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The Future of Salty Snacks
2026-05-06T04:01:34+00:00
REP887E192D_04BE_4813_BE19_2D04BE38130B
2195
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Report
en_GB
Published Date: May 6, 2026 | "Salty snacks will win by owning occasions – healthy mornings, ageing needs and we‑time moments. The future sees premium indulgence and BFY benefits." Hansika…
Global
Snacks
simple

The Future of Salty Snacks

Published Date: May 6, 2026

"Salty snacks will win by owning occasions – healthy mornings, ageing needs and we‑time moments. The future sees premium indulgence and BFY benefits."

Hansika Subramanian, Principal Analyst - Food and Drink

Hansika Subramanian, Principal Analyst - Food and Drink

Discover the future trends in the global salty snacks market with Mintel’s Future Of report. The report identifies the key consumer and industry trends that will impact the global snacks industry over the next five years.

The most important upcoming trends in salty snacks are analysed and succinctly presented alongside relevant insights from Mintel’s consumer data. So you can understand how consumer demands will change and identify future innovation and growth opportunities.

This report also presents Mintel’s analysts’ pick of the most innovative and inspirational launches in salty snacks. Understanding the future of the snacks industry has never been so easy.

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  1. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

    • Where are we now
    • In the next two years
    • In five years and beyond
  2. IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS

    • Mintel’s perspective
    • Healthy snacks will claim breakfast mornings
    • Breakfast rituals are fading, but the demand for healthy mornings remains
    • Graph 1: frequency of consuming breakfast and a snack between breakfast and lunch, by daily consumption, 2025
    • Graph 2: snacking motivations for Millennials, by time of day, 2025
    • The ‘snackification’ of mornings creates a clear opening for healthy snacks
    • Graph 3: morning snack frequency, 25-34 age group, 2022-25
    • Graph 4: snack launches with select claims, 2016-26
    • Breakfast trade-offs will create whitespace for healthy snacks
    • Three levers will turn healthy snacks into ‘smart’ breakfast solutions
    • How brands will successfully show up at breakfast
    • Nuts and fruit snacks are breakfast-ready but need variety to win
    • Snacks will support healthy ageing
    • As populations age, everyday snacks will take on greater significance
    • Graph 5: top concerns around leading a healthy lifestyle while ageing, by age, 2024
    • Graph 6: what does ‘healthy ageing’ mean to consumers, 2025
    • Salty snacks will aid older consumers with longevity
    • Graph 7: desired product benefits in better-for-you foods, by age, 2022
    • The need for salt will remain essential, even as consumers age
    • Graph 8: importance of low salt and sugar in a salty snack, by age, 2024
    • Smarter flavour design will quietly support salt reduction
    • Snack brands will reframe protein relevance for older consumers
    • Graph 9: importance of high protein in a healthy snack, by generation, 2023-25
    • Brands will reposition protein snacks to target the needs of older consumers
    • ‘Chewability’ in snacks will become the new lever for cognitive health
    • ‘We time’ will inspire modular snacking
    • The true scale of ‘we time’ snacking
    • Premium, less-frequent special occasions
    • Graph 10: frequency of hosting at-home social gatherings, by generation, 2024
    • Economical, more-frequent everyday sharing
    • Graph 11: snacks consumed by occasions, by parenthood, 2024
    • Graph 12: at-home activities parents do with kids in a typical week, 2024
    • Brands will target ‘we time’ across special occasions and everyday sharing
    • Opportunity 1: everyday snacks will become customisable ‘we time’ platforms
    • Graph 13: new launches in potato snacks, top 10 flavour components, 2021-25
    • Current formats lack ‘wetime’ lens of showcasing novelty, effort and variety
    • One base snack will create many social moments
    • Everyday micro-occasions will drive new snack bundles
  3. IN FIVE YEARS AND BEYOND

    • Mintel’s perspective
    • While mindlessness will reduce, indulgence will not
    • Indulgent snacks will move from mindless self-reward to eating less, savouring more
    • Graph 14: unhealthy food/drink can be part of a healthy diet, 2024
    • The future will see a premiumised category, providing more with less
    • As BFY levers become standard, brands will need new sources of differentiation
    • Graph 15: product launches with select claims, 2016-26
    • Differentiation will move from claims to benefits
    • Graph 16: interest in health-focused innovation in snacks, “I would be interested in buying snacks that…”, 2025
    • Snacking power will shift to APAC
    • Graph 17: region specific snack launches, 2021-26
    • Larger snack brands will move from adaptation to assimilation within APAC
  4. KEY TAKEAWAYS

    • Key takeaways

What is a 'Future of' Report?

Have you ever wondered how to get a clear view of what’s next for your industry? Forget the crystal ball, what you need is a Mintel ‘Future of’ reports. The reports offer a forward-looking perspective, helping you identify upcoming opportunities and navigate the trends that will shape your business for the next five years and beyond.

How Mintel Builds a Picture of the Future

Creating a ‘Future of’ report is a comprehensive process that combines deep data analysis with expert human insight. Here’s a look at the core components that make these reports so valuable.

Expert Insights from Category Analysts

Our dedicated category analysts are at the heart of these reports. They bring years of industry experience and a deep understanding of global markets. They interpret complex data, connect the dots, and provide you with expert recommendations on what to expect in the next two years, five years, and even further into the future. They provide the strategic thinking you need to stay ahead.

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Our analysis is grounded in solid data. A key source is Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD), a powerful resource that tracks product innovation and launches around the world. By analysing this wealth of information, we can spot emerging patterns and shifts in the market. This data, combined with our knowledge of consumer behavior, allows us to anticipate what consumers will want next.

Designed for Forward-Thinking Strategy

Our ‘Future of’ reports are designed to help you look ahead with confidence. By focusing on trend forecasting and identifying future opportunities, these reports provide the insights you need to innovate and plan effectively. They are crafted specifically to help you anticipate market shifts and make proactive decisions, ensuring you and your business are prepared for what’s to come.

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