Snackification and its role in delivering convenience, indulgence, and health in one bite

For decades, we’ve been obsessed with the idea of making meals as convenient as possible. 

It’s been a staple of pop culture for years. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory gave us a three-course meal in chewing gum form. Back to the Future Part II served up a tiny disc that instantly grew into a full-size pizza upon being placed in a microwave. One of this year’s Best Picture Oscar nominees, The Substance, saw Demi Moore keeping herself alive while unconscious with a nutrient paste in an IV drip. 

Some of these depictions are more appetising than others, admittedly. However, they highlight that our fascination with low-effort, grab-and-go food has persisted for generations – and is likely to continue to do so long into the future. And, as consumers today have less free time than ever, convenient, delicious, and nutritious foods have never been more appealing.

Those meal-in-pill-form sci-fi tropes might not ever become a reality. But by tapping into the trend of snackification, manufacturers can deliver the convenient foods of the future – today.

What is snackification and why is it happening? 

It’s fairly easy to figure out what snackification is – as consumers become increasingly short of free time, they’re replacing traditional meals with more frequent snacks spread throughout their day. Rigidly sticking to the old mantra of ‘three square meals a day’ in the modern world might seem a little outdated, but splitting some of those meals into several smaller snacks adds a degree of flexibility to our hectic daily routines.

A desire for convenience is the key driver of this trend. A recent report found that 65% of consumers worldwide consider easy preparation the most important factor when choosing food and beverage products. The same report revealed that 67% of people make spontaneous meal decisions, and 6 in 10 preferred to split meals into smaller snacks throughout the day.

This gives consumers more flexibility to add smaller hits of indulgence into their diet while still watching their calories – and their budgets. They no longer have to go all-in on a blowout meal for a treat – instead, high-quality snacks can add exciting new flavours and luxurious textures in bite-size, convenient formats. 

This trend is now so well-established that it’s breaking out of traditional snack foods and is beginning to impact breakfast products, protein snacks, prepared convenience foods and ready meals, beverages, and many more product categories. These new formats don’t just add a little extra intrigue to the snack aisle, they can unlock new opportunities for manufacturers to meet modern consumer needs. 

Elevating nutrition with functional ingredients

Today’s consumers are more conscious than ever about what they put into their bodies. 74% of global consumers are more likely to pay attention to nutritional benefits when purchasing food and beverages. And, in Europe, almost 9 in 10 consumers have used food supplements at some point in their lives – 93% of whom have taken supplements in the last year.

To meet the needs of these health-conscious consumers, snack foods must be able to offer an equivalent – or even superior – nutritional performance to a traditional meal. This requires taking a strategic approach to the inclusion of functional ingredients alongside a diversification of snack lines. Doing so doesn’t just present consumers with more options while they shop, but it enables manufacturers and brands to create a balanced portfolio with a wide range of nutritional benefits.

We offer a wide variety of high-performance functional ingredients to support a diverse range of snack products. These can elevate snacks beyond basic nutrition and offer exciting new benefits.

Take a look at:

Premium protein: Choose from pea, wheat, or soy proteins in a huge variety of formats, from flakes to powders to texturates, to fortify virtually any snack food. This unlocks specific health claims, including ‘high in protein’, which appeals to consumers. 

Fantastic fibre: Bulk up on fibre and support consumer wellness with our leading range of fibre products.

Powerful polyphenols: Polyphenols are potent antioxidants that have been shown to boost cardiovascular health^[1],[2],[3]. Ingredients like Vintera and Hytolive are rich in polyphenols, and are sustainably sourced from grape and olive byproducts, making them ideal for a range of snack and nutraceutical applications.

Pre- and probiotics:  Pre- and probiotics support our gut’s microbiome, which aids digestion and is linked to a number of broader health and wellness benefits. Adding them to recipes will appeal to consumers, who are more aware than ever of the importance of gut health.

This is just scratching the surface of our product offer. Get in touch today to learn more about the full capabilities of our food division.

The future of food

Our portfolio supports manufacturers looking to make their products stand out amidst today’s snackification trend. But we’re also firmly focused on the future.

As consumer preferences continue to evolve alongside emerging technologies, functional snacks will continue to diversify. The lines between snacks and nutraceuticals will blur as personalised nutrition influences formulation development.

This will be complemented by new food technology, such as microwave-assisted vacuum frying, which offers a healthier alternative to traditional frying methods. Advancements in freeze-drying will also support the creation of more stable recipes. 3D printing has been steadily working its way into mainstream consciousness for several years. Versatile ingredients that complement these disruptive new manufacturing methods will be key to the success in future.

That’s why partnering with a distribution expert like ACI is a recipe for success in the snack segment. We can connect manufacturers to some of the world’s most innovative ingredients, supporting clean-label formulations thanks to our robust, transparent supply chains.

Get in touch with our team today to learn more about how we can satisfy your hunger for snackification innovations.