3 Snacking Trends with Staying Power 

The snack market is always evolving, but some of the forces reshaping it today are not short-lived. Health and wellness, value, and on-the-go convenience are proving to be enduring consumer priorities with lasting implications for packaging strategy. Here are three trends every snack brand should be planning for now and well into the future. 

1. Better For You: Health and Wellness Concerns

Presentations at the 2026 Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) Conference consistently pointed to a clear direction for new snack products: more protein and fiber, simpler ingredient lists, fewer artificial additives, alternative cooking oils like avocado or olive oil, lower sodium, little to no added sugar, and a continued focus on portion control. These expectations are not niche. A full 77% of consumers say simple, minimal ingredients matter when picking a snack.¹ 

Functional Benefits on the Rise

Roughly one-third of consumers are interested in snacks that feel less processed (36%) or deliver added benefits like energy (35%), heart health (34%), fiber (33%), and gut support (32%).² Taste still leads purchase decisions, but functional positioning is gaining real traction as a secondary driver. Brands that deliver on both will have a meaningful and durable edge. 

To capitalize on this trend, front-of-pack callouts that highlight better-for-you benefits (such as “10g protein” or “no artificial colors”) are becoming table stakes. Visual design needs to reflect those claims, with natural color palettes, textures, and a premium feel that stands out on the shelf.

Regulatory and Reformulation Pressure

Evolving FDA rules and updated dietary guidance are accelerating reformulation across the category, with a focus on cleaner labels and fewer artificial ingredients. As nutrition needs become more individualized, brands that move proactively will be better positioned. Packaging must keep pace with every formula change. And formulation changes may require packaging adjustments, such as higher barrier materials when removing artificial colors or preservatives.

Parents and Better-For-You Options

67% of parents report actively trying to choose healthier snacks for their families.¹ They are paying closer attention to baked and popped formats, and there is a clear opportunity for brands to expand snack occasions with added nutritional value and cleaner ingredient profiles. Portion-controlled and single-serve formats are an increasingly effective way to let consumers enjoy snacks while keeping intake in check, addressing parents’ desire for better portion management. 

2. Value and Affordability: More Relevant Than Ever

CAGNY Conference insights reinforce what brands are already feeling: shoppers remain intensely focused on value. They lean into promotions, buy in bulk when it makes sense, and opt for lower-priced entry packs. Ongoing price sensitivity is pushing consumers to make more deliberate choices, and more of that comparison shopping is happening online. 

Economic Pressure and Pack Size Strategy

Consumers with more financial flexibility tend to lean toward bulk purchases and larger sizes. Those on tighter budgets are more likely to cut back on quantity, switch to store brands, or gravitate toward smaller packs and promotional pricing. Some brands have already started adjusting. PepsiCo, for example, has announced price cuts of up to 15% on select chip products to better align with consumer sensitivity.¹ 

Shaping your packaging lineup to hit a range of price points is key to meeting consumers wherever they are. That means bulk formats for club stores at one end and smaller packs with a lower entry price at the other, utilizing price pack architecture that serves different economic needs. 

Channel Shifts

Where people shop is changing. Younger and lower-income consumers are turning more often to discount grocers, dollar stores, and convenience stores, where pricing is clear, and value is front and center. Online continues to grow as a channel for both discovery and purchasing. Brands need their packaging to perform consistently across all of these environments, showing up compellingly whether consumers are shopping in-store or online. 

Snacking Stays Steady

Despite more careful spending, snacking has not dropped off. Over 90% of consumers across generations still eat salty snacks.³ The shift is less about whether they snack and more about where and how they buy, which makes channel strategy and price pack architecture more important than ever.

3. On-the-Go: Convenience and Portability

79% of consumers say convenient packaging matters when buying snacks.² For younger, urban consumers especially, portability is not a bonus feature. It is a prerequisite. Snacking is woven into commutes, workdays, and busy routines. And packaging needs to keep up with easy-open and resealable features, portion-controlled packs, and multipacks that fit naturally into on-the-go routines. 

Channel Behavior and Versatility

Younger shoppers are more likely to buy salty snacks from convenience stores, gas stations, and online, where quick purchases and portability play a bigger role. That same need for speed and flexibility is also reshaping how snacks are used. Among a meaningful share of young adults, snacks are increasingly replacing meals, adding further versatility to the category. With 51% of Gen Z and 48% of Millennials saying they snack “in place of a regular meal.”² 

Portion Control as a Convenience Driver

Smaller packs and multipacks are gaining traction, not just for value but for convenience and moderation. This aligns with more mindful snacking habits and the growing influence of GLP-1 medications on how consumers approach portion sizes. Brands that offer well-designed single-serve and multipack options can reach both the convenience seeker and the wellness-conscious consumer in one format. 

What This Means for Brands

These three trends are not fleeting. Health and wellness expectations, economic sensitivity, and the demand for convenience are reshaping the snack category in lasting ways. Brands that treat them as enduring strategic priorities will be better positioned for growth. To stay competitive, snack brands should: 

1. Align packaging with better-for-you claims by leading with front-of-pack callouts, investing in natural design aesthetics, and ensuring materials meet the barrier demands of reformulated products. 
2. Build price pack architecture that spans club, grocery, and convenience channels, with formats that serve both value-seeking and premium-leaning consumers.  
3. Design for portability with easy-open and resealable features, portion-controlled packs, and multipacks that fit naturally into on-the-go routines.

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How Printpack Can Help 

Printpack partners with brands to turn these trends into packaging that performs, combining product development, innovation & design, and regulatory expertise. Through collaborative innovation and early-stage planning, we help brands navigate change with confidence and deliver packaging solutions built for shelf impact, omnichannel strategies, and long-term growth. 

Reach out to us to begin shaping packaging solutions built to perform now and into the future. 

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[Sources] 

¹ Mintel. “Potato and Tortilla Chips – US – 2026.” Mintel Store. Accessed February 26, 2026. https://clients.mintel.com/content/report/potato-and-tortilla-chips-us-2026. 

² Mintel. “The Consumer Approach to Snacking – US – 2026.” Mintel Store. Accessed February 26, 2026. https://clients.mintel.com/content/report/the-consumer-approach-to-snacking-us-2026. 

³ Mintel. “Salty Snacks – US – 2026.” Mintel Store. Accessed February 26, 2026. https://clients.mintel.com/content/report/salty-snacks-us-2026.