The vegan snack market is expected to grow to $73 million by 2028. A study by Future Market Insights predicts an annual growth rate of 8.7%. And in the last five years, demand for snacks with vegan or no animal ingredients grew by 11.8%, according to Mintel’s Global New Product Launch Database. It’s an exciting time for this thriving corner of the F&B market, but what are the leading trends fuelling this incredible vegan snack food growth?

1. Dairy-Free Chocolate

Demand for dairy free chocolate products has grown exponentially.  And many brands are producing successful vegan chocolate products without milk or any other dairy-derived ingredients. Some of the leading vegan milk chocolate bars are produced by No Whey Foods, Vgan Chocolate, and Endangered Species. And Enjoy Life is promoted as America’s #1 allergy friendly chocolate brand; free from 14 common allergens. In the UK, Mars recently unveiled dairy-free versions of its Bounty and Topic bars. And leading oat milk chocolate brand, Hip, has experienced great sales. Vegans and non-vegans alike adore chocolate, so it’s sure to remain a strong trend in the future.

2. Snack Packaging

Consumers are focused on sustainability more than ever before, so are seeking environmentally friendly packaging for their snacks. Innovators are pushing the concept of truly sustainable packaging — creating compostable, recyclable and edible packaging options for vegan consumers. 

3. Traceability Software for Snacks

According to Food Navigator, traceability is “a key enabler of transparency sustainability”. Vegan consumers are increasingly aware of the need to purchase snacks which are proven by their suppliers to exhibit end to end traceability. In fact 75% of consumers state they would chose to switch to a brand if it provided more in depth product information on its packaging. Today traceability software systems can provide true traceability to vegan snack food providers, tracking where every ingredient leaves its point of origin, all the way to a product’s point of sale in the store.

4. Hummus

All eyes are on hummus at the moment. In 2020, the global hummus market size was $806 million and it is expected to reach $1011.5 million by the end of 2027, with a CAGR of 3.3% during 2021-2027. Strauss Group, Bakkavor, Tribe Hummus and Boar's Head are leading manufacturers experiencing growth. Red pepper hummus, black olive hummus and white bean hummus are all increasing in popularity as the food is cemented as a leading vegan snack trend. 

5. Jackfruit Jerky 

Plant-based jackfruit ‘jerky’ could be the sustainable snack trend of the future. Vegans looking for legitimate alternatives to snack meat, are focusing on classic snack trends for inspiration. As entrepreneur.com states: “Like many “new” foods in the plant-based market… jerky is an example of how time-tested recipes and food practices from around the world are being repackaged and made on industrial scales to help improve the way Americans eat”. 

If you want to gain a stronger grip on the demand planning side of your food and beverage company, get in touch with Cashmere today. Our inventory and order management software, purchasing software, demand planning software, and advanced ERP solutions are powered by AI and serve F&B clients around the world.