Snacking Disruption: How “Better-for-You” Snacks Are Rewriting the Future of Food

 

Snacking is no longer a guilty pleasure. It’s a lifestyle. Consumers are migrating from empty calories to better-for-you snacks that promise flavor, function, and transparency according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. Today let’s explore the numbers behind the shift, highlights disruptive brands, and outlines what both shoppers and operators should expect next.

The Market Moment from Snacking to Mini-meals

The global snack industry exceeds $500 billion, but the fastest-growing slice is better-for-you (BFY) snacks:

·       $40.9B in 2025 → $54.4B by 2035 (Future Market Insights).

·       North America: $16.08B in 2024 → $24.88B by 2030 (7.6% CAGR) (Grand View Research).

·       Categories like cereal & granola bars are expanding at ~8% CAGR (Fact.MR).

Consumer drivers:

·       Health awareness — 70% of U.S. shoppers say they actively try to eat healthier.

·       Clean labels — organic, non-GMO, and no artificial additives.

·       Snackification of meals — nearly half of consumers replace at least one daily meal with snacks.

 

Brand Call-Outs: Who’s Winning, and How

·       Jackson’s Super Veggie Straws — fried in avocado oil, allergen-friendly, non-GMO. A premium oil story that justifies a higher price point.

·       Kibo Veggie Crunch Chips — green-pea powered, 7g plant protein per serving. Snacks doubling as light meals.

·       Planting Hope’s Mozaics — popped chips with visible vegetables, packaged in degradable film. Transparency and sustainability in one bite.

·       LesserEvil — so successful in clean-label snacks that Hershey acquired the brand in 2025, proving mainstream players are buying into the BFY trend.

 

Four Categories Ripe for Disruption

1.       Salty Snacks – moving from fried chips to air-popped or plant-protein puffs.

2.       Confectionery – sugar-light chocolates, monk fruit gummies, collagen-infused candies.

3.       Frozen Treats – oat milk pops, protein-packed yogurts, fruit-based sorbets.

4.       Breakfast Bars – refrigerated, clean-protein bars replacing legacy shelf-stable formulas.

 

Packaging & Price: The New Battleground

Consumer cues that drive sales:

·       Hero claim on front-of-pack (“7g Protein” or “Real Veggies You See”).

·       Transparency window or visible ingredients.

·       Sustainability badges (compostable or degradable film).

·       Portion control packs for single-serve or resealable sharing.

Cost × Price dynamics:

·       COGS range per 1.5 oz bag: $0.45 (basic) – $1.24 (premium with avocado oil + degradable film).

·       At typical distributor/retailer margins, that yields:

o   Value MSRP ≈ $1.49–$1.99

o   Premium MSRP ≈ $3.99–$4.49

Translation for consumers: that “$4 snack” isn’t just margin — it reflects oil choice, packaging innovation, and supply chain transparency.

 

Consumer Insights from the Grocerant Guru®

1.       Fueling Moments, Not Meals
Consumers blur breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Winning snacks satisfy hunger and deliver functional benefits (protein, fiber, adaptogens).

2.       Portability + Transparency = Trust
Clear labels, visible ingredients, and sustainable packs create repeat buyers.

3.       Flavor is the Differentiator
“Healthy” no longer means bland. Global spice blends and indulgent textures make BFY snacks craveable.

 

Why This Matters — For Both Shoppers & Operators

For consumers: You’re not just buying a snack, you’re investing in health, sustainability, and food innovation.
For operators and retailers: The “snacking disruption” is a signal. Failing to update assortments with BFY options risks losing a growing, margin-friendly shopper base.

Think About This

Better-for-you snacks are not a trend; they are the future baseline of the snacking industry. Brands that align nutrition, functionality, and flavor with transparent packaging and credible price points will define the next decade of consumer loyalty.

Elevate Your Brand with Expert Insights

For corporate presentations, regional chain strategies, educational forums, or keynote speaking, Steven Johnson, the Grocerant Guru®, delivers actionable insights that fuel success.

With deep experience in restaurant operations, brand positioning, and strategic consulting, Steven provides valuable takeaways that inspire and drive results.

💡 Visit GrocerantGuru.com or FoodserviceSolutions.US
📞 Call 1-253-759-7869

Stretch: Smarter Shopping Today for a Better Today and Tomorrow

 

In the suburbs of Dallas, around the family kitchen table, a young Andy Ellwood first learned math and budgeting through real-life lessons taught by his parents. Home-schooled and raised to think critically, Ellwood grew up with a practical understanding of how numbers shape everyday life. Today, as CEO of Stretch, he’s applying those early lessons to create a smarter, fairer way for households to manage grocery shopping—helping families stress less, save more, and focus on what matters most.

Ellwood’s career has been anything but conventional. He started out selling life insurance, then moved into private aviation, selling jets for Warren Buffett. From there, he shifted into the startup world, helping build companies that went on to be acquired by Facebook and Google. Later, he founded an executive coaching practice in New York City, guiding leaders to challenge old assumptions and unlock new possibilities.

Across every stage of his journey, Ellwood has looked for overlooked opportunities and turned them into meaningful solutions. His philosophy is simple: the future has already arrived—it just isn’t evenly distributed. For him, technology should serve everyone, not just the privileged. Stretch, his latest venture, embodies that vision.

Smarter Shopping with Stretch

Stretch is designed to make grocery shopping seamless, smarter, and more affordable for households everywhere.

·       Less Daily Stress: By helping users stay in control of household spending, Stretch allows families to plan better, save more, and focus on what really matters.

·       Smart Grocery Lists: The platform builds personalized shopping lists based on habits, so essentials are never forgotten and wasted time is eliminated.

·       Price & Availability Tracking: Stretch tracks grocery prices in real time, making it easy to find the best option without second-guessing.

·       Your Personal Shopping Assistant: By finding the best deals on the items you already want, Stretch turns everyday shopping into smarter shopping.

Ellwood would also like to simplify the age-old household question of “what’s for dinner?” By helping families make that decision at a lower cost, the Stretch app aims to elevate, educate, and edify the dinner shopping experience—saving time, money, and stress along the way.

Insights from the Grocerant Guru®

Food industry strategist Steven Johnson known as the Grocerant Guru® offers four key insights that validate the importance of Stretch:

1.       Consumers Value Convenience: Shoppers increasingly want technology that reduces friction in daily tasks like meal planning and grocery shopping. Stretch delivers on this need.

2.       Price Transparency Drives Loyalty: Families want to know they’re making the best financial choices. Real-time price tracking is a powerful trust builder.

3.       Personalization is the Future of Food Retail: Smart list-building based on personal habits makes Stretch an ahead-of-the-curve solution.

4.       Blurring Lines Between Digital and In-Store Shopping: Stretch bridges online data with in-store decision-making, aligning perfectly with modern consumer behavior.

Making Room for Many

Ellwood’s leadership style is about creating space for others to thrive. By challenging the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality, he helps people and organizations see beyond their limitations and uncover untapped potential. Stretch is a natural extension of that belief: a tool designed not just for the few, but for the many.

With Stretch, Ellwood is building more than a company, he’s shaping a movement toward smarter shopping, reducing stress, and better futures.

Stretch Smarter Shopping Today for a Better  Today and Tomorrow.

Success Leaves Clues—Are You Ready to Find Yours?

One key insight that continues to drive success is this: "The consumer is dynamic, not static." This principle is the foundation of our work at Foodservice Solutions®, where Steven Johnson, the Grocerant Guru®, has been helping brands stay relevant in an ever-evolving market.

Want to strengthen your brand’s connection with today’s consumers? Let’s talk. Call 253-759-7869 for more information.

Stay Ahead of the Competition with Fresh Ideas

Is your food marketing keeping up with tomorrow’s trends—or stuck in yesterday’s playbook? If you're ready for fresh ideations that set your brand apart, we’re here to help.

At Foodservice Solutions®, we specialize in consumer-driven retail food strategies that enhance convenience, differentiation, and individualization—key factors in driving growth.

👉 Email us at Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us
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