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The global savory snacks market is expected to grow from $94.5 billion in 2015 to $138.2 billion in 2020 (GlobalData, 2016), and the definition of snacks is changing due to consumer health concerns.

According to Nielsen's survey, snacks account for 11% of dining in the U.S. market, and consumers are looking for more than just chips and cookies, they are increasingly concerned about healthy eating patterns and the ingredients in their food, with 54% saying they will consume as many vegetables as possible.

For European consumers, they are also concerned about the health of snacks, with two-thirds of Europeans eating savoury snacks like potato chips and nuts at least once a week, and 11% eating them several times a day. More than one-third of European respondents are more concerned about natural ingredients, even organic ingredients, than fat content and calories.

Meat snack bars are gradually gaining popularity

As consumers pay more attention to healthy ingredients, the definition of snacks is changing. Meat snack bars, which are becoming popular today, are a prime example of this trend.

With these changes in the snack industry, brands are turning to flexible packaging designed for snacks that are convenient to enjoy anytime, anywhere, bringing more convenience to today's busy consumers while maintaining the quality of snack products. Therefore, some packaging solutions can be provided, such as barrier films, zipper seals and airtight seals, etc., to help maintain the freshness and quality of the new generation of snack products.

According to Mintel's "Global Food & Beverage Trends 2017" study, the industry will focus more on products that emphasize plant-based ingredients, and more packaged snacks will use fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains and other plants to meet consumers' health needs. Sal Pellingra, vice president of innovation and technology at ProAmpac, explained that flexible packaging allows brands to have a clear window of display, allowing consumers to see if the food they are buying matches the image on the packaging.

In the U.S., millennials are driving demand for flexible snack packaging, which marketers see as more modern and marketers are increasingly using it to capture consumers' attention. In Asia, flexible packaging for snacks is also widely adopted, and developing countries like Thailand don't even have the infrastructure to deal with rigid packaging, so they commonly use flexible packaging when developing packaging systems because it is more convenient and environmentally friendly.

Bill Kuecker, vice president of marketing at Mondi, said: "Consumer satisfaction scores improved when packaging solutions shifted from rigid to flexible packaging. In addition, packaging needs change depending on the display environment, and the right packaging choice can allow brands to be more flexible in the market. Technomic reports that 48% of shoppers are more likely to buy healthy snacks from convenience stores than grocery stores. The ability to distribute goods in different channels is an advantage for snack brands.

▎ Preservation solutions

Consumers are looking for products that contain fewer preservatives, so snack producers need to keep their products as fresh as possible and extend their shelf life, which is good for both consumers and brands. Mondi's Kerrcker explains that freshness is an important driver of profitability for baked goods brands, and that products with limited shelf life, such as fresh baked goods or perishable products, can lead to financial losses due to factors such as damage and discounts. Packaging that extends shelf life can help reduce these losses and help retailers display baked goods on a larger scale.

Heather Chandler, President of Sealstrip, said: "It's not just about simply packaging products in the lowest cost single-layer structure, the barrier properties of today's packaging can help keep food fresher for longer. Therefore, the reduction of air in the packaging after consumption by consumers is also a demand. Sealstrip's Peel&Seal and FreshPak packaging features a zipper-like, pressure-sensitive tape closure that can be used as part of flexible packaging. These packages are now used around the world by brands such as Frito-Lay and Mission Foods, for products such as fries, doughnuts, tortillas and cookies. This airtight sealed packaging can delay the spoilage of food, and consumers can store it for a longer period of time.

Chandler observed that Europe and Australia are working to improve packaging to reduce preservatives, and foods containing fewer preservatives have a longer shelf life; In developing countries such as Pakistan, Thailand and India, brand owners are increasingly automating their packaging systems and increasing the shelf life of their products.

▎ Provide more convenience

Technomic reports that as people's lifestyles change, 59% of consumers believe it's important to keep snacks packaged in small sizes. In recent years, there have also been many portable, controllable snack products on the market, with Mintel data showing a 54% increase in the number of products with portable claims available worldwide in 2016.

Pellingra, vice president of innovation and technology at ProAmpac, said don't underestimate the need for on-the-go food for consumers, who want to pay for healthy food anytime, anywhere. Nielsen's research found that products with optimized packaging saw an average 5.5% increase in sales revenue.

As a result, snack manufacturers need to take every opportunity to improve the convenience of their snacks, including resealability and microwave safety. ProAmpac's E-Z SnackPak is a new single-serve food pouch that can be turned into a tray when opened, offering great convenience to consumers, and its functional tetrahedral shape makes it stand out on the shelf.

Innovation in the packaging industry will give snack brands an unprecedented advantage and will be more aggressive than ever before in attracting and retaining customers.