4 Insightful Snack Food Trends of 2022

Consumers are snacking more than ever. They’re snacking in the morning, snacking in the afternoon, and snacking in the evening. Snacking has become a multibillion-dollar industry and it shows no signs of slowing.

All food producers should capitalize on this trend and expand their product lines to include snacks. Similarly, current snack producers can benefit by tuning into current trends and following consumer interest. For example, the global pandemic activated our global taste buds and there has been a steadily increasing desire for international flavours. Similarly, consumers began focusing more on their health following the pandemic. Thus, healthy snack options are also on the rise.

Will one of 2022’s top 4 snack food trends influence your next food product development?

1. Global flavours

When the global pandemic shut down international travel, it inspired us to travel with our taste buds. The interest in globally inspired snacks that began in 2020 is still going strong. In fact, 28% of consumers are interested in trying international snacks, such as those popular in Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. Moreover, 36% want to see more authentic global flavours in their local grocery store.

In 2022, more and more consumers are developing a keen interest in Latin American cuisine. While Mexican cuisine has long been widely available, we are starting to see more flavours and products take inspiration from other Latin American countries. For example, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Columbia, and Argentina all offer distinct and intriguing taste possibilities.

Fusion recipes are a great way to introduce foreign flavours to curious North American consumers because they make new tastes approachable and accessible. Consider adding international flavours such as sriracha and Thai peanut into dips, sauces, and spreads.

Snack box subscriptions are another way to give consumers a taste of other countries. With each delivery, you can deliver curated flavours from various cultures and countries around the world.

2. Plant-based

There has been an explosion in the plant-based industry. This interest in eating more plants is global, with individuals all over the world seeking to add more plants and plant-based products to their diets. In the UK, 1 in 4 consumers reduced their consumption of animal products after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, internet searches for “plant-based diet” increased by 82% since 2017.

But what’s causing this uptake in plant-based eating? According to surveys, 46% of consumers are choosing plants because of general health concerns. However, another 69% are worried about the health risks related to meat and fish production, as well as the overall healthiness of processed meat. 32% of plant-motivated consumers are making the switch for environmental reasons.

There are endless ways to incorporate more plant-based options into your snack product lines. We see plant-based varieties of baked goods, sweets, and protein snacks continuing to pop up in 2022. 

3. Protein Rich

More and more, snacks are being used as meal replacements. In fact, 90% of Americans say they have replaced one weekly meal with a snack. 

In order for a snack to satiate enough to replace a meal, it needs to have protein. This is because foods that are protein-dense help you feel full for longer. Otherwise, you’ll soon be hungry! As a result, there has a been huge increase in the demand and sales of high-protein snacks. In 2020, one-third of snack bars bragged about being protein-rich. Furthermore, over half of all consumers want their snacks to be high in protein. 

That being said, consumers still want their protein to be flavour rich and enticing. Whether your preferred protein source is meat or plant-based, it has to taste good. 57% of consumers expect their protein to be exciting, especially when it comes to plant-based meats. Moreover, almost half of U.S. consumers make their protein purchases based on flavour. 

Therefore, when developing new protein-packed snacks, it’s critical to make flavour a priority. Similarly, it’s important to help consumers create their own tasty snacks at home. For example, rubs, marinades, and seasoning can aid industrious consumers in crafting delicious snacks for game days and other events.

In the food and snack development sphere, high-protein options come in many forms. Nuts, trail mixes, protein bars, protein popcorn, and meal replacement shacks are a few examples.

4. CBD

CBD products are also on an upwards trajectory. It’s expected that the global CBD snack market will reach $2.6 billion USD by 2028. This presents a huge opportunity for snack developers to create products that incorporate CBD and boast its associated benefits.

The interest in CBD really hit its stride during the Covid-19 pandemic when consumers wanted to focus on staying healthy and strengthening their immune systems. Additionally, there already was a growing demand for healthy and natural ingredients, of which CBD is one. All in all, this has led to more products sporting CBD.

We see CBD appearing in protein bars, nut butters, sweets, non-alcoholic drinks, and sparkling beverages. In fact, the CBD-infused drink market was at $3.4 million in 2020. It is expected to grow to $14.6 million by 2026.

Build Your Next Best-Selling Snack with Hela Spice

In 2022, we are seeing the rise of globally inspired snacks, plant-based alternatives, protein-rich meal replacements, and CBD products. Each one of these booming markets is abundant with snack development opportunities. As North America’s premium snack ingredient supplier, Hela Spice is ready to create your next best-selling snack.

Whether you want to build on one of the existing 2022 snack trends or develop your own trendsetting product, Hela Spice is here to help. For 100 years, we have been at the forefront of Canada and America’s snack product innovation. We have the ingredient knowledge, food processing capabilities, and understanding of consumer insights needed to craft something truly special.

Trends may come and go but with Hela Spice, your snack will stand the test of time.

Hela Spice is a snack ingredient supplier. To learn more, visit Hela Spice at www.helaspice.com or contact us here.