7 of the hottest trends in snacking right now

Posted: June 2, 2016
In: Trends

Ancient Grains: Grains like spelt, kamut, quinoa, sorghum, amaranth, teff and chia (technically a seed) are found in less traditional formats. Their nutritional impact ranges from omega-3s, potassium, iron, protein, and fiber, while flavor combinations are endless.

Market examples: Earnest Eats Amaranth Quinoa Bars, Kracklin’ Kamut, Chia Viva, Hi I’m Skinny Quinoa Sticks

Jerky: With Hershey’s acquisition of Krave (which saw sales double in 2015), and with protein gaining mainstream popularity, jerky has seen a major resurgence in the marketplace. It’s natural, it’s grass-fed and now comes in foodie friendly flavors like spicy coffee, maple bourbon, chipotle lime and basil citrus.

Market examples: Fusion, Uncle Andy’s, The New Primal, Lorissa’s Kitchen, Chef’s Cut

Extreme Spice: Adventurous consumers demand the next level of heat. Habaneros, cayenne, and even ghost peppers are popular snack flavors and flavor enhancers.

Market examples: Paqui Haunted Ghost Pepper, Simply 7 Spicy Chili Pepper Hummus Chips, Lundberg Farms Sriracha Rice Chips, Blue Diamond Habanero BBQ Almonds

Chocolate and Cacao Innovation: Cacao and chocolate are being reimagined in better-for-you formats and flavor combinations like dark chocolate and salt puffs, nibs, botanical chocolate, brewed cocoa K-Cups, and even hummus.

Market examples: i heart keenwah Chocolate & Salt Puffs, Navitas Naturals Cacao Nibs, Hope Foods Chocolate Hummus, Crio Bru Brewed Cocoa

Pulses: The combination of international influence and the growing domestic interest in pulses is leading to the launch of many pulse-centric snacks that incorporate lentils, chickpeas, and beans.

Market examples: Cool Foods veggie bacon bits, Biena chickpea & sea salt snacks, Brami lupini bean snack, Good Thins

Not-So-Potato Chips: Many potato chip alternative products are emerging with healthier veggie ingredients like beets, onions, lentils, and Jícamas (Aztec yam beans) as consumer interest in better-for-you chips continues to grow.

Market examples: dang foods onion and coconut chips, Rhythm superfoods beet and kale chips, JícaChips, Enjoy Life Foods lentil chips

Nuts: These kernels are great vehicles for delivering global flavors like Thai lemon curry and cacao sesame-teriyaki. They’re prepared in a variety of ways, including being sprouted, activated, raw and cold-pressed.

Market examples: Living Intentions, Big Tree Farms, Nate’s Raw Harvest

Alternative potato chips, ancient grains, cacao, chickpeas, chocolate, hummus, Jerky, nuts, pulses, spicy chips, sriracha

Keep Reading:

Sports Nutrition Trends Driving Beverage Innovation

Sports nutrition has always been at the leading edge of formulation science, and its breakthrough ingredient systems are now setting the pace across functional beverages, clean-label innovation, and reduced-sugar formulations.

Next wave of RTD coffee: Less sugar, more function

Redefining "luxury" in a can of coffee. This article explores how RTD coffee brands are balancing flavor with wellness, from how we process milk and sugar differently to the rise of functional ingredients.

Flavor Matching: A Tool for Smarter Innovation

We replicate both the sensory profile and functional performance of an existing flavor so it delivers an equivalent experience in your finished product.