New Snacking Lifestyles | Sneak Peek Into The Future 🤩

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) are gearing up for a transformative year ahead as consumers seek out comfort, health, convenience, and status when it comes to snacking. In this article, we delve into the anticipated trends and exciting product developments within the snacking category, with a focus on flavor, ingredients, and packaging.

1. Hype-Driven Delights

Snacking is no longer just about satisfying cravings; it's increasingly becoming a symbol of status. Innovative brands are creating a buzz with limited-edition releases and products that cater to lifestyle-driven communities and subcultures. From "it-desserts" to tantalising collaborations, snacks are turning into edible accessories that hold cool currency.

Innovators are joining forces with brands or creators who resonate with consumers' values, identities, and lifestyles. These collaborations result in snacks that appeal to niche communities or pay homage to insider knowledge. For instance, Depop, the secondhand fashion platform, collaborated with Pop-Tarts to curate collections based on Pop-Tarts flavors. Meanwhile, Pringles launched limited-time-offer Minecraft-inspired potato chips, and Immi instant ramen teamed up with TikTok star Cooking With Lynja for a unique ramen release featuring Lynja's signature Gen Z tagline, "Bussin or nah?" inspired by her viral videos.

This trend is not just about unique flavors but also about the marketing strategy. Innovators are adopting the "drop marketing" and limited-time-offer (LTO) approach, which originated with streetwear brands. These tactics create a sense of exclusivity and anticipation, similar to snagging a coveted fashion item.

LA smashburger spot Love Hour created a line-up of Artist Meals for the 2023 Coachella Music & Arts Festival in collaboration with acts including Kenny Beats and Weyes Blood. Available exclusively at the VIP Rose Garden booth, the bites were served alongside limited-edition merch, including a cap featuring branding from Love Hour, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and streetwear label Pleasures

2. The Snack Renaissance

The affordability of snacks and baked goods compared to sit-down meals or fashion items makes them highly accessible. At the same time, drops and LTOs maintain an aura of exclusivity that appeals to consumers seeking both affordability and uniqueness.

For instance, Love Hour, a Los Angeles smashburger spot, collaborated with artists for special meals exclusively available at the 2023 Coachella Music & Arts Festival. This intersection of food, music, and fashion showcased how snacks can be more than just quick bites—they can be a cultural experience.

3. Crafting Community-Centric Snacks

Snack items are becoming an integral part of lifestyle trends in sports, fashion, beauty, and nightlife. Brands are crafting snacks that resonate with specific communities by carefully selecting meaningful ingredients and flavors. The packaging, too, is aligned with the aesthetics and culture surrounding these lifestyles, often featuring nods to community and insider codes.

Collaborations with artists, designers, creators, or fashion brands result in packaging that doubles as wearable or collectible items. These snacks become more than just a quick nibble; they're an expression of one's identity and affiliation.

4. Gateway to Global Tastes

Snacks are the gateway for consumers looking to explore new flavors and cuisines. Innovative flavor profiles, inspired by regionally specific cuisines and dishes, provide curious eaters with a taste of the intriguingly unfamiliar. The trend is not just about traditional global flavors; it also includes the pairing of unexpected, complex, or contrasting tastes and textures.

For example, Singapore-based Fǔpí offers beancurd skin crisps inspired by diverse Asian cuisines, including Hot Pot Tomato, Sichuan Mala, or Thai Green Curry. Dips and spreads featuring global flavors, like Sunny's Calabrian Chilli Tahini, are also gaining traction.

Unique snacks inspired by culinary fusions enable consumers to explore the uncharted. Consider Mexican-Jewish LA pop-up Malli's plant-based chicharrones with flavors like Sauerkraut or Everything Bagel.

In 2024, the snacking world is set to tantalise your taste buds with a blend of innovation, culture, and uniqueness. These trends are not just about satisfying hunger but also about making a statement and exploring the culinary world in exciting new ways.

–Mirfat Khamis, Digital Marketing Specialist, Imagine