Consumers are increasingly prioritizing snacks that merge convenience and nutrition, such as dried fruit, nut packs, and fruit cups. Overall, snacks are becoming healthier and more functional, with consumers willing to pay extra to get more nutrition from each bite. In particular, there is renewed consumer interest in fresh snacking, which includes high-protein refrigerated bars and snack packs, sippable soups, smoothies, yogurt, and other items like guacamole. Additionally, when it comes to the experience consumers want from functional snacks, new and innovative platforms such as cubes, balls, and bombs are beginning to displace the standard nutrition bar. Innovations in functional ingredients and snacking platforms make flavor management even more critical to formulators. 

Read on to learn more about specific applications challenges common to formulating with functional ingredients and novel platforms.