Today’s foodies are craving less comfort and more food adventure. Spicy flavors are a major source of their food thrills. 41% of consumers would choose an interesting flavor like sweet and spicy over more traditional flavors, according to Frito Lay (SmartBrief).

But the condiment section isn’t the ONLY place where you can get some heat.

Read on for tips to spice up your snacks and meals.

Consumers are in the mood to manage their mood. One of the ways they’re doing that is through food.  40% of consumers are interested in mood-based food experiences, with 37% looking for their snacks to aid with mood according to recent surveys (Food Dive).  While the focus on functional ingredients might be new, the items they’re turning to are tried and true foods we all know.  Set the mood for success by highlighting these better-for-you products.

If you’re looking to uncover the latest in confections and savory snacks, well the Sweets & Snacks Expo is the place. We were happy to be back in Chicago, seeing new and familiar faces around the floor — all while getting a taste of what’s in store for the rest of the year. And let us say, this year is going to be pretty tasty!

Want all the juicy gossip on what’s the latest must-haves in snacking? Well you’ve come to the right place. We sat down with our confectionery buying team and got a debrief on the leading trends in sweets and snacking. Here’s what they uncovered.

Health and wellness are a big focus for 2022, and with that a renewed attention on snack bars. Early 2022 sales of snack bars/granola bars/clusters skyrocketed, totaling $6.77 billion (Food Business News). Consumers are working up an appetite for fun flavors and a filling meal and they want functional ingredients that fit within today’s dietary trends. Read on for the must-have ingredients certain to raise the bar of your snack selection.

For 2022, health is still a customer focus, but it’s moved from personal health, to the health of the planet. Supporting environmental health is the number one food trend identified by market intelligence company, Innova Market Insights (Food & Beverage Insider). Today, sustainably-sourced products are hot items, with 55% of consumers worldwide more likely to purchase a product with a sustainability claim (Grocery Dive). A key ingredient to sustained increased sales in 2022 — upping your sustainable brand offerings.

Spotting sustainability isn’t as hard as you might think. Read on for the different ways brands are focusing on sustainability.

2022 Healthy Food Trends

Getting healthy in the New Year healthy used to mean “diet time.” But “healthy” has a whole new definition in 2022. Along with it, what’s considered a healthy food. Consumers are taking a holistic approach, eyeing foods that help reduce the risk for chronic illness, reduce stress and achieve better sleep and mental health, as well as offer functional nutrients (Convenience Store News). Don’t worry — you don’t have to clear out your better-for-you section and start fresh. Simply highlight these key health trends, to keep your sales nice and healthy.

Keto is Killin’ It

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According to Convenience Store News, keto is one of the fastest growing terms, its appearance growing 63% on menus over this past year. Similar to Atkins, the Keto lifestyle focuses on