If you thought the worldwide snack attack was about to let up, think again.

Take, for example, the Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) Trendspotter panel’s annual list of what to look for. Snacking, under the heading Girl Dinner 2.0, takes the top spot.

Snacking is here to stay, according to the panel, with “freestyle format and flavor combinations infusing new energy into the red-hot category.”

 “Consumers will become even more flexible with how they eat,” said Trendspotter Melanie Bartelme. “Most US consumers eat traditional meals every day, but snacking is on the rise. Savvy food and drink brands will help consumers see the products they make as suitable for however consumers choose to eat them. Think pizza cupcakes for lunch, jianbing for dinner, and dumplings as a snack.”

Also cited as one of the top trends driving growth in SFA’s 2024-25 State of the Specialty Food Industry research, snacking is gaining nuance and seeing new innovations all the time, according to the association.

Look for “familiar snacks with a twist,” said Trendspotter Jeannie Houchins, like Fishwife’s tinned seafood, Poppy Hand-crafted Popcorn, Acme’s Lox in a Box snack kit, Firehook Crackers, Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen, Brooklyn Cured charcuterie and Goodnow Farms Chocolate.

“The specialty food market is uniquely powerful at pointing the way forward for the larger food industry, because the makers of specialty products respond first to changing consumer preferences and values,” said Leana Salamah, SFA’s senior vice president of marketing and communications.“

Looking to 2025, trends like the increasing appetite for real sugar over artificial or the upscaling of cooking at home with premium ingredients will absolutely be reflected in more ‘mainstream’ outlets. 

Watch fast-casual restaurants, convenience stores, and other chains adopt these consumer-driven trends, and you’ll clearly understand the value of staying on top of emerging specialty food trends, according to the association.

According to Mondelez’s annual State of Snacking report, consumers are snacking:

  • Consistently: snack spending remains unchanged with two-thirds (66%) of consumers agreeing they have not made significant changes to their spend on snacks, despite being more conscious of price.
  • Mindfully: 85% of consumers report they regularly savor a snack’s taste, flavor, and texture while eating; 78% say they appreciate snacks more when consumed mindfully.
  • Adventurously: consumers surveyed are leveraging social media (62%) and searching for novelty, with six in 10 considering themselves “snack adventurers” who like to try new snacks.
  • Purposefully: over two-thirds of global consumers agree they often choose brands that align with their values, fueling a rising appetite for snacks with sustainability benefits.

Dave’s Killer…snacks

Dave’s Killer Bread, the leading organic bread brand, is growing its on-the-go snack product line with the national launch of Organic Snack Bites. Each unique flavor combines the same whole grain nutrition and simple ingredients that consumers know and love from Dave’s Killer Bread with a crunchy texture to meet current snacking desires, according to the company.

Organic Snack Bites come in six savory and sweet flavors:

  • Cinna Roll Snack Bites feature organic chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and crisp brown rice, delivering a classic sweet cinnamon flavor.
  • PB & Chocolate Snack Bites offer a salty-sweet bite with organic peanut butter, rolled oats, cocoa butter, quinoa flakes and sea salt.
  • Honey Nut Snack Bites are packed with organic rolled oats, honey and dry roasted almonds, offering a lightly sweet bite packed with whole grains.
  • Epic Everything™ Snack Bites contain a delicious blend of crunchy bits of garlic and onion with organic pumpkin seeds, cashews, quinoa flakes and sunflower kernels.
  • Toasted Garlic Snack Bites are toasted to flavor with garlicky organic rolled oats, poppy seeds, quinoa flakes and crisp brown rice. Bold Buffalo Snack Bites provide a tangy and savory bite made with organic cashews, pumpkin seeds, rolled oats and crisp brown rice.

“The positive response to our Snack and Protein Bars has confirmed that people crave snacks that balance nutrition with exceptional taste and texture,” said Danielle Benjamin, senior director of brand management for Dave’s Killer Bread. “We collaborated closely with our team to craft these one-of-a-kind Snack Bites — perfectly portioned clusters packed with whole grains, a satisfying crunch and the bold flavors that offer our BreadHeads a unique and satisfying snacking experience.”

The stand-up, resealable pouches retail for $6.99 each and are now rolling out at Walmart, on Walmart.com, Amazon, and at grocery stores across the country. You can find exact locations on the Dave’s Killer Bread store locator.

Hummus among us

Another snacking favorite, hummus, is poised for huge growth.

The global hummus market size is estimated to grow by USD 2.85 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio.

The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period, with the introduction of new packaging driving market growth, and a trend towards growing retail space.

Effects of natural calamities and raw material supply shortage, however, pose a challenge, according to the report. “The global hummus market is experiencing growth due to the expanding retail landscape,” said Technavio. “Traditional sales channels, including supermarkets, hypermarkets, and convenience stores, continue to dominate. However, online sales are gaining popularity. E-commerce portals like Amazon, Tesco, BigBasket, and others are seeing increased sales of hummus products.”

Companies like Haliburton International Foods have established their online presence in the hummus market. US online grocery sales have grown an average of 17.6% per year since 2017, a trend that is expected to positively impact the growth of the global hummus market during the forecast period.

The hummus market is exploding in popularity, especially among millennials seeking healthy, plant-based snack options. Chickpea Hummus, Tahini Dip, and Chickpea Spread are top choices, offering proteins, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and nutritious constituents.

New flavors like lavender, lime, blueberry, and herbs and spices such as turmeric, are capturing consumers’ attention, and long shelf-life and convenience make hummus a fridge staple.

In addition, affordability and health-beneficial attributes make it a go-to choice for vegan diets and veganism. Top hummus flavors going forward, according to the report, include Classic, Lentil, Garlic, Black, White bean, and organic options.

“Brands are focusing on functional ingredients, immunity attributes, and environmental sustainability by offering single-serve cups and using herbs and spices,” according to Technavio. “Hummus is not just a dip but a versatile plant-based appetizer for Mediterranean Cuisine, Vegan Snacks, and healthy diets.”  

New in grab-and-go

Yo Quiero's latest addition to its snacking lineup are brand-new display-ready grab-and-go sets. Each case holds 12 4-ounce mini trays, with ten items possible:

  • Original Guacamole
  • Chunky Guacamole
  • Hatch Chile Guacamole
  • Red Salsa
  • Corn Salsa
  • Avocado Salsa Verde
  • Original Bean Dip
  • Black Bean Dip
  • Creamy Jalapeno Dip
  • Smoke House Onion Dip