It’s time to say goodbye to basic cheese flavors and embrace new flavor possibilities for puffs and extruded snacks! Consumers tend to gravitate towards these products because they perceive them to be healthier than potato chips and other fried snacks. Although consumers see these snacks as better-for-you alternatives to other snack products, their expectations for flavor innovation remain high. Compared to other snack categories, however, flavor innovation for puffs and extruded snacks has been lagging behind.
How can puff and extruded snack brands innovate with flavor to appeal to consumers? Keep reading for our experts’ takes on how the latest flavor trends can be translated into exciting new puff and extruded snack products.
Bet on Bigger, Bolder Flavors
When it comes to appealing to Gen Z consumers, bold flavors are where it’s at. These consumers are obsessed with expanding their horizons through new sensory experiences, and flavors that pack a punch deliver exactly what they’re looking for. It’s all about having a memorable eating experience that pushes the limits. Gen Z consumers want brands to shock them with wild, completely out-of-the-box flavors, so puff and extruded snack brands shouldn’t shy away from getting creative with flavor.
Given their versatility, puffs and extruded snacks just so happen to be the perfect bases for innovating with bigger, bolder flavors that will thrill Gen Z consumers. Although bold cheesy and spicy flavors are hallmarks of this category, there is still plenty of room for innovation. One option? Capitalize on consumers’ cravings for spicy and sour flavors by creating innovative flavor combinations that deliver both heat and tanginess. Think pickled horseradish & habanero puffs, ghost pepper giardiniera veggie straws, or chili garlic dill pickle cheese curls.
As Gen Z consumers are all for global exploration, puff and extruded snack brands may also consider drawing inspiration from bold flavors
from international cuisines. The puff and extruded snack category has seen relatively less innovation around global flavors compared to the potato chip, tortilla chip, and popcorn categories, despite the immense popularity of these flavors. Puff and extruded snack brands can appeal to Gen Z consumers by leaning into this trend and embracing exotic flavors from global cuisines. Think Indian style vindaloo puffs, kimchi cheese curls, or Haitian style pikliz veggie straws.
Innovate with Indulgence
Especially in times of stress, consumers report regularly turning to snacks as a means of treating themselves and allowing themselves to indulge. While most other snack categories are limited to savory, sour, and spicy flavor profiles, the puff and extruded snack category can accommodate sweet flavor profiles, too. Despite being ideal for indulgence, few puff and extruded snack products feature sweet flavors, however.
For snack brands looking to stand out on crowded grocery store shelves, there’s a major opportunity to introduce innovative puff products with indulgent, sweet flavor profiles. Dessert inspired flavors are the perfect place to start. Flavors like red velvet cake, strawberry cheesecake, and spiced carrot cake will appeal to consumers who are using snacks as a means of rewarding themselves with indulgent treats.
Seek Out Sophistication
While Millennial and Gen Z women may gravitate towards puffs and extruded snacks as healthier alternatives to potato chips, their flavor
preferences tend to skew more sophisticated than what is currently the norm in this category. Brands should consider innovating with upscale ingredients, like truffles, fancy cheeses, florals, herbs, and other botanicals to appeal to this demographic. Showcasing how puffs and extruded snacks can be paired with wine or served on a charcuterie board is another way to embrace these consumers’ desires for sophistication.
Ready to explore new flavor possibilities for your puff and extruded snack products? Our R&D specialists have got you covered! Contact us today to get started.