🍭 Top 3 Takeaways from this week's Sweets & Snacks Expo: 1️⃣ Occasions are the NEW Seasonal While traditional seasonal products aren't going anywhere (pumpkin spice: you *ARE* safe), consumer demands are evolving FAST. Whether it's aligning an LTO with a Taylor Swift album drop or deciding what snack to buy for a Vanderpump Rules Reunion watch party with friends, brands and retailers that solve for occasions in culture will outpace their peers by a mile. A standout example was Jack Link's Protein Snacks Bloody Mary Mixes: "people were already putting beef sticks in their Bloody Marys, so it made sense that we show up at brunch!" 2️⃣ The Better-for-You vs. Indulgence Battle Continues NCA Sweet Insights reports that only 53% of consumers believe BFY confections exist, and just 1 in 10 purchase them frequently (predominantly Gen-Z). Experts confidently state: "Indulgence is not going anywhere," even as consumers cut back on snack purchases citing health concerns. The takeaway? Consumers will never give up indulgence—it will just look different in the future. There's a MASSIVE, untapped opportunity in this space. Standout brands already threading the needle beautifully include BEHAVE and NICKS, both of which highlight indulgence with drool-worthy flavor and texture, and an "oh-by-the-way this is actually better for you" twist. FFUPs also caught my eye with their unabashed "NOT HEALTHY" claims, embracing the pure joy and emotional benefits of snacking without any B.S. 3️⃣ Foodie Influence International flavors aren't new, but what stood out was the expressive brand storytelling in snacking. There were so many founders on the expo floor sharing the flavors of their culture with infectious joy. El Nacho was particularly memorable—their tortilla chips were not only delicious, but their packaging was a vehicle for storytelling with cheerfully rebellious characters. I am an immediate fan (especially of Ms. Mango). Nomad Snacks also drew me in with their journey of international flavors like chimichurri and ramen. Lastly...our team has a few more takeaways in our pocket too spicy to publish here 👀 DM if you want to hear more! #SweetsAndSnacks #ConsumerTrends #foodandbev LPK Emily Dominick Kyle
🤨 Jeff Litcofsky 😂
10mo
Great snapshot Meredith! "International flavors aren't new..." for sure, but ingredients and flavor combinations from other countries are still popping up everywhere. You see this with bubble tea as an example. It's commonplace now but it took years to become an everyday option in the US. They're planning to visit Mars but there is so much more to discover right here on Earth. 🤗
Happy to send ALL the samples for retailers and distributors! Thanks again!
Angie Phillips
10mo
Meredith! This is awesome - thanks for sharing. I definitely want to hear (and potentially taste??) more. With occassion-based snacking, I'm so curious if there is a correlation rooted in a post-covid society, where folks are more interested making the ordinary feel special, instead of waiting for the next holiday/season/etc.
Joseph Cassinelli
10mo
Thank you for mentioning EL NACHO TORTILLA CHIPS! So glad you liked the new MS.MANGO!
Emily Flannery
10mo
Exactly Mere! Also the amount of sincere joy founder's and teams had sharing their work was infectious. It's hard not to be happy surrounded by thousands of sweets and snacks and loveable life-size mascots, but this show gave me a renewed dose of optimism for the category!
VP @ Pale Blue Dot | Founder @ FFUPs
10moThanks for stopping by the booth and for the shoutout!