As nut butter popularity grows, local producer says customers demand almond butter

The two almond butter flavors offered by Peanut Butter Americano are just as popular as the peanut butter flavors, according to company officials. (Photo by Yahaira Jacquez/Cronkite News)

Recent data shows that while peanut butter still dominates the market, almond butter is catching up.
(Photo by Yahaira Jacquez/Cronkite News)

Arizona-based Peanut Butter Americano puts a spin on the American classic, with flavors like cinnamon honey and dark chocolate peanut butter. (Photo by Yahaira Jacquez/Cronkite News)

Almond butter. Cashew butter. Walnut butter.

These days, consumers can find a wide array of nut butters on supermarket shelves.

But have they caught up with that American staple: peanut butter?

Recent data shows that while peanut butter still dominates the market, almond butter is catching up.

Arizona-based Peanut Butter Americano puts a spin on the American classic, with flavors like cinnamon honey and dark chocolate peanut butter.

Founder Jeff Malkoon, who coined the term “Head Nut” for himself, said the company initially offered four variations of peanut butter, but his customers asked for something more.

“We realized that there was a strong demand for almond butter after being in the farmers markets for a little while,” Malkoon said. “So we thought, ‘You know, we need to roll out a couple of almond butter flavors,’ and that’s when we introduced classic almond butter and cinnamon-roasted almond butter.”

The two almond butter flavors are just as popular as the peanut butter flavors, Malkoon said. And one of the almond butters is gaining ground.

“Since we rolled out our delicious flavors of almond butters about a year ago, they’ve really grown to be two of our best-sellers. And our cinnamon roasted almond butter is probably our best-seller,” Malkoon said. “It’s just starting to surpass our previous best-seller, cinnamon honey peanut butter.”

U.S. government data shows that people consume more almonds than peanuts. Malkoon said he’s somewhat surprised by that, given that almonds cost significantly more – especially because of the drought in California.

Malkoon said he hasn’t increased his prices for almond butter. An 8-ounce jar of the company’s classic peanut butter sells for $6 online, compared to $7 for the same size of classic almond butter.

For Leslie Vielma, a longtime vegetarian turned vegan, she’s sticking to peanut butter because almond butter isn’t in her budget.

“I don’t buy almond butter because we can’t seem to find an affordable organic butter,” said the Phoenix mother of two. “There are so many nut butters, but it all depends on what the consumer likes and what they can afford.”

Holly Pagliara, who lives in California, said she has no other choice than to buy almond butter because of her 8-year-old’s allergies.

“My 8-year-old is allergic to peanuts but not tree nuts,” Pagliara said.

Having almond butter in her home has opened Pagliara up to it and its health benefits.

“I personally like almond butter and know it’s healthier,” she said. “I just bought one that tastes really close to peanut butter. I even had to read the label several times.”

In 2011, almonds surpassed peanuts for the first time as the most consumed nut in America, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In that year, Americans consumed about 1.82 pounds of almonds per capita, while they only consumed about 1.77 pounds of peanuts.

The increased demand for tree nuts in the United States over the past years can be partly attributed to heightened interest in health and nutrition, according to the USDA.

Claudia Thompson-Felty, a registered dietician and lecturer at Arizona State University, said consumers are generally more health conscious than they were 10 years ago, making products more widely available in places other than specialty stores.

“I think we’ve really hit a nerve with the consumer, and they’re looking for more health conscious items,” the blogger said. “And the more we have available, the more likely they are to purchase them.”

Even with more options, Felty said she doesn’t think consumers should rule out peanut butter.

“Peanut butter isn’t bad for you,” Felty said. “It’s a little bit lower in vitamin E and magnesium and it has a little less fiber, but it is high in protein so it’s a good vegetarian source of protein.”