In today’s era of rapid urbanisation, consumers are gravitating toward food options that fit seamlessly into their hectic lifestyles. With many too busy to prepare or sit down to consume meals, ADM category marketing manager Nutrition ANZ, Melissa Przydacz, says that snacks that can be conveniently consumed during morning commutes or breaks at work are now preferred.
However, the evolution of snacking extends beyond the occasion. Modern consumers are expecting snacks to offer more than just taste and convenience. They are looking for high quality, naturally sourced options that provide added health benefits. A report released in 2023 found that over a quarter of global consumers are snacking more frequently compared to 12 months earlier and 31 per cent say their snacking has become healthier over the past year.
As the snackification trend continues to gain momentum, with consumers increasingly opting for snacks throughout the day instead of the traditional three-meals-a-day routine, brands need to adapt. To capture this growing demand, they must simultaneously deliver on taste, convenience, and health in their snack offerings.
Incorporating functional ingredients into snacks is a key strategy to address health needs while maintaining great taste. Snack bars, with their extensive flavour options and versatility, are particularly well-suited for integrating these ingredients. Furthermore, this approach allows brands to distinguish their products from current snack bar innovations that primarily focus on high-protein and low- or no-sugar formulations.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the snack bar market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of (CAGR) of 9.33 per cent, reaching US$3.36 billion by 2030. Notably, Australia has emerged as a leading market for snack bars, driven by its strong sports culture and preference for naturally sourced and nutritious foods. Approximately 13 million adults and 3 million children in the country take part in sports each year, making snack bars the perfect on-the-go option to replenish their energy and to meet their nutritional needs.
To enhance their snack bar portfolio, brands can leverage ADM’s Fibersol® , a premier line of soluble prebiotic fibres, to create products that promote satiety, support healthy weight management, and improve digestive health.
Proven to be well tolerated at levels higher than other fibres, Fibersol® delivers the benefits of dietary fibre with minimal gastrointestinal discomfort, promoting beneficial gut bacteria growth and maintaining a healthy intestinal tract environment. Its ability to support gut health is formally recognised by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), allowing brands to add approved health claims to their product packaging in the market.
Fibersol® is also heat-, acid-, shear- and freeze/thaw-stable, and is able to enhance positive taste and texture attributes without imparting any flavour of its own. This versatility allows for optimal formulation and food-processing across a wide range of applications. In addition, Fibersol® can reduce sugar by up to 30 per cent in certain applications, offering significant potential for sugar and calorie reduction for snack bar formulations.
With the growing demand for functional benefits, consumers are also drawn to foods that contain naturally sourced and well-established ingredients like botanicals, which are often associated with supporting various aspects of health, including emotional well-being. Globally, 28 per cent of consumers are actively seeking out botanical and herbal extracts in their diets. This trend presents ample opportunities for brands. By tapping into ADM’s broad portfolio of high-quality functional botanicals derived from nature, such as teas, fruit, and vegetable extracts, they can create snacks bars that meet consumer expectations.
As more consumers embrace a conscientious lifestyle centred on wellness and holistic nutrition, snacking has evolved from a simple indulgence between meals into a vital opportunity to fuel both body and mind.
With over 75 years of experience in design and taste development, bolstered by our diverse pantry of functional ingredients, ADM is the ideal partner for snack bar developers to capitalise on shifting behaviours and demands. We support customers from conceptualisation to commercialisation, helping to create innovative snack bars that cater to today’s dynamic consumer needs.
