Post Granola of Dong Suh Foods is dominating Korea’s growing granola market with a 55 percent share. The domestic market for granola has grown to roughly 78 billion won ($60.5 million), up about 21 percent year-on-year. Dong Suh Foods attributes its dominance to its steady stream of new products and flavors that reflect the fast-changing food trends and interests of Korean consumers.

Diet recommendations and brand discoverability tied to TikTok and Instagram are driving healthy snacking trends among Gen Z and Millennial consumers. Consumers are staying away from empty calories and are going for options that are low in carbs and sugar and high in protein. Protein content is especially important as consumers are increasingly replacing meals for snacks. Young consumers are also looking for snacks with functional, plant-based and sustainable ingredients. 

Indian private equity firm Jashvik Capital has acquired a significant minority stake in Jabsons Foods, a better-for-you savory snacks company. This is Jashvik Capital's first investment from its recently launched fund. Jabsons Foods sells its nuts and chickpea-based products across India and in international markets such as the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Through the deal, Jashvik Capital hopes to scale Jabsons Foods and expand its distribution.

Canadian chickpea chip maker Peacasa is adding equipment to boost its production after only five months of business. The new machinery should be up and running by the end of February and will increase the company’s capacity to one million bags a year. Since launching in August, Peacasa has sold around 10,000 bags and has landed retail space in 150 stores across Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Peacasa’s chips are made from chickpea flour, olive oil, sunflower oil and spices and are high in protein and fiber. In 2023, Peacasa aims to expand its retail footprint and launch new flavors and pack sizes.

Trader Joe’s has launched its Gluten Free Super Seedy Cheese Snack Bites make from parmesan cheese, puffed quinoa, seeds and peppercorns. With 12 grams of protein per serving, the snack can be enjoyed as crackers or used as a crunchy topping for salads and sandwiches. 

Sustainable, plant-based group Nurture Brands has acquired seaweed crisps producer Abakus Foods. It is the third deal in three months for Nurture Brands following its acquisition of confectionery brand Doisy & Dam from administration and premium pretzel maker Indie Bay Snacks. Alongside the latest acquisition, Nurture also completed a £3 million top-up funding round, valuing the group at £30 million. The group said the money would accelerate growth and provide liquidity for further deals in 2023.

Just Pure Foods has launched its Highly Nutritious & Insanely Delicious Crunchy Tomato Chips. The vegan and keto-friendly snack is made from dehydrated upcycled tomatoes. Just Pure Foods’ Crunchy Tomato Chips are available online at Amazon and in store in Ralphs and Bristol Farms in three flavors: Spicy Jalapeño, Cheesy and Barbecue. 

Consumers looking for healthier snacks might be interested in a new line of non-HFSS Rice Crisps from Chika’s. They are vegan-friendly, have less than 100 calories per pack and come in three flavours: BBQ, Salt & Vinegar, and Sweet Chilli. They contain white rice and natural flavors, and are produced by popping. They are being sold in Co-op, Nisa, Delicious Ideas, CLF, Cambridge Juice, Epicurium and DDC Foodservice from the beginning of next year for £0.79 for a 22 gram grab bag or £1.79 per 80 gram sharing bag.

Premium BFY snack brand Second Nature Brands has acquired Brownie Brittle from Encore Consumer Capital. The terms of the transaction are not being disclosed. The acquisition will expand Second Nature Brands’ presence in the baking category and unlock a new growth stream.

Indian startup InstaEats offers nut, seed and fruit-based snack mixes that are marketed as daily, natural solutions for specific health needs. With offerings such as Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Kid’s Health, Skin Health, Heart Health, Thyroid Health and Gut Health, InstaEat aims to decrease micronutrient deficiency in India. InstaEats also offers micronutrient deficiency assessment tools, nutrition coaching and community support to further assist customers. 

African-inspired vegan snack brand Chika’s has unveiled a new trio of non-HFSS Rice Crisps that are under 100 calories. Chika’s Rice Crisps are made with popped white rice and natural seasonings and are available in three flavors: BBQ, Salt & Vinegar and Sweet Chilli. Through its Snacks4Change program with World Vision, Chika is donating 1p from every pack to empower women in Africa with education. Chika’s Rice Crisps will launch into Co-op, Nisa, Delicious Ideas, CLF, Cambridge Juice, Epicurium and DDC Foodservice from January 2023.

Plant-based, better-for-you snack brand PeaTos has closed an oversubscribed Series A3 round and is launching into several hundred U.S. Walmart stores nationwide. The expansion follows PeaTos’ launch earlier this year at several thousand CVS Health stores and HEB Texas markets. 

One of the five winners of a contest run by Scottish supermarket chain Scotmid and Scotland Food & Drink was Nudie Snacks and its Katsu Flavour Cauliflower Crisps, featuring cauliflower from farms in Fife. Jessica Van Tromp, Local Sourcing Manager at Scotmid, said the aim of the contest was to support relationships with its Scottish suppliers and to find exciting new Scottish favourites.

