EHL Ingredients is experiencing a boost in sales of nuts in the run up to National Nut Day. The celebratory day, dedicated to the taste, versatility and nutritious value of nuts, will be held on 22 October.

EHL Ingredients supplies 22 types of nuts including brazil, almonds, walnuts, cashew, hazelnuts, pecans, peanuts, pistachios and pine nuts in bulk quantities to food manufacturers. Certain nuts from the range are performing particularly well and showing strong growth with demand for almonds and walnuts up by 20% compared to this time last year.

Industry figures from last year demonstrate that nuts accounted for over 37% of all new snack launches, with savoury and salted snacks taking the remainder.

Tasneem Backhouse, sales and marketing director at EHL Ingredients, says, "We began to see an increase in sales of nuts in 2013 and this growth is continuing in 2014. National Nut Day is a great way of raising awareness of the health benefits and uses of nuts among consumers and within the food manufacturing sector.

"There are various applications for nuts in the food industry and manufacturers are constantly looking to introduce new, innovative flavours and varieties to the market for branded and own label products. Nuts are increasingly being incorporated into cereal mixes, sweet and savoury baked goods, desserts and chocolates, snack products as well as toppings, dressings and sauces to add extra crunch and texture, and to boost the health credentials of end products."