Coop Switzerland is extending its range of SKUs developed from insects, with the launch of a new range of snacks made from mealworms and crickets.
The new products, produced in association with Swiss start-up Essento, use the Tenebrio species of mealworms and the Acheta cricket species combined with peanuts, almonds and cashews, as well as a range of seasonings.
There are three variants in the range, Tenebrio Salt, Tenebrio Curry and Acheta Paprika, and the range is available in Coop stores for CHF 6.95 per pack (€6.04).
The new launch follows the rollout of Essento insect dumplings and burgers in August 2017, which, following a successful launch, was extended to include energy bars made from crickets.
Great Taste
According to a Coop statement, 'Crickets and mealworms not only taste great, but they are also very interesting nutritionally because they are rich in protein, minerals, vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, their breeding is compatible with sustainable development, because it requires little water and food and produces only a small quantity of greenhouse gases.'
At the recent Sustainable Food Awards, held in Amsterdam earlier this month, Coop was presented with a runner-up award for its insect-based Essento range, in the New Sustainable Product category.
Founded just over five years ago, Essento's aim is to develop edible insect products for retail, wholesale and HoReCa, as well as conducting awareness campaigns among Swiss citizens as to the versatility of insects as a food source.
In May, Carrefour also announced that its was to commence the sale of insect-based foods in its Spanish stores, including energy bars, snacks, pasta and granola SKUs.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, insects already form part of the diet of more than two billion people worldwide. They are rich in proteins, vitamins B1, B2 and B3, contain omega 3 and 6 as well as all essential amino acids, and are an important source of minerals such as iron.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
