"Snacks are less and less the hunger-soothing bridge between formal meals. They have become valuable gastronomical events in their own right," said CCD CEO Kimberly Egan, "especially as consumers demand more from their snacks."
Doing more with less. Meal-replacement snackers are increasingly craving varied and vibrant flavors from their snacks as well as punches of protein, fiber and vitamins that yield performance benefits.
Better-for-you snacks, such as Alternative Chips made from beets, sweet potatoes and cassava, offer indulgence fused with a perception of healthfulness. Crispy Vegetable Snacks made from green beans, soybeans and chickpeas are minimally processed but offer maximum nutrition along with crunch and salty, spicy flavors. Generation Y snackers have discovered the umami hit of highly nutritious Seaweed Snacks while parents delight in new sweets made with whole grains and other healthful ingredients.
New premium snacks, like Gastro Popcorn with flavors like Madras Curry, Black Truffle or Pimenton de la Vera, replicate creative nibbles found in trendy bars and restaurants. Swanky Pork Rinds illustrate the "real meat" trend in an irresistible high-quality form. More mainstream Nuts Gone Global capture the exotic flavors of global cuisines in canisters of crunchy, healthful nuts.
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