Snacking is on the rise, accelerating demand for on-the-go and convenience innovation. The broad trend isn’t new – snacking spiked during the pandemic, prompting a long-term shift in shopping habits and product development strategies.
But how consumers are choosing to snack is continuously evolving. Health and wellness trends – from active lifestyles to weight management – are fuelling growth in protein, gut health and fibre-rich food and beverage products.
As a result, NPD has become more occasions-driven: manufacturers are putting a greater focus on how and when products fit into specific consumption moments.
Add to that a surge in demand for natural products, and it becomes clear why dairy is well-positioned to benefit from the rise of occasions-driven shopping. Here’s what companies are tapping into.
Pouches
Once the domain of kid-friendly snacking, yogurt pouches are increasingly popular with adults. The format is popular in Western Europe, North America and Oceania, driven by demand for familiar, nutritious and convenient food on-the-go; with both active and everyday consumers buying into the category.
In yogurt, Australia’s Farmers Union markets its range of natural and flavoured Greek-style pouches as ‘the perfect on-the-go snack’. The range comprises a probiotic line of natural and flavoured yogurt pouches; a line of no-added sugar pouches for children, and a high-protein, no-added sugar flavoured range. Each line caters for distinct needs, from added protein, to low-sugar snacking.
In the US, Bel has also expanded its GoGo SqueeZ fruit pouches, introducing an electrolyte blend for sports nutrition, as well as a protein-rich fruit and dairy options.
In the UK, yogurt brand Onken also bets on yogurt pouches as a core part of a portfolio that now includes potted natural and flavoured yogurt as well a kid-friendly range of mini yogurt pots. Its Swiss milk-made pouches are made with three natural ingredients – including real strawberries, harvested at peak ripeness to lock their best flavour and colour – and is positioned as an on-the-go snack that is also sold as part of retailer Tesco’s Meal Deal options.
Other players such as The Collective have also expanded their range of pouched fruit and yogurt products on the back of growing demand for on-the-go nutrition.
Cheese portions, bars, puffs and sticks
Cheese has migrated from the charcuterie board into various sharable and on-the-go retail formats as snacking occasions have continued to evolve. In recent years, dairy brands have doubled down on high-protein, low-fat cheese portions.
British cheese brand EatLean has expanded globally – across Western Europe and Australia in particular – on the back of strong demand for high-protein cheese that performs both as a block and snack as well as a foodservice ingredient. The company’s range includes protein cheese bars and flavoured cheese puffs. The brand leans on natural nutritional credentials while retaining a sense of permissible indulgence that make its snacking products both health-focused and fun.
More recently, Leerdammer entered the snacking cheese space with a range of mini cubes, released in the UK. “Cheese snacking is becoming an increasingly important part of the category, as shoppers look for products that balance convenience, quality and great taste,” said Héloïse Le Norcy-Trott, Group Marketing Director at Lactalis UK & Ireland. “Leerdammer Mini Cubes bring our distinctive mild, nutty flavour into a new format designed for everyday grazing and sharing occasions.”
And in the US, Kraft Heinz introduced Kraft Natural Cheese’s new Protein Sticks: a high-protein snack format delivering 17g of protein per stick. The product is formulated to be an ideal choice for lunchboxes, workday snacking and pre- or post-workouts all in one go.
Cheese portions are also having a moment, with Bel US reporting a surge in sales in the past year thanks to BabyBel’s enduring popularity with generations of consumers. As part of a push to capitalise on growing demand for natural snacks, the company is looking to re-energise its brands this year and beyond.
Ice cream bites and sandwiches
Permissible indulgence is another viable innovation pathway for dairy brands and suppliers today. Mini bites and sticks are becoming increasingly important to companies in the frozen desserts space, as the category draws in consumers in multiple ways – as a portion-controlled snack; as an add-on purchase alongside traditional formats such as pints; and as fun novelty items that enable texture and flavour experimentation.
From Magnum Bonbons to Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Sandwich, ice cream brands continue to explore new formats to excite shoppers. For premium brands, dairy cream remains a key component, and the focus is increasingly shifting towards sustainable farming practices that deliver consistent quality.
RTD beverages
Ready-to-drink formats have gained strong momentum in recent years, and demand is surging beyond the burgeoning alcohol space. Functional beverages, in particular, are gathering pace, with protein and hydration/sports drinks among the most obvious niches for dairy brands to tap into.
Cold coffee consumption is also on the rise, with canned RTD formats proving popular with on-the-go consumers, while innovation around added protein, low sugar and flavour continues to drive interest.
Across the category, format innovation remains a steady lever for engagement, spanning pouches, cheese snacks and puffs, ice cream bites and RTD beverages.
While product attributes and positioning vary, these formats offer accessible ways for brands to broaden usage occasions and maintain consumer interest.
