More than a quarter of consumes in a recent Mintel survey considered snacks and meals as interchangeable.
T. Hasegawa has released its Salty Snacks report, highlighting 10 trends in the food space.
- Snack innovation needs to cater to many different consumer needs: Certain demographics such as millennials are seeking bolder flavors and newer ingredient combinations.
- The line between snack and meal is increasingly blurred: More than a quarter of consumes in a recent Mintel survey considered snacks and meals as interchangeable.
- Snacks need to offer a moment of indulgence, so it’s all about the flavor: More than 60% of consumers in a recent Mintel survey cited “flavor” the most important part of a snack.
- Consumers have a balanced approach when it comes to choosing snacks: Brands that balance exciting global flavors and limited-time offerings within traditional snacks can appeal to the widest range of consumers.
- Indulgence in the salty snack category can have many different meanings: More than 50% of consumers in a recent Mintel survey considered a combination of sweet and savory to represent indulgence, while 44% associated cheese with indulgent snacks and meat represented indulgence for 38% of survey participants.
- Sweet is a familiar, but versatile touchstone for salty snacks: Popular flavor and ingredient combinations in salty snacks right now are cinnamon; macaroni and cheese; sweet potato and pork.
- Bold, indulgent flavors balance better-for-you aspirations: There is growing interest in flavors inspired by preparation techniques that are bold, sweet and exciting.
- International flavors are a big focus for Gen Z consumers: More than 36% of Gen Z consumers in a recent Mintel poll cited interest in international flavors, especially for bold flavors such as tajin, adobo, masala, bulgogi, furikake and za’atar.
- Functionality can add value without subtracting flavor: More than 21% of consumers are looking for snacks that come with health and wellness functionality claims.
- “Sweet Heat” is showing exciting growth within the salty snack category: More than half of all consumers in a recent Mintel survey cited interest in trying sweet and spicy flavor combinations, which can take familiar snacks to the next level of flavor.