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has been working with start-up Nutri V on creating healthy vegetable snacks using broccoli, pumpkin and cauliflower that would have otherwise been thrown away or used in animal feed. CSIRO says 20-30 percent of vegetable plants are wasted and the partnership aims to ensure that all plants are used. Nutri V CEO Raquel Said explained that the company aims to upcycle waste “into a sustainable yet delicious solution”. The vegetables are picked and sorted in the morning, then washed and dried before being made into powders. Each pack of Nutri V Goodies contains two servings of vegetables. The snacks will be sold in Coles supermarkets nationally.

Specialty Food Association has announced that its Sweet Diane's granola brand has introduced Protein Crunch to the market. It contains 6 grams of protein per serving as well as toasted nuts, three types of seeds, crispy quinoa and bits of dried strawberries. According to the press release, the granola is vegan and gluten-free, contains low-glycemic coconut sugar, heart-healthy walnuts and flaxseed, and the highest protein per serving of any granola.

Research commissioned by milk alternative brand, Wunda, has revealed generational differences when it comes to eating habits. The research surveyed 2,000 British adults and found that almost half of Gen Z (46 percent) believe breakfast is their healthiest meal of the day, compared to 35 percent of adults overall. In addition, 62 percent of Gen Z consider themselves to be “health conscious”, compared with just 43 percent of adults overall. The top breakfast choices for Gen Z contain plenty of calcium (46 percent) and protein (44 percent) – such as porridge (39 percent), overnight oats (33 percent), avocado (9 percent) and smoothies (8 percent).

Kent Crisps’ Lamb Rosemary potato chips have won the Best Savory Snack title at the Great British Food Awards 2022. Having launched in late 2021, Lamb and Rosemary is the newest addition to the range of Kent Crisps. The chips are made using grass-fed Romney Lamb from Kent Shepherd farm, a nod to Kent's quality produce and emphasis on British heritage.

B&G Foods, Inc. is actively seeking to sell its Back to Nature business, which the company said is no longer core to its overall business or long-term strategy. The company has also initiated a strategic review to identify other potential divestitures following its recent restructuring into four business units, which include spices and seasonings, meals, frozen and vegetables and specialty.

Industry experts are questioning whether plant-based jerky can break out of the niche market. According to SPINS data, plant-based jerky sales doubled to more than $20 million last year in the U.S., excluding e-commerce. However, the category is still unlikely to challenge the beef jerky industry, which is estimated to be worth $5 billion. Nicholas Fereday, an executive director for food and consumer trends at Dutch investment bank Rabobank, argues price and taste are essential to the success of plant-based jerky, adding that plant-based jerky should be at a discount to meat-based products to recognize it as a substitute product. However, even if the plant-based option manages to be cheaper and palatable, it will often still not contain the same protein levels as meat jerky, reducing its functionality. John Baumgartner, a managing director at Japanese investment bank Mizuho Securities, points to Beyond Meat’s jerky as an example. While Beyond Meat has strong distribution through PepsiCo and is selling its product at a 20-30 percent discount to meat jerky, the product is still experiencing slow growth and low repeat sales. 

Montreal museum The Insectarium is holding free weekly tastings of insect-based gourmet snacks to raise awareness amongst consumers. Snacks include spicy cricket powder-covered almonds, sun-dried tomato tapenade with mealworms, and cricket pecan shortbreads. For the holiday season, The Insectarium is offering a ‘discovery box’ of five insect-based gourmet products for $50. 

Chip producer 10 Acre, based in the East Anglia region of England, is relaunching into retail with a new range of carbon-neutral and HFSS-compliant potato chips. Using potatoes grown on its farm and fried on site, the new range offers five vegan flavors: Cheese & Onion, Fried Chicken, BBQ Beef, Sea Salt and Cheesy Chilli. 10 Acre will be supporting the launch with a marketing mix that covers earned and owned support, in addition to a PR, social media and influencer campaign that will be timed alongside an in-store launch.

A new study by Grand View Research forecasts the global functional mushroom category to reach almost $25 billion this year, and $47 billion by 2028. Zoey Henderson, from low-alcohol mushroom beer brand Fungtn, said the pandemic kickstarted the boom as consumers sought natural immunity booster. Mushrooms have been used in medicine for thousands of years. Henderson sees opportunities in offering supplements in more fun ways, such as in beer, as they can be seen as a bit boring. London Nootropics launched an adaptogenic coffee blend in 2020 using lion's mane and cordyceps mushrooms. The brand secured a listing at Harrod’s this year and also has a pop-up café near Piccadilly Circus that sells mushroom chocolates and products from other mushroom brands. Price is the main obstacle to mass adoption, but being able to convert their umami flavours into great-tasting functional products is also a challenge. However, the health benefits could begin to outweigh any reluctance caused by taste. Puresport founder Grayson Hart sees mushrooms developing along the lines of CBD. 

