Action on Sugar, a UK health watchdog based at Queen Mary University of London, says cereal brands have not done enough to reduce the sugar content of cereals targeting kids. The 14.9 percent reduction in sugar levels achieved between 2015 and 2020 falls short of the 20 percent target set by the Government. The organisation calls for a ban on packaging that appeals to children for products containing medium or higher levels of sugar, salt and saturated fat. Graham MacGregor, Action of Sugar chair and professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London, says the impact of obesity on economic productivity and NHS resources is huge and drastic changes are needed, especially when related to children. Action on Sugar argues that, unlike the Government’s HFSS regulations that restrict TV advertising of ‘unhealthy’ foods targeting children, there are no equivalent restrictions for packaging. UK Health Minister, Will Quince, however, believes the watchdog’s calls for tighter packaging rules are a “a step too far”, arguing that interventions should be the responsibility of parents not a “nanny state”. Action on Sugar, however, has acknowledged the work Lidl has made on sugar content and the removal of cartoon characters from packaging.

Stella Kim, Food Product Developer at Nature Box, a US-based subscription-based healthy snack producer, suggested that health considerations will be key in shaping the future of the US snack industry. Kim emphasized the evolving consumer inclination towards healthier ingredients, functional foods, products that promote gut health, and portion-controlled servings. As a result, she predicted increasing demand for plant-based snacks, functional varieties, and snacks fortified with added protein, in the US snack market in the coming years.

Snack brand Calbee is focusing its strategy on driving sales for its core Harvest Snaps brand with US consumers at the same time as developing its Japanese snack options in the US. It has partnered with Walmart for a new Harvest Snaps variant, Hot & Spicy, in an exclusive 90-day deal before it launches more widely at the start of the Fall. Reports suggest the initial limited launch has been successful. The company also sees opportunities to grow its Japanese brands as consumers look for globally-inspired options. Calbee attended the anime convention Anime Expo where it showcased its Asian snacks portfolio. 

Tesco has announced an urgent recall notice for selected crisps and snacks under its own brand. They are the 150g Free From packs of Onion Rings, Cheese Flavour Balls and Bacon Rashers crisps, all of which claim to not contain gluten, wheat or milk. However, the UK retailer has found that gluten might exist, creating risks for those with Coeliac disease. Those products with a use by date of December 16, 2023 are included.

Rude Health, a UK-based organic food and beverage brand, expanded its Bircher Muesli line with a new Apple & Cinnamon flavor. The muesli is made from finely milled oats, apple pieces and softly spiced cinnamon, and boasts a ‘soft in seconds’ quality. The product is scheduled to launch in September 2023 and will be accessible at Waitrose stores across the UK, as well as wholesalers like Auguste Noel and Suma, starting at £3 per 375g box.

Utz Brands, a US snack company, revealed second quarter net sales of $362.9 million, up 3.8 percent year on year. It experienced nearly 20 percent growth in better-for-you salty snack consumption and natural channel sales, outpacing the 10 percent category growth. However, the company reported an $8.6 million loss for Q2, attributed to reduced potato crop yields and temporary volume adjustments related to a recent plant closure. Utz Brands adjusted its fiscal 2023 EBITDA outlook to 8-11 percent (from 7-10 percent), as it aims to boost sales through enhanced distribution, new product innovation, increased marketing and the effects of prior-year SKU rationalization.

Ferndale Foods Australia will invest A$20 million in a new food manufacturing facility in Ballarat, Australia, to meet the rising demand for better-for-you snacks, including protein, muesli, low-sugar, sugar-free, gluten-free and high-fiber options. The facility will make Ferndale’s own BFY product lines, as well as providing co-manufacturing capabilities for existing brands and customers. It will have the capacity to produce 180 million snack bars annually, with production starting in September 2023. 

Food Onwards is a Thailand-based brand specializing in upcycled fish skin snacks. The brand repurposes fish skins that would otherwise be discarded during the filletting production process of its parent company, APA Foods. Utilizing its proprietary in-house technology, Food Onwards ensures its products are free from any fishy odor. The brand’s fish skin snacks come in a variety of flavors, including Salted Egg, Tom Yum, Thai Herbs, Mala, and Truffle, as well as Western-inspired choices like Salt and Pepper and Cheese.

Harvest Snaps launched a new Mixed Snack Pack, comprising two single-serving packs each of its Lightly Salted Baked Green Pea Snacks and Sour Cream & Onion Crunchy Lentil Rings, along with two single-serving packs of its new addition: Tomato Basil Crunch Lentil Rings. The plant-based snacks are crafted from whole legumes, baked-never-fried, and are free from gluten, artificial flavors, preservatives and the top nine allergens. The Mixed Snack Pack is available at Sprouts Farmers Markets and through the brand’s website, with prices starting at $6.99 per multi-pack.

