According to the Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), almonds became the leading nut introduced in new products worldwide in 2008, with 160 more new product introductions than peanuts and 423 more new products than hazelnuts. In a global food market that declined six percent in new product introductions overall, new almond introductions held virtually stable from 2007 to 2008, declining by only one percent. Almonds maintained a 29 percent share of new nut product introductions and continued to be the most diversified nut with high introductions across all regions and categories.
The California almond industry’s recurring tracking studies of food professionals and consumers corroborate almonds’ position as the number one nut for new product introductions:
* Total worldwide shipments of California almonds increased 18 percent in fiscal year 2007/08 over the previous year, reaching a record 1.26 billion pounds (572,058 metric tons). About 52 percent of all California almonds sold go into manufactured food products.
