Hong Kong companies put healthy snacks within reach
From paleo cakes to vegan doughnuts, coconut jerky to customisable snack box subscriptions, there’s a cornucopia of choices for the city’s health-conscious crowd, although too much snacking is potentially not good for you
If reaching for that between-meals nibble often leaves you wracked with guilt, munching on the increasing array of better-for-you snacking alternatives in Hong Kong may make you feel somewhat virtuous. At least that’s the hope of local companies which have sprouted in this city recently, touting snacks that are unprocessed, natural and nutritious.
6 Hong Kong healthy snack makers that deliver
From paleo cakes to vegan doughnuts, superfood energy balls to high-protein ice cream, coconut jerky to customisable snack box subscriptions, there’s myriad options for the health-conscious crowd.
Market research firm Euromonitor reports that sales of junk food have grown slower than forecasted in Hong Kong – a current retail value growth of 4 per cent in 2015 – due to increasing health consciousness.
“I think there’s been a surge in healthy snacking options as Asian consumers have begun to rebel from the scary statistics of diabetes, heart disease and obesity. People are wanting a more balanced lifestyle in exercise, work, food and travel,” says Jerry McLean, CEO and co-founder of ChewsWize, a snack subscription service that offers a package of five portion controlled, nature-based snacks delivered weekly to customers’ homes.
“So it’s only natural that they push back on the traditional sugar-laden processed rubbish and ask for something that won’t give them cancer, or add unnecessary calories due to excessive amounts of sugar. There’s a market for this in Hong Kong and across Asia.”
Joyce Chung started her snack box subscription service Guilt Free Food in March this year out of her own frustration looking for a “clean” and nutritious snack while on a diet last year.