The snack food industry has undergone many changes in recent years, in part due to the challenges posed by the pandemic. Despite difficulties, the industry has shown resilience and adaptability, with profits increasing 11% for sweets and savoury snacks in the past year. The sector met in Chicago for the Expo Sweets and Snacks 2023, the first edition back at full capacity after the restrictions and complications imposed by the pandemic. The motto was "affordable indulgence" which focuses on the daily pampering that a snack can offer throughout the day.
The future of the snack industry
The Sweets and Snacks Expo 2023 highlighted a number of trends in the industry, with classic snacks being re-imagined featuring new flavours and uses. Here are the main trends:
Bubble gum always at the top: Chewing gum remains the fastest growing product in the sugary snack market, prompting manufacturers to explore the gumming potential of a variety of foods.
Intense flavour combinations: Companies are looking for the next flavour that's ready to break through the market like pumpkin spice did, experimenting with new flavour combinations. Among the most unscrupulous are the "white cheddar and seaweed" and "Warheads sour candy-covered pickles."
Collaborations: The trend of companies creating products in collaboration continues, as happened with the new meat jerky flavours of Lays with Jack Links chips or the social initiative of Ben & Jerry's and Tony's Chocolonely, which joined forces to fight child slavery on West African cacao plantations.
Spicy Snacks: Spicy snacks continue to be popular, with Lays introducing an American version of Abobadas, smoked chilli-topped crisps popular in Mexico's Sobritos line.
Snacks for specialised diets: Manufacturers continue to produce snacks and sweets for people with specialised diets and offer a growing line of gluten-free, keto-friendly or certified kosher products. Some companies are exploring plant-based and sugar-free options, like plant-based Reese's Cups or Ritter Sport vegan dairy-free chocolate bars.
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