The global snacking trend continues to gain momentum, driven by consumers’ increasingly hectic lifestyles and changing food consumption patterns.
Likewise, the ongoing health and wellness trend has pushed the savory snacks category to the fore as it represents a better alternative to products with a high sugar content. The trend is creating a stronger need for natural ingredients, with a majority of consumers looking for snacks without artificial additives.
However, the savory category comes with its own challenges, such as the need to focus on salt reduction and lower calorie options.
The snacks category is also being driven by demands for better convenience formats, a bigger variety of textures and most of all, new concepts.
As ‘all time snacking’ becomes mainstream, so there are an ever-increasing assortment of options coming onto the market. Portability and novel packaging play an equally important role next to innovative marketing strategies in the future of snacks.
Indulgence remains key
There is a growing desire for experimentation in the category, however, indulgence and enjoyment still represent the main consumption criteria in the snack sector – and offerings are focused on taste, premium ingredients or superior production methods like ‘hand-cooked.’
Combining indulgence and premiumization with natural and healthy ingredients is a key focus for Bell when it comes to salty snacks. Unique flavors are essential for successful snacking product launches and help to create an authentic eating experience.
When innovating it snack seasoning portfolio, the company focuses on culinary inspirations, as well as ethnic varieties, based on current consumer needs and clean label expectations.
It also equally focuses on functional aspects and healthy snacking, inter alia, with a portfolio of seasonings comprizing a natural flavoring and allergen-free declaration. Creating seasonings with low salt content is also a major aspect in Bell’s new developments.
At Snackex Barcelona, Bell will be housed in a new and extended booth design that presents a natural look and feel to engage multiple senses and deliver a culinary appeal.
The company’s portfolio of natural snack seasonings are suitable for a variety of snacks, including classic potato chips, extruded snacks and pellet snacks, as well vegetable or grain-based snacks and popcorn.
Authentic experiences
With flavors continuously evolving in salty snacks, Bell continuously creates authentic taste experiences based on premium varieties – for example, grilled meat notes is currently one of the most dynamic and sought-after flavour varieties – and creating new taste combinations and sensory experiences – such as via a snack seasoning that is perfectly paired with a herbaceous gin.
Bell is also keeping a close eye on the increasing relevance of insect protein and its nutritional properties – combining the hunger for new experiences with sustainable, healthy snacking options.
With deliciously seasoned insect snacks, Bell not only targets health and ethical focused consumers, but also delivers innovative product solutions for a category that is expected to keep flourishing in the coming years.