2026
10
A Year of Innovation in Biscuits, Cookies and Crackers 2026
2026-03-17T00:01:16+00:00
REP593B8ABF_698E_4105_BB8A_BF698EC105DC
2600
192027
[{"name":"Biscuits, Cookies and Crackers","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/food\/biscuits-cookies-crackers"},{"name":"A Year of Innovation","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/report-type\/a-year-of-innovation"},{"name":"Global","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/markets\/global-market-research"}]
Report
en_GB
Brands are continuing to innovate with unique flavours, healthier recipes, and adapting formats to better suit snacking occasions. Amrin Walji, Senior Innovation Analyst…
Global
Biscuits, Cookies and Crackers
simple

A Year of Innovation in Biscuits, Cookies and Crackers 2026

"Brands are continuing to innovate with unique flavours, healthier recipes, and adapting formats to better suit snacking occasions."

Amrin Walji, Senior Innovation Analyst

Amrin Walji, Senior Innovation Analyst

Explore the latest innovation in biscuits, cookies and crackers in 2026 with Mintel’s global innovation report. The report identifies the major launch activities, pivotal consumer attitudes and most important product development of the year across all regions.

Key innovation trends in the biscuits market are analysed and succinctly presented alongside Mintel’s consumer data and insights. So you can understand changing consumer demands and identify future growth opportunities.

This report also presents Mintel’s analysts’ pick of the most innovative launches in the global biscuits, cookies and crackers market. Understanding innovation in biscuits has never been so easy.

Collapse All
    • What we’ve seen
    • Our pick of the most innovative launches in this review
    • Other innovative launches
    • Global spotlight: sweet biscuits/cookies and savoury biscuit/cracker launches by sub-category
    • Graph 1: sweet biscuits/cookies and savoury biscuits/crackers launches, by sub-category, 2021-26
  1. EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA (EMEA)

    • Europe: flavour innovation continues to drive sweet biscuit launches
    • Consumers are eager to try sweet biscuits in unique flavours
    • New varieties/range extensions grow their share of sweet biscuit launches
    • Graph 2: sweet biscuits/cookies launches, by launch type, 2021-26
    • Biscuit brands respond to adventurous taste buds through global flavours
    • Europe: savoury biscuits/crackers suitable for the snacking occasion
    • Crackers remain a popular snack choice for many
    • Brands tap into the snacking occasion
    • Brand renovation/innovation: The Drinks Bakery introduces Drinks Biscuits, perfectly paired with alcohol
    • The Middle East & Africa (MEA)
    • Sweet biscuit and cracker brands cater to local tastes
  2. ASIA PACIFIC (APAC)

    • Asia: a focus on nourishing biscuits
    • Consumers would be willing to pay more for healthier options
    • Better-for-you claims are niche, but remain a valuable area of innovation
    • Graph 3: sweet biscuits/cookies launches, by select plus claims, 2021-26
    • Brands launch nourishing biscuits to appeal to health-conscious consumers
    • Asia: Indians are keen to see new flavours in savoury biscuits/crackers
    • Indian consumers favour traditional flavours, but are increasingly exploring bold and innovative options
    • Salt/salted, cumin, cheese and masala are the most established flavour profiles in India’s cracker market
    • Graph 4: savoury biscuits/cracker launches, by top flavour profiles, 2024-26
    • Savoury biscuit/cracker brands cater to consumers seeking familiar flavours with a unique twist
    • Australia & New Zealand
    • Sweet and savoury biscuit and cracker brands aim to deliver the ultimate indulgence experience
  3. THE AMERICAS

    • North America: seasonal and limited-edition biscuits are an exciting area of innovation
    • Holidays give consumers permission to indulge
    • Seasonal and limited-edition claims are on the rise in sweet biscuit launches across North America
    • Sweet biscuits/crackers with holiday-inspired flavours
    • Brands capture the holiday spirit through innovative packaging
    • North America: natural cracker recipes are in demand
    • Consumers prioritise all-natural ingredients when choosing crackers
    • GMO-free and no additives/preservatives claims are the most common natural claims in cracker launches
    • Graph 5: savoury biscuits/crackers launches, by select natural claims, 2021-26
    • Cracker brands highlight clean ingredient recipes
    • Latin America: emergence of vegan and plant-based recipes
    • Consumers increasingly look for snacks with vegan ingredients
    • Vegan and plant-based claims see steady growth in savoury biscuit and cracker launches
    • Graph 6: savoury biscuit/cracker launches, by vegan and plant-based claims, 2021-26
    • Vegan and plant-based crackers focus on positive nutrition

What is 'A Year of Innovation' Report?

To truly understand a market, it’s essential to look at the products that are shaping it. Our ‘A Year of Innovation’ reports provide a detailed review of specific categories, focusing on the most notable product launches from the past 12 months. These reports are designed to give you a clear and comprehensive picture of recent innovation and its impact.

How We Analyse a Year of Innovation

By deconstructing the past year’s activity, we can provide valuable context for your current and future strategies. Here’s how we do it.

A Deep Dive into Product Launches

The core of these reports is a thorough examination of new products. We go beyond simply listing what’s new. Our analysis delves into the “why” behind each product launch, exploring the strategies, ingredients, and marketing claims that are driving innovation. This helps you understand what’s working, what’s not, and where the market is headed.

Powered by the Global New Products Database (GNPD)

Our insights are built on a foundation of robust data from Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD). This powerful tool tracks and catalogues new product launches from around the world. By leveraging the GNPD, we offer a complete exploration of innovative activity within your category, ensuring our analysis is comprehensive, accurate, and relevant.

Uncovering Trends and Consumer Shifts

Our ‘A Year of Innovation’ reports are designed to equip you with actionable insights into how to lead innovation in your category. By studying recent product launches, we can identify shifting consumer habits and preferences. These reports help you connect the dots between what consumers want and how companies are responding. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of emerging trends, allowing you to refine your own product development and marketing strategies with confidence.

 2600 (Excl.Tax)
  • Download today with instant access
  • Multiple formats provided
  • Save up to 20% when you purchase multiple reports

Next Starts Here

Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.

Learn more

Trusted by global industry leaders

Abacus logo

There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.

However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.

Stephen Taylor-Brown, Managing Director, Abacus
Deutsch logo

One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.

We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.

We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.

Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch
Epsilon logo

We utilize Mintel Reports, Trends and Comperemedia to mine for insights across the numerous business verticals that Epsilon serves, such as CPG, automotive, telecom, healthcare/pharma, retail and financial services.

By integrating Mintel insight into new business opportunities, we have been able to gain the competitive edge necessary to advance partnerships with global brands and key business players.

For our organization, it’s about depth and breadth. Having one without the other doesn’t enable success in our business.

Virginia Harvey, Secondary Research Manager, Epsilon
Waitrose & Partners logo

We’ve found it so useful working more closely with Mintel. They helped support our recent flagship event for our top suppliers by providing a really unique viewpoint on the future of online retailing.

Nick Carroll from their Retail Team was also an excellent panelist, sharing useful and actionable consumer insights. We definitely look forward to working with Mintel again on future projects.

Zac Steele, E-Commerce Trading Development Manager, Waitrose & Partners
Tenth Wave logo

Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.

When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.

The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.

Ben Zeidler, Director - Research and Analytics, Tenth Wave

Next Starts Here

Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.

Learn more