CHICAGO -- New product innovation in snacks has been heavily focused on health and wellness in recent years. But as manufacturers refocus a bit on indulgence, popular core brands are also getting in on the fun. Here’s more on three trends that will shape the snack set in 2018.
1. Health and wellness.
With natural and specialty/wellness snacks enjoying more sales growth—12.7% and 5%, respectively—than the category as a whole, manufacturers are focusing many of their efforts in that space. Those categories own $1.7 million of the $18.7 million total in c-store snack sales for the year, according to Chicago-based SPINS. It seems only natural for operators to take advantage of this new opportunity.
2017 Breakfast/Cereal/Snack-Bar Growth
Source: IRI | * Percent change from a year ago.
2. Banking on breakfast.
What started with Mondelez’s belVita Breakfast Biscuits has become a focus of innovation. Other core c-store suppliers, such as Jack Link’s, General Mills, Kellogg and Nabisco, are expanding snack lines to include breakfast varieties, or developing new brands altogether.
3. Core’s extension.
Snack suppliers, from Mars and Hershey to Frito-Lay and Kellogg, are releasing prominent new line extensions that capitalize on the popularity of their core brands. And they’re backing these releases with strong advertising support to maintain excitement and build a buzz.
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