‘The Plant-Based Revolution’ is a movement rooted in demands for more natural, healthy and eco-friendly products. Two-thirds of global consumers say they want to avoid products with ingredients that are difficult to understand (Innova Consumer Survey 2019). As a result, more recognizable ingredients from the natural world are in favor in snacks development. Vegan products are also extending their reach, while snack bars remain important carriers for all kinds of healthy plant-based ingredients.

Between 2018 and 2019, the number of global consumers who said they expect companies to invest in sustainability increased from 65 percent to 87 percent (Innova Consumer Survey 2019). Therefore, it is clear that ‘The Sustain Domain’ is another strong trend. The sweets and snacks market is tackling this issue in various ways. In Japan, for example, paper wrappers are replacing plastic on Kit Kat chocolate bars, while the food waste issue is also being addressed, with less-than-perfect fruits and vegetables appearing as ingredients in healthy sweets and snacks.

Consumers are increasingly looking for ‘The Right Bite’ as they try to balance their busy lives with staying healthy. Snacking is a crucial part of this as snacks can deliver useful nutrition when there is no time for a proper sit-down meal. One area that is expected to become more important is mood food, with active ingredients in snacks helping consumers to relax, improve their sleep or alternatively feel more energized to face the day. At the same time, sweeter, indulgent treats can deliver comfort in a stressful world.

The fifth key trend for this year is ‘Tapping into Texture.’ This is relevant to sweets and snacks as texture can be an important tool in delivering novelty. Seven in ten global consumers think texture gives food a more interesting experience, and this is particularly evident in younger age groups (Innova Consumer Survey 2019). A total of 56 percent of those ages 26-35 say they care more about the texture experience than they do about the ingredient list, compared with only 37 percent of over-55s, so textural twists can be a useful tool when targeting the young.