More and more Americans are turning to snacks instead of traditional meals to get their sustenance. Half of all consumer choose a snack over a meal four times a week, and more than a quarter go the snack route up to seven times a week.
Trends
The free-from movement is in full force
These days, what a product doesn’t have in it is often the key attribute for consumers. “Free-from” is taking up a higher percentage of new product launches every year, with sugar, carbs, red meat, gluten and dairy at the top of shoppers’ no-no lists.
Corner and mega bakeries
Given the popularity of baked goods, there’s plenty of room in the retail industry for both independent shops and behemoths like Dunkin’ Donuts and Panera to thrive. Wholesale bakeries are also picking up their games, mining many of the same industry trends that retailers have capitalized on.