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Snacking trends: Functional benefits and healthier choices
Today’s snack food products prioritize healthier ingredients, functional properties and bold flavors to satisfy consumers who hunger for more than just a quick bite.
As the wellness culture takes root, today’s snackers demand more from their between-meal treats. As a result, traditional vending, convenience and office coffee service (OCS) grab-and-go options — think salty chips and sugary candy bars — are being replaced with better-for-you alternatives that satisfy hunger while delivering functional benefits throughout the day.
“Today’s snackers are looking for more than just a quick bite,” says Monte Farrar, national sales manager with Jack Link’s Protein Snacks. “They want snacks that support focus, energy and well-being, so there is a shift away from sugary or carb-heavy options toward lean proteins and clean-label products that fuel productivity.
“Further, workplace wellness initiatives have elevated the role of snacks in daily routines,” Farrar continues. “Employees increasingly associate healthy snacking with better energy and focus, and companies are responding by curating selections that reflect these priorities.”
Healthy snacks: More than a midday pick-me-up
And, as snacking has become a larger part of people’s daily routines, it’s no longer just a midday affair. Rather, people are taking multiple snack breaks throughout the day and crave indulgences that support on-the-go nutrition.
Glanbia Nutritionals’ Healthy Snacking Trends report reveals that snackers are noshing on a wider variety of occasions, such as after hitting the gym in the morning, during a work break, or when they’re relaxing in the afternoon. “Consumers are choosing snack times to meet a range of needs from providing morning energy to serving as a meal substitute,” notes the report.
Yaxin Fan, R&D manager with CiboVita/Nature’s Garden, perceives the same trend: “Whether it’s a morning refresher to kick start the day, a midday energy boost or an indulgent, yet nourishing treat in the afternoon, functional benefits such as sustained energy, mental focus, or gut health are increasingly important. At the same time, there is a growing demand for convenient grab-and-go formats as they eliminate the need for morning prep and allow easy consumption any time of day.”
Michael Klitsberg, senior sales manager, strategic accounts, with Dole Packaged Foods, agrees. “There’s a noticeable shift toward all-day snacking,” he says. “Traditional mealtimes are being replaced with more frequent, intentional snacking moments. Consumers are seeking snacks that are not only delicious but provide energy, fullness and real nutritional value to help power them throughout the day.”
It seems consumers’ appetite for convenient but healthy options, combined with more frequent nibbling, is driving steady snack food market growth. Globally, the snack food market was estimated to be valued at over $490 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach almost $659 billion by 2032. At the same time, the North American snack product market — a significant portion of those figures — was worth $114 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to almost $165 billion during the forecast period, according to Stratis Research’s Snack Food Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report, 2024 to 2032.
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✍️ Author is Joy LePree