Innovative New Snack Products

Winners of the 2023 Sweets & Snacks Expo awards

In data released last week by Frito-Lay and Quakers, I learned that half of Americans eat three or more snacks per day.

Also: We tend to eat more snacks in the summer.

And get this. Road trippers under 40 are twice as likely to prioritize finding the snack they want over a clean bathroom. As for other odd road trip snacking behavior, some 44% of people report hiding their snacks from other passengers. A similar percentage (41%) would rather have control over road trip snacks than music. Personally, my road trip nirvana is controlling both, which is easy since my usual passenger is a 20-pound dog. A full quarter of people reported using snacks to break awkward silences. But don’t forget to plan! According to 85% of Americans, planning snacks before hitting the road can “greatly reduce the stress” of a long car trip.

For snack manufacturers, this is good news. Three out of four people agree that road trips are a chance to try new types of snacks.

Once at the final destination, it’s all about convenience. Consumers are looking for easy packaging and individually wrapped snacks. Just consider yourself warned. Three in five people say that snacks can make or break a beach day. Dropping snacks in the sand or running out of snacks were cited as the worst offenses.

So what’s the summer snack forecast looking like?

Two weeks ago, the National Confectioners Association gathered in Chicago to hand out awards for Most Innovative New Products. From 335 entrants, 11 winners emerged. Here are 6 of the winners…

🍎 Apple Cinnamon Chunk Nibbles, by Chunk Nibbles, was named Best in Show. This pouch of sweet and salty nibbles contains clusters of salty pretzels, dehydrated apples, organic cinnamon, cinnamon crumbles and corn squares.

🍠 Farmhouse Ranch Avocado Oil Sweet Potato Chips, by Jackson’s, received the Small Business Innovator award for its dairy-free version of America’s favorite dressing on kettle-cooked sweet potato chips.

🌶️ Mexican Hot Cocoa Bites, by Kopper’s Chocolate, won the Chocolate category.

❤️ Parfait Poppers: Nature’s Raspberries Frozen Fresh in Greek Yogurt & Granola, by Tru Fru, won the Sweet Snacks category.

🥜 Ancho Kimchi Flavored Peanuts, by Truly Good Foods, won the Savory Snacks category.

🍿 Peanut Butter Caramel Coated PopCrunch, by Big Dipper Food Co, won the Salty Snacks category.

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