Grub will this month launch a new campaign on crowdsourcing platform Kickstarter as it seeks to help part-fund the launch of its new snack bar, made using cricket flour.
The brand, which already uses crickets in a number of its snack products including roasted crickets and cricket nut fudge, has developed a recipe and design for the bar but now needs the money to make it happen. Every backer that pledges money to the campaign will receive one of differing rewards in return for their investment. Described as a rich mix of super-healthy ingredients and a great source of protein, the new bar could be ready to go into production early next year with availability beginning in April, Grub said.
The brand is the latest in a line of companies to incorporate insects and insect flour into products that appeal to western consumers; yesterday, we reported that Crobar had beaten Grub to market with the launch of the UK’s first snack bar made using cricket flour. Both companies have said that rising health concerns about red meat and issues surrounding the sustainability of livestock farming will continue to contribute to the growth of insect-based foods. Some insects contain as much as 50% protein – with a constitution similar to fish, pork or beef, but less fatty – and feature polyunsaturated fatty acids and high levels of vitamins and minerals.
Grub also has plans to release an insect cookbook and establish the UK’s first cricket-for-food farm.
“We have been eating insects for hundreds of years,” pointed out Grub co-founder Shami Radia. “They are such an abundant food source it seems crazy not to use them. We’ve just got to get over our fear of eating them.”
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