Convenience and health are two primary factors contributing to the continued growth in the snack and nutrition bar category. The versatility of the bar format has allowed product developers to tailor their new offerings to consumers seeking a snack, a meal, post-workout fuel or a general energy boost.

Here are a few examples of new bar introductions from the first half of 2017.

Posted: August 7, 2017

A variety of industry trends are responsible for an uptick in healthy snack options:

• There is a growing preference amongst snackers for products that provide more healthful options than typical snacks.
• "Free from" remains a top driving trend for healthy-ingredient snack sales, with allergen- and gluten-free claims the most popular.
• Protein, bite-sized snacks, and innovative flavors are in high demand.
• There has been an increase in the percentage of adults who believe they snack healthier, which has climbed to 30% in the last decade. Relatedly, younger Americans are more likely to believe they eat healthier than are older adults.
• Finally, the term "natural" as a marketing tool may have to change if the US Food and Drug Administration adopts regulations concerning the term.

Date: September 8, 2016