Nākd, a UK-based 100% natural snack bar brand, launched a plant-based granola line, marking its entry into the cereal aisle. Nākd Granola is HFSS-complaint and comes in three flavors: Blueberry Muffin, Cocoa Orange and Peanut Delight. The items are available at selected UK retailers for £3.75 per 365g bag. 

Oogie’s Snacks, a US-based gourmet natural popcorn brand, launched two product lines. The first, Oogie’s Puffcorn, is a collection of gluten-free puffcorn snacks. The snacks are created without frying, using cornmeal, vegetable oil, and salt, and come in Classic Butter and Simply Sea Salt flavors. The second is Oogie’s Organic Popcorn, which debuted with the flavor Organic Simply Sea Salt. Both product lines can be purchased from the brand’s website, starting at $19.95 for a 4-pack of 4oz bags. 

Aldi UK, a discount grocery retailer, launched its new Specially Selected Garlic Bread Flavour Crinkle Cut Crisps. The chips are vegetarian and gluten-free, provide a smoky garlic and herb taste, and are priced at £1.15 per 150g bag.

Nourish You, an Indian superfood brand, launched a new cereal line called Super Muesli, featuring three flavors: No Added Sugar, Fruit & Nut, and Belgium Dark Chocolate. The vegan cereals are made from 95 percent superfoods, including a blend of six nutrient-rich super grains, are free from gluten, palm oil and preservatives, are high in fiber and offer 14g of plant-based protein per 40g serving. The range is available at retail stores across India and through the brand’s website, with prices starting at Rs.349.00 per 400g bag.    

Nestlé Cereals launched Nesquik Choco Waves Cereal, a non-HFSS addition to the Nesquik brand lineup. The cereal is primarily made of whole grain and is fortified with seven vitamins, calcium and iron while being free from artificial colors and flavors. It is available at Waitrose and Ocado stores for £2.50 per 330g box, with a nationwide rollout across major UK supermarkets set for the coming months. Additionally, Nestlé reintroduced its limited-edition Shreddies Raspberry and White Chocolate Cereal with a new HFSS-complaint recipe. The cereal is available at select Aldi, Lidl and Home Bargains stores, while stocks last.

Beyond Snacks, an Indian-based better-for-you banana chips brand, secured $3.5 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Navbentures Fund. Beyond Snacks plans to use the funds to expand its distribution network across 10 states and 25 cities within India over the next year, enhance its supply chain capabilities and support its R&D efforts. 

UK-based better-for-you snack company JLM Global Foods, secured a lending facility from Leumi ABL, the asset-based lending subsidiary of Bank Leumi UK, with a total limit of £4.37 million. The facility encompasses invoice finance, plant and machinery finance, inventory finance, and a Term Loan. JLM will use the funding to enhance its manufacturing capacity, bolster R&D efforts, and facilitate expansion in the UK, European, and American markets.

Southern Recipe Small Batch, a US brand specializing in handcrafted high protein and gluten-free pork rind snacks, expanded its product lineup with the launch of Hot Honey Pork Rinds. The chip-like snack provides a blend of sweet and spicy flavors and offers 8g of protein, 1g of carbohydrates, and 7g of collagen per 14g serving. The snack is currently available at Food Lion Stores for $3.99 per 4oz bag. 

A survey conducted by Mintel indicates that Gen Z consumers are using snacks as meals but still want to eat healthily, although there’s a gap between intent and behavior. Almost a half of respondents said they eat snacks to improve their mood; 30 percent see snacks as a convenient alternative to a meal. Mintel notes that indulgence through snacking will continue to be an important driver for Gen Z, but the opportunity for brands is to improve the health profile of snacks. Mintel also forecasts growth in the snacking category between 2022 and 2026 at over seven.

Seedlab Australia, an FMCG business incubator backed by Woolworths, unveiled its latest cohort of 15 Australian businesses operating within high-growth sectors. Nine of the companies are situated in the plant based, better-for-you and functional snacks space. 

Yuet Chu, the founder of Singapore-based fruit and vegetable snack brand Hey! Chips, highlighted two key trends that will shape the healthier snacking industry in the APAC region: clean-label and plant-based products. Chu emphasized that APAC consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about food ingredients and are increasingly avoiding long lists of additives and industrial components. She also pointed out that although many snacks in the APAC region are already plant-based, some still incorporate ingredients like honey and milk in small quantities; Chu suggested that manufacturers are likely to phase out these ‘minimal’ ingredients.

