Dive Brief:
- New product introductions for the savory snacks category increased 18% worldwide from 2014 to 2015, according to a new report from FONA International.
- The report named several of the top global flavor trends in savory snacks, including smoke, vinegar, honey, spice, beef, pizza, barbeque and char-grilled. FONA also called out the "roasted/toasted" flavor as the most popular, with 18% growth from 2014 to 2015.
- Other trends driving changes and development in the savory snacks category are simpler ingredients and more convenient "on-the-go" snacks, such as those in resealable or single-serve packaging formats.
Dive Insight:
FONA found that product launches in North America increased by 3% from 2014 to 2015, compared to a 19% increase from 2013 to 2014. Considering the deluge of new products and categories that have seemed to hit the market this year — from plant-based protein bars to beef jerky and meat snacks — that significant dip seems out of place in North America's increasingly snack-driven atmosphere.
Savory flavors have made their way into other snack-friendly foods that were previously dominated by sweet and fruity varieties. Yogurt, for example, has expanded into savory flavors through Greek yogurt-based dips, which Chobani debuted earlier this year. This is also a category where manufacturers are experimenting with combining sweet and savory flavors, such as salted caramel or bacon banana.
FONA singled out roasted/toasted flavor for good reason: Not only was this the most popular flavor among savory snacks in this time period, but roasted/toasted is a unique example of how a preparation method can add flavor. With more consumers being concerned about artificial and extraneous ingredients, manufacturers may be able to simplify their ingredients lists in some cases by strategically using certain production or processing methods that themselves add flavor.