Rice snack manufacturer Kameda Seika aims to leverage growing interest in gluten-free and meat-free options to expand its business beyond its domestic market in Japan. The company’s goal is overseas revenue of 50 billion yen by the end of the decade, from 9.2 billion in fiscal 2021. CEO Lekh Raj Juneja says there’s been an increase in rice snack sales in Asia and in the U.S., where it sells gluten-free crackers through subsidiaries. Juneja also wants to enter Europe and South America. The company’s flagship rice cracker, Kaki-no-tane, is popular in India, where it’s called Kari Kari. Juneja added that as the company deals with higher costs, it can reduce production costs by structural changes or by adding value to its products so it can raise prices.

Scotland-based porridge oats maker Nairn’s announced the addition of Scottish Porridge Oats with Maple Syrup to its gluten-free line-up. It is made with wholegrain oats and real maple syrup. It’s approved to carry the Crossed Grain logo by Coeliac UK.

As millet is growing in popularity due to its nutritional benefits, the Indian government is enacting plans to promote its consumption and production. Syncing its idea with the UN's declaration of 2023 as 'International Year of Millets', the country has planned 19 events at global venues in countries like Germany, Belgium, USA, Japan, UAE, South Korea, South Africa, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, U.K. and France beginning next year to promote millets and millet-based products. The government is also running promotional activities within the country. In 2023, four cities, including Mumbai and Kolkata, will have millet expos, while 19 districts across 10 states will see multiple activities including 'millet villages targeting tourism'. The government has also planned an international conference on millet processing in January and food events with special focus on millets in October next year. Despite the increased demand for millet and its favorable production conditions, Indian farmers primarily grow rice and wheat crops. The government is now creating incentives for farmers who transition to millet and raising awareness on the crop’s short duration and low production costs. There is also a plan to set up the International School of Millet Processing (ISMP) in Thanjavur.

Minnesota-based cardiologist Elizabeth Klodas, MD, founded Step One Foods to challenge the medical system’s approach to heart health. Instead of taking medication, users are to consume two servings of Step One products daily. Step One’s products deliver four “heart health building blocks” – fiber, plant sterols, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids - in convenient formats like oatmeal, smoothies, pancakes and snack bars. The products have been put to the test with a double-blind study conducted at Mayo Clinic and the University of Manitoba. After 30 days of taking the Step One program, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” was reduced in participants by an average of 9 percent, with overall cholesterol declining 5 percent. The company claims it has seen a 250 percent increase in sales last year. 

Wellness Natural USA Inc. announced its SimplyProtein Crispy Bars have expanded from regional to national Costco distribution. SimplyProtein Crispy Bars first entered 50 regional Costco warehouses in January 2022, with this national expansion bringing distribution to over 600 warehouses nationwide. The plant-based Crispy Bars are available in a Costco-exclusive 15 bar multipack featuring the Peanut Butter Chocolate, Lemon Coconut, and Dark Chocolate Sea Salt flavors. Beyond Costco, SimplyProtein sells other snacks, including Energy Bites, Snack Bars, Cookie Bars, and Kids Bars online on its website and on Amazon, and in-store at retailers including Kroger, Mwijer and HyVee. 

California start-up Pescavore aims to transform the jerky market with its Ahi Tuna Jerky Strips. Pescavore developed proprietary technology and a technique of small batch, natural wood smoking to keep the product shelf stable and maintain the fish’s flavor, texture and nutrients. The snack contains 15 grams of protein per package and is high in vitamins, minerals and omega-3s, with less salt and sugar than conventional jerky. Pescavore sustainably and locally sources its fish, and is currently in the process of obtaining certification from the Marine Stewardship Council, a non-profit that certifies seafood products for sustainable sourcing. Pescavore’s Ahi Tuna Jerky Strips are sold at retailers nationwide in three flavors: Caribbean Jerk, Island Teriyaki, and Smoke Poke. The company is testing new products with a variety of fish species, including salmon, groundfish and petrale sole, and is looking to launch its next seafood snack in late summer. 

Snack bar brand Kind has launched its first out-of-home campaign in support of its partnership with refugee support organization Choose Love. The campaign sees Kind highlight acts of kindness from local people in their communities on digital and print posters in London, Manchester, Bristol,and Edinburgh. It is part of a wider strategy that includes limited-edition on-pack designs by Iranian artist Majid Adin, as well as digital and influencer marketing.

Breakfast biscuit brand Belvita is launching three new non-HFSS Fruit Crunch bars in the UK. The bars are lower in saturated fat and come in Raisin & Currant, Apple & Pear and Soft Bakes Filled Apricot.