Spicing up the snack selection

With delivery and other temptations luring customers away from on-premise foodservice, operators in C&U, healthcare and corporate dining are searching for more powerful lures. For an increasing number, the answer lies in ramping up retail and expanding snack options.

But today’s consumers are looking for more than a bag of potato chips or cup of hummus. Packaged snacks must meet the demand for trend-setting flavors and ingredients, as well as healthfulness. Judging from the vast selection exhibited at the 2019 Summer Fancy Food Show, which took place in June in New York City, operators have plenty of options. To snag customers’ attention, consider these trends.

Ethnic flavors rise

Packaged snacks are taking cues from the same global cuisines trending in the center of the plate. Asian influences such as Indian, Thai, Korean and Japanese are especially prevalent. Some of the latest offerings include: crunchy chickpeas seasoned with Korean barbecue and Bombay spice; chips, nuts and other snacks flavored with Thai bird chiles, turmeric, ginger, and yellow and red curry; and mochi rice bites spiced with wasabi and tamari. 

African ingredients are starting to emerge in the snack category. One brand of chips is dusted with peri peri, a signature South African spice typically used on grilled chicken, while another is made with fonio, a type of millet grown in West Africa. Middle Eastern influences are gaining ground, too. Rising on the heels of grab-and-go hummus snack cups are next-gen packs pairing baba ghanoush and tzatziki with pita chips. On the snack seasoning side, za’atar is on the rise.

Plant power

In the last couple of years, gluten-free snacks made with cauliflower, black beans and lentils have grown. As plant-forward eating becomes more prevalent, other veggies are getting tapped for chips and crunchy nibbles. Leading the pack are umami-rich mushrooms: Shiitakes and other varieties are crisped and seasoned with Sriracha, barbecue and other flavors for satisfying snacking. 

Also on the upswing are chips made from artichokes, jackfruit, Asian dragonfruit and purple sweet potatoes. And seasoned vegan jerky is now appearing, some using bananas or mushrooms as a base, while others are formed from plant proteins.

Getting seedy

Multiple varieties of seeds are being baked into and layered onto snack foods—the more, the crunchier. Some boast health attributes, while others boost texture. One company offers organic flaxseed crackers with cinnamon and currants alongside toasted hemp seed and Hatch green chile crisps, while another is packaging coconut snack chips with chia, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.  

Ones to watch

Several trends that didn’t fit snugly into any one category are finding a niche in the snack section. Keep an eye out for these: