Trend Alert: Using gateway snacks to explore unusual flavors

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Snacks, beverages and chips are an easy entry-point for exploring new flavors and cuisines, which become gateway products for consumers looking to expand their palates. The “Gateway Snacks” movement is just one of the trends in our 2024 Food & Beverage Trend report

BEHIND THE TREND

As people become more educated about different cultures and their native foods on social media, those people typically become more interested in trying such foods.

People are also willing to listen to other users’ experiences when trying new products to get an accurate understanding of how the flavor tastes. The most intrigue comes when a snack is trending, going viral, or is being offered for a limited time.

THE TREND IN ACTION

Big food and beverage brands have more of an opportunity to offer new flavors to their consumers. Since consumers love and trust these brands, they would be willing to try new products from them versus unknown brands.

Examples include Coffeemate’s Abuelita Mexican Hot Chocolate Flavored Creamer and Ocean Spray’s Cran + Dragonfruit drink. Another is Doritos Coriander chips, sold exclusively in Australia. The cilantro-based flavor embraces the divisive attitudes toward the herb with on-package descriptions like “deliciously fragrant and indulgently soapy.”

Stop by the Trends page of the quench website to learn more about quench’s 2024 Food & Beverage Trends report and to sign up to receive a customized, in-depth presentation of the report for you or your team.

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2024 Food + Beverage Trends

Our 2024 Trends Report is piping hot out of the kitchen. Schedule a virtual presentation today to dig in.