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Q&A Snack on This: Good Ingredients Matter Most

December 2021

Snack routines are shifting from meaningless munchies to meaningful mid-day mini meals. It’s no longer just about having something to eat, but about having something sensible, flavorful, and nutritious between or in place of larger meals. Today’s snack food shopper wants to indulge in a healthier way — 54% want snacks containing vitamins and minerals, 48% want snacks high in fiber, and 39% look for snacks that are “natural” or “organic.”

With snack trends ever-changing, we spoke with Becky Lockhart (regional sales manager) and Chris Rogers (global key account manager) about where they see the snack food industry headed in 2022 and beyond.


The global snacks market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 6.2% from 2019 to 2025 to reach $708.35 billion by 2025. What is Chaucer doing today and in the next few years to 1) meet that growing demand and 2) what role will healthy snacks play in that growth?
Lockhart: Today we’re looking at new and innovative ways to add capacity ahead of demand across all global regions. This can allow us to optimize the order and competitive response times to customer demands for ingredients. It’s also important to see a greater study of our ingredients’ application opportunities. The more ways we can find to introduce what we produce into everyday snack and meal options, the more those ingredients’ nutritional impact can be felt by the consumer.

Do you think Chaucer’s ingredients can play a significant role in the future success of the snack foods sector?

Lockhart: I think what we are producing today can be an important part of healthy snack food formulations. Freeze-dried fruits and vegetables offer a natural source of antioxidants, vitamins and fiber along with all-natural sources of color and flavor. They are also plant-based, gluten-free and preservative-free while containing no added sugar. These are all traits consumers look for when they shop for healthy snack products and can be equally enticing to someone just indulgence-shopping for a sweet or savory treat.

More than 50% of global consumers are actively looking for products with natural claims (ATLAS Clean Label Research). How can freeze-dried fruits and vegetables help food developers meet the demand for clean label formulations?

Rogers: Freeze-drying preserves an ingredient’s natural color, shape, mouthfeel and authentic flavor, as well as all original nutrients. Freeze-dried ingredients also have a long ambient shelf life. For food developers looking to address clean label needs, these are the ingredients that can make it possible.

Our ingredients don’t hide anything from shoppers — in many ways what you see is what you get and what you get are delicious tasting, nutrient-rich ingredients that can be introduced in a dozen different ways. There’s powders for beverages for people on the go, pieces for blended beverages, crispies for a handy snack, and countless ways to introduce them into other snack options.

How are “clean label” trends influencing snack innovation and the buyer’s purchase decisions?

Lockhart: Buyers are demanding clean label food products as part of a search for healthier snacks made with natural ingredients and containing fewer additives or artificial ingredients. More and more consumers — especially among the younger millennial and Gen-Z generations — want to know where what they eat comes from and are willing to say “no” to products that don’t meet those standards. By producing ingredients that are clean label, we’re listening to those demands and working to deliver on them.
Ready to learn more about Chaucer Foods’ healthy snack ingredients and how you can deliver clean label options to customers? Contact us at customer.services@chaucerfoods.com to connect with our team.

1 How America Eats: Snacking Lifestyles Are Here To Stay” 2020.

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