Seeking convenience without skimping, consumers turn to hearty handheld foods
Implications - No longer sticking to strictly healthy, lighter fare, snack foods are adopting heartier fillings and ingredients as a filling meal alternative. As today’s consumer continues to battle tight schedules, carving out time for sit-down meals becomes increasingly difficult. As a result, a need for more convenient, yet filling snack food options arise. Reformatting traditional sit-down meals -- like full dinners, or traditional breakfast staples -- into easy-to-eat, handheld alternatives satiates the conflicting consumer desires for comfort and convenience.
Workshop Question - What would a condensed version of your product or service look like? What about an expanded version?
Trend Themes
1. Heartier Snack Foods - Consumers are seeking more filling snack options in lieu of traditional sit-down meals, driving the adoption of heartier ingredients and fillings in handheld foods.
2. Handheld Convenience - Increased demand for portable food options has driven the development and popularity of handheld meals, such as wraps and burritos, that can be eaten on the go.
3. Hybridization - The creation of hybrid dishes, such as hash brown-stuffed burritos, that combine two popular and complementary food items is a food industry trend catering to consumers' demand for variety and convenience.
Industry Implications
1. Fast Food - The fast food industry, in particular, has embraced and promoted the trend of handheld convenience through the development and marketing of portable food items.
2. Frozen Foods - Frozen food companies are tapping into the trend of hand-held convenience by developing frozen handheld pies as a quick and easy meal option for time-pressed consumers.
3. Snack Foods - Snack food companies are innovating with heartier snack options, tapping into the trend of meal substitutes that provide filling sustenance to time-pressed consumers.
