As inflation continues to ease into 2025, global economic growth remains moderate, with persistent uncertainty prompting snack industry leaders to adopt diverse strategies to ensure resilience and expansion.
Leading snack companies are actively reshaping their portfolios through acquisitions and divestitures.
In 2024, Mars acquired Kellanova, PepsiCo took over Siete Foods, and Ferrero purchased Nonni’s Bakery, all targeting high-growth categories such as savoury snacks, sugar confectionery, and snack bars.
Meanwhile, Unilever’s decision to spin off its ice cream division reflects a wider trend towards business simplification and focused innovation.
Emerging markets are central to global expansion efforts, with brands increasingly adapting products to suit local tastes. At the same time, international flavours are gaining popularity among global consumers. Dubai chocolate, for example, has found success through its unique texture and vibrant design, amplified by social media.
According to Euromonitor’s 2024 Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey, 68 percent of consumers value experiencing cultures other than their own. The appeal of new flavours is evident, with a 73 percent year-on-year increase in pistachio-flavoured chocolate launches across tracked FMCG categories.
Snacking habits are also evolving. In 2024, 22 percent of consumers reported snacking out of boredom, nearly double the 12 percent in 2023. Brands are meeting this demand with innovative, multi-sensory products that combine unexpected flavours and textures.
Spicy, savoury snacks continue to gain momentum, intensifying competition among leading brands. Co-branded and limited-edition collaborations with other global companies are also on the rise, not only boosting sales but driving social media engagement.
Consumers are increasingly turning to platforms like Instagram and TikTok for product discovery, placing growing trust in content from influencers and brand accounts.
Health is a key consideration. Around 40 percent of consumers actively read nutrition labels, and 54 percent seek products with health-enhancing properties, such as reduced sugar, salt, or gluten. There is a growing demand for snacks with added benefits like improved energy, mental well-being, and digestive health.
Many consumers are also willing to pay more for foods enriched with antioxidants, vitamins, or high protein. In response, companies launch products such as gluten-free Oreos, which debuted in Argentina in 2024.
Sustainability remains at the front of the mind. Consumers are prioritising natural, locally-sourced, and eco-friendly products. Cocoa, a major snack ingredient, saw prices surge due to climate-related crop issues, prompting investments in sustainable solutions like lab-grown cocoa and community initiatives to support farmers.
In an increasingly competitive landscape, global snack brands are focusing on growth through innovation, localisation, health-conscious offerings and sustainability-driven initiatives.
