts in a 1.25-oz package.  Royal Hawaiian Orchards, Dana Point, Calif., unveiled a new line of single-serve 1.25-oz macadamia nuts late last year, in six flavor varieties.

Combination packages with nuts are also on the upswing. The Balanced Breaks product line from Plymouth, Wis.-headquartered Sargento Foods, Inc., which includes packages pairing handful of nuts and dried fruits and cheese in one package, now include a Sweet Balanced Breaks Snacks, in combinations like natural cheddar cheese with sea-salted roasted almonds, raisins and Greek yogurt flavored drops and Monterey Jack cheese with dried cranberries and dark chocolate covered peanuts. The snacks are available in packages of three 1.5-oz snacks.

“We have been thrilled with the response to Balanced Breaks Snacks, and we wanted to give our loyal fans even more variety and convenience in their snacks," said Ryan Hemsing, director of marketing for the Sargento Foods Consumer Products Division.

Meanwhile, the Emerald brand from Snyder’s-Lance in Charlotte, N.C., recently introduced a Fruit and Nut Blend snack pack, 100-calorie packages in combinations like cashews and almonds with dried cranberries. Taking another spin on nuts in combo packs is Busseto Foods of Fresno, Calif., which just launched “Made in California” packs with California-produced snacks containing meat, cheese and nuts, including almonds and pistachios grown in the Sunshine State.