Olam Food Ingredients has observed rising demand in the Middle East for food and beverages that are both healthy and indulgent. This trend is largely driven by increased health awareness resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Olam also anticipates significant growth in the region’s plant-based offerings and its nuts sector across various product formats.

KP Snacks acquired Tyrrells in 2018, a gluten-free chip brand that faced challenges in justifying its premium pricing. To transform the brand’s image, a new brand platform called ‘Tyrrellbly Tasty’ was introduced, which targeted adults over 45 and emphasized the distinctive English character of Tyrrells. Tyrrells' prices were also increased by 30% in 2019. Tyrrells has since experienced significant market share growth in the premium sharing crisps segment, expanding from 12.6% to 15.3% between September 2019 and December 2021.

The California Walnut Board and California Walnut Commission revealed that walnuts are the fifth-highest exported crop and one of the top 10 crops in California. The trade bodies will launch a campaign to promote walnuts in health-focused merchandising, as it seeks to capitalize on the growing popularity of plant-based eating in the U.S. This includes collaborating with companies to introduce flavored walnuts in various pack sizes to meet the demand for on-the-go options. 

For Good Granola, a US-based start-up specializing in gluten-free no-oat buckwheat granolas, has won two sofi Awards in the Cereals and Granola category. The company’s Original Blend received the 2023 sofi Gold Product Award, while its Chocolate Chile variety received the 2023 sofi New Product Award. 

Ella’s Kitchen, a UK-based company specializing in organic baby and toddler food, has launched a new range consisting of eight savory snacks designed for children aged three and above. The new snacks are made from lentils, maize and peas and are high in fiber. Additionally, Ella's Kitchen has expanded its Squishy Snacks pouches line by introducing four new flavors that combine pureed fruit and vegetables.

TagZ Foods, an Indian-based start-up specializing in premium healthy snacks, has experienced significant growth since its launch in 2019. The company’s flagship product is its popped potato chips, which it claims have half the fat of regular counterparts. The company’s operating revenue has increased from Rs10.34 lakh in FY20 to Rs23 crore as of May 2023. TagZ Foods attributes its performance to its targeting of Gen Z consumers.

A TalkingRetail article highlights dome of the trends in the UK savory snacks market, which have remained strong in the face of continuing price hikes. Valeo Snackfoods, owner of the Kettle brand of chips, says the crisps, snacks and popcorn category has grown 17 percent year on year. Trends include reliance on trusted brands – the top 10 crisps and snacks brands represent just over half of category growth – and consumers looking for healthier options, such as low-fat, low-sugar and natural snacks offering specific health benefits. Other better-for-you insights include a move towards vegan options and plant power; continued interest in protein, despite the growth in veggie options; and the impact of health concerns on pack sizes, which are also being affected by the change in consumer behaviors such as looking for sharing formats to support more time staying in and entertaining at home. HFSS regulations also loom large in the market, which will favor some types of snacks, such as nuts, but also force manufacturers to reformulate their portfolios to make them more HFSS-compliant. 

Struesli, a better-for-you granola brand, has debuted with two flavors: Original and Cocao + Coffee. The plant-based products are free from gluten and artificial sweeteners and include seven superfoods. The granola’s base consists of tiger nuts, which are a tuberous root vegetable, instead of oats. The granolas incorporate a mix of walnuts, pecans, flax, hemp hearts, chia seeds and coconut. The Cocao + Coffee variant adds unsweetened cocoa, ground organic coffee and vanilla bean. Struesli is available in a 9-ounce format for $11.99, as well as in 5lb packs for $59.99. Currently, customers can purchase both flavors through the Struesli website and Amazon, as well as from various retailers.

Partake Foods, an allergy-friendly snacks company, announced the upcoming release of its new Classic Graham Crackers. The snack provides a gluten-free and vegan alternative to traditional Classic Graham Crackers. The snack is also non-GMO and free from the top nine allergy ingredients. The crackers will be available nationwide in US Target stores and other retailers starting in June, as well as online at Imperfect Foods and World Market.

Better-for-you junk food brand PeaTos is expanding its distribution into Sam’s Club with its new Cheese-Less Puffs. In April, PeaTos launched PeaTos Puffs in two flavors: Crunchy Fiery Lime Puffs and Crunchy Cheese-less Puffs. Like its other products, PeaTos Puffs are 100 percent plant-based and made with pea protein to offer high protein and fiber content. The new PeaTos Cheese-Less Puffs 9oz. variety will be available in 504 Sam’s Club stores across the US from May 1, 2023. 