Glebe Farm, which grows and mills oats, and also manufactures oat-based products, has announced a new and improved granola range. Pureoaty Granola offers three flavors: Choco Chip, Maple & Banana and Strawberry. The revamped recipes contain a higher oat content in the Maple & Banana and Strawberry products, and they are HFSS-compliant. The chocolate in the Choco Chip variant is vegan. The products will be available at Ocado, Amazon and in independent farm stores in the UK.

Kallø’s Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar veggie cakes will soon be available in an on-the-go single-serve bag format. They contain plant proteins, such as lentil and pea, and are HFSS-compliant, vegan and gluten-free. From August 25, the mini veggie cakes will be sold in the UK at Waitrose outlets nationally. The mini format was first launched in 2022 in two flavors: Beetroot & Balsamic and Caramelised Onion Chutney. 

Made In Nature, a US-based organic snack brand, launched its Puffed Fruit Medley and Puffed Veggies Medley snacks. The gluten-free snacks are crafted from ripe fruits and vegetables, which are dried and then puffed to achieve a light and crispy texture. The Vegetable Medley variant features yellow tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, red peppers and onions, while the Fruit Medley offers a combination of apples, melon, kiwi, peaches and goji berries. The products are available from the brand’s website, priced at $5.99 per 1oz bag.

Fazer, one of Finland’s largest food companies, expanded its Alku breakfast range with five new options: Berry-Filled Wholegrain Muesli 600g, Crunchy Fruit Muesli 600g, Raspberry Heart Wholegrain Cereal 375g, Protein Oat Cereal 450g and Oat Fibre & Linseed Porridge 500g. The cereals are all vegan and rich in fiber. Additionally, Fazer launched its Geisha Granola 375g, featuring toasted oat granola, milk chocolate and hazelnut pieces. The products have been available since early August 2023. 

Catalina Crunch, a US-based keto-friendly snack brand, launched a low-sugar cereal range called Crunch Pairings. The gluten-free and vegan cereals offer 0-1g of sugar, 7g of fiber, and 10g of protein per 36g serving, and come in two flavors: Blueberry Muffin with Whole Blueberries and Honey Nut With Roasted Almonds. The cereals are available online, with prices starting at $49 per 4-pack of 8oz single flavor bags, with a nationwide retailer rollout expected in early 2024.

US-based startup Rivalz has introduced single-serving 1oz bags for its recently launched Stuffed Snacks line. The vegan and gluten-free snacks have a crunchy shell with a soft filling and come in three flavors: Night Pizza, Extra Chedda' Mac and Spicy Street Taco. Each 1oz serving contains seven essential vitamins and minerals, 4g of fiber, 8g of protein and 160mg of sodium. Customers can purchase a 15-pack of 1oz bags for $19.99 at Rivalz’s website. 

Energy beverage brand G FUEL launched G FUEL Protein Puffs, a line of performance-based corn puffs. The baked puffs provide 17g of protein and 3g of carbs per 1oz bag, as well as being free from gluten, artificial preservatives, flavors and colors. Currently, the puffs are offered in a White Cheddar flavor and can be purchased from the brand’s website, starting at $10.00 for a 3-pack of 1oz bags. 

Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported a rise in Japan’s rice cracker exports, attributed to increasing global recognition of these snacks as healthy options. In 2021, rice cracker exports saw a 22 percent  volume increase (5,141 tonnes) and a 24 percent value surge, reaching a record 5.6 billion yen ($40.18 million) due to pandemic-related home stays. Although 2022 saw a slight export slowdown, the first five months of 2023 indicate a growth trajectory similar to 2021. 

Root Foods, a US-based startup. recently revealed the introduction of 1oz packs for its range of gluten-free, hand-sliced 100% veggie chips. The chips are produced using a vacuum frying method and come in four flavors: Tomato, Zucchini, Onion and SixMix, featuring of a blend of six different vegetables. While the release date for the 1oz bags is still uncertain, customers can presently buy 2oz bags from the brand's website at a price of $39 for a pack of six.

BranchOut Food, a US-based plant-based snack brand, launched its Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Sea Salt snack. The snack is made from fresh brussel sprouts and created using BranchOut’s patented GentleDry Technology. This technology enables the gentle drying of fruit and vegetables by avoiding freezing, excessive heating or oxidation, ensuring a close-to-raw quality is preserved. The snack is available from the brand’s website, with prices starting at $39.92 for an eight-pack of 37g bags. 

An article from trend-spotting community Trendhunter covers Made in Nature Puffed Veggie and Fruit Snacks. The snacks are made from ripe organic fruits and vegetables, dried and then puffed to make them light and crispy. Each are certified gluten-free, organic, non-GMO and Kosher. Veggie Medley has yellow and cherry tomatoes, red peppers and onions; Fruit Medley uses apples, melon, kiwi, peaches and goji berries.