According to a recent report by food solutions supplier ADM, a number of notable consumer trends are colliding and ready to be taken advantage of in the snacking space. Today's shoppers reportedly are more knowledgeable about tailored health and wellness solutions, with 59% globally saying they are interested in products customized to meet their nutritional needs. However, according to the company’s findings, nearly 70% of those same consumers are turning to snacks for comfort at least some of the time, and 57% say moments of indulgence for self-care purposes are important. This confluence of desires may suggest the growing trend of "healthy indulgence" has made its way into snacking and can be powerfully leveraged by giving consumers a product with functional ingredients that still tastes like a treat.

This evolution is leading to more opportunities for innovation, like stretching snacks to fulfill more roles from supporting active lifestyle goals to acting as meal replacements for younger generations and helping meet the nutritional needs of anti-obesity medication (AOMs) users. Familiar formats and uses still lead the category, but 58% of US consumers are interested in trying snacks that are more nutritious, 43% want snacks that are easier to eat, and 33% are looking for unique flavors, according to the company’s findings. At the same time, consumers are still cost-conscious with their snacking, as 41% are concerned about price.

The four drivers, according to ADM findings, are:

• Life Stage and Lifestyle: Different generations are snacking more for the same reason: nutritional supplementation. But those nutritional needs vary greatly depending on life stage
• The GLP-1 Effect: The use of AOMs, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, has permeated throughout all parts of the food industry, and that includes the snacking category.
• Mood & Joy, or "Soft Health” The feeling of joy (delighting in the taste, enjoying the happiness that comes from supporting wellness goals, or gaining an overall mood boost simply from the act of having a treat) is critical for the snacking experience.
• From Girl Dinner to Breakfast Bites and Exploration in Between: The convenience, cost savings, portion control, global flavor exploration, and nutrition that functional snacks provide reportedly are all coalescing to shape a truly new way of eating.

View more information about the drivers and findings here.

Related: ‘GLP-1s are changing how people eat’: Bay State Milling