CJ CheilJedang has expanded distribution of its upcycled Excycle Basak Chips in South Korean convenience stores. The chips are made with by-products from CJ CheilJedang’s food manufacturing processes, including broken rice and soybean curds. Excycle Basak Chips come in three flavours, Original, Hot & Spicy and Truffle, and each 45g pack contains 7g of protein and 4g of fiber. The company plans to introduce the chips to supermarkets and department stores across South Korea in 2023 and potentially export to other countries in the near future.

My Dad’s Chips, a Maryland-based potato chip company, has secured a major distribution deal with Rainforest Distributors that will expand its reach across the US. The deal will bring the chips to locations from New Jersey to Virginia and eventually Whole Foods Market stores. My Dad’s Chips are made using a proprietary oil blend that the company claims allows it to use 22 percent less salt than competitors. The chips are already sold in around 65 retail locations, 24 office building cafeterias and 200 vending machines, and the company has a private label contract with a sandwich shop in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. 

Struesli has launched with its clean and organic granola free of sweeteners. The granola is made with superfoods including tiger nuts, walnuts and chia seeds, and is rich in prebiotics, protein, fiber, antioxidants and omega three fatty acids. The granola is certified organic, vegan, gluten-free and grain-free and is sold in recyclable canisters. It is available in Original and Cacao + Coffee flavors and can be purchased in-store at Erewhon Market and online on Struseli’s website.

Mars-owned Kind Snacks has launched the Kind Almond Acres Initiative, a three-year pilot project created to help achieve its goal to source 100% of its almonds from regenerative orchards by 2030. The Almond Acres Initiative will incorporate new technologies and best practices from regenerative agriculture across 500 acres in California to create measurable benefits for the soil, the farm and the planet. The project builds on Kind’s commitment to sourcing 100% of its almonds from bee-friendly farms by 2025. 

Hershey has signed an agreement to acquire two manufacturing plants in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Whitestown, Indiana from popcorn giant Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing. The acquisition aims to sustain growth for Hershey’s SkinnyPop brand by strengthening its internal supply chain capabilities and its network of strategic suppliers and co-manufacturers.

High-fiber cereal called "Poop Like a Champion" aims to promote regular bowel movements and break the stigma around talking about poop. The brand offers three flavors of the cereal - original, cinnamon toast, and honey - all of which are designed to help people achieve their daily recommended fiber intake and improve their digestive health. 

The snacking culture in India is shifting towards healthier options, with consumers opting for high-fiber, high-protein, low-sodium, and plant-based snacks. This trend towards healthy snacking is a result of consumers becoming more health-conscious following the pandemic. Despite consumers prioritizing taste over health benefits, research from Mintel found that 85% of Indian consumers wish healthy snack options were more widely available. The shift towards healthier snacks is likely to continue, with Indian households expected to double their spending on healthy food and beverages in the coming years.

Cannabis edibles brand TSUMo Snacks has partnered with celebrity chef Roy Choi to launch THC-infused puffed snacks in Spaghetti & Meatballs and Spicy Cheesy Ramen flavors. Each bag contains 100mg of THC, with a serving size of nine puffs containing 10mg of THC. TSUMo Snacks aims to provide a social snacking experience that allows users to consume a more manageable dose of THC in a more savory form. 

Snack companies are using drought-resistant crops, such as wheat, sorghum, barley and sunflower seeds, to appeal to environmentally aware consumers. Drought-resistant crops provide a sustainable solution as droughts across Europe and the U.S. have caused crop yields to drop while population growth puts pressure on freshwater supplies. However, skeptics such as Simon Somogyi, the Arrell Chair in the Business of Food at the University of Guelph, see the emphasis of these products as a “marketing ploy”. Breeds of grains and oil seeds have long been developed to be more drought resistant. Therefore, companies that emphasize the use of drought resistant crops are not supporting a new innovation but rather working it into their marketing.

Snack it Forward’s brand PeaTos has introduced a line of Crunchy Puffs to its range of vegan, better-for-you snacks. The new Crunchy Fiery Lime Puffs and Crunchy Cheese-less Puffs will ship to retailers nationwide in April 2023, and will be available to online consumers at Amazon and PeaTos.com. PeaTos has gained 6,000 new points of distribution since January 2023 due to new national retailer partnerships with CVS, Walmart, and Sprouts.

