The snacks sector is continually at the forefront of innovation - and the rising demand for healthier options (without sacrificing on taste) is no different. 

ADM has examined what has brought forth the expansive growth in functional snacking, and how this broad landscape can provide numerous avenues for snackers and snack makers alike.

The four drivers include:

• Life Stage and Lifestyle: Different generations are snacking more for the same reason: nutritional supplementation. But those nutritional needs vary greatly depending on life stage.

• The GLP-1 Effect: The use of AOMs, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, has permeated throughout all parts of the food industry, and that includes the snacking category.

• Mood & Joy, or "Soft Health": The feeling of joy – delighting in the taste, enjoying the happiness that comes from supporting wellness goals or gaining an overall mood boost simply from the act of having a treat – is critical for the snacking experience.

• From Girl Dinner to Breakfast Bites and Exploration in Between: The convenience, cost savings, portion control, global flavor exploration and nutrition that functional snacks provide are all coalescing to shape a truly new way of eating.

Learn more about ADM’s snack behaviors and attitudes research.