State of the Industry Report—Jerky: Meaty Considerations
Jerky manufacturers are concentrating more on all-natural ingredients and intriguing new flavors to meet consumer demand for healthier, better-tasting products and to attract new customers.
“The overall trend we see is that it’s still a healthy category,” says Anna Kan, president of Universal Food Co., maker of Golden Island Gourmet Snacks. “It has definitely come a long way in the last 10 to 15 years and is now known as a high-protein, healthy snack that’s low in carbs and fat. People generally do think of it as a better protein then, say, chips or some of the other snacks. We think there’s great potential in this category.” Based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Universal Food has been offering its soft and flavorful Golden Island beef and pork jerky since 2002.
Jerky has several other attributes that a growing number of consumers are discovering: It’s convenient and portable; usually doesn’t require refrigeration; and comes in a wide range of traditional and intriguing, ethnic flavors.