Better-for-you snack brand Simple Mills is taking its mission and products beyond its initial “free from” roots to embrace a “for more” approach that skips artificial ingredients and includes nutrient-dense ingredients that are better for people and the planet. Simple Mills is taking a multi-prong approach to planetary health to simultaneously improve the livelihoods of farmers, enhance equity across its supply chain and encourage other industry stakeholders to join in its journey. The company’s approach includes encouraging regenerative agricultural practices and increased biodiversity through its products and sourcing practices, as well as partnering with other brands, peers, farmers and consumers to scale the impact.

Popcorn is becoming a popular snack food as consumers look for healthier and more versatile alternatives to traditional snacks. Global research and technology company Technavio forecasts a $5.6 billion rise in the global ready-to-eat popcorn market size between 2021 and 2026, and Mondelez International research found that over half (53 percent) of consumers eat crisps, popcorn and pretzels at least once a week, a five-point jump since 2019. The versatility of popcorn means companies can experiment with bolder and innovative flavors. Cookie and Candy Pop partners with brands such as Fruity Pebbles and Nutter Butter to create its low-calorie flavored popcorn offerings and Smartfood launched a Krispy Kreme flavor inspired by an enlisted brainstorm panel of Gen Z consumers. Some companies are investing in research to increase popcorn’s nutritional value. Conagra Brands, Inc. recently invested in research to increase levels of the amino acid lysine in certain corn varieties, which increases the kernels’ overall protein content, and IWON Organics recently added ready-to-eat popcorn formulated with organic coconut oil and pea protein to its high-protein snack line.

Nutri V has launched its first B2C offering: upcycled vegetable puffs. The snack is available in three varieties: Broccoli, Cauliflower and Pumpkin. Nutri V is a partnership between vegetable producer Fresh Select and Australia’s national science agency CSIRO. The company was previously supplying vegetable powder to food manufactures and plans to make it available to customers. 

Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Granola is launching a new Barista Edition Chocolate Mocha flavored variety. The high-fiber cereal is infused with coffee and contains milk chocolate curls and sliced almonds. Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Granola Barista Edition is available in Waitrose from next week, with other stores to follow, priced at £2.99. 

Kellogg’s UK has removed boxes of Frosties from its Variety Packs due to the cereal’s high sugar content. The Frosties boxes will be replaced with more boxes of Coco Pops and Corn Flakes. Kellogg’s said the decision is part of its commitment to help consumers make healthier choices. The removal of Frosties also means the Variety Pack will become HFSS-compliant. 

American rolled tortilla chip brand Chipoys is set to launch in the U.K. this April through imported goods supplier Envis Snacks. Chipoys will be available in Fire Red Hot and Chilli & Lime varieties in cases of eight 113.4g bags.

Kid-friendly seaweed puff brand Sea Monsters is expanding into Sprouts stores starting from June. Sea Monsters are made from sorghum and seaweed and are available in Sour Cream & Onion, Cheese Pizza, Sweet Chili and Spicy Korean BBQ flavors. Each flavor features a different monster mascot, which aims to make the healthy snacks more approachable and fun for children. 

San Diego-based start-up Brutal Foods has developed a line of baked puffed snacks made from chocho, a South American bean also known as Andean lupin. Chocho is a nutritious, regenerative crop that is rich in protein, fiber, calcium and amino acids. The brand's puffs are also made with rice flour, avocado oil and cassava starch and come in Churro Extravaganza, Cheeky Cheeze and Créme de la Sour flavors. In the future, Brutal Foods is looking to use the bean in other applications, such as pasta.

U.K. company The Protein Ball Co. has launched a new Keto Ball range in Peanut Butter Blondie, Salted Caramel Blondie and Classic Chocolate Brownie flavors. The low carb, low sugar range is also high in fiber and protein and made of 100 percent natural ingredients. The new Keto Balls will be available in convenient 25g grab-and-go bags in retailers nationwide.

Protein bar brand Pure Protein has launched Popped Crisps, a new line of savory snacks. Pure Protein’s Popped Crisps contain 12g of plant-based protein per serving and are available in two flavors: Hickory Barbecue and Sour Cream & Onion. To celebrate the launch, Pure Protein Popped Crisps are 20 percent off on Amazon throughout the month of March, sold in single-flavor and a two-flavor 12-count variety packs.