Category
Lifestyle
Assisted Choices
Trend cluster
Category
Composite
Confection
Big snack brands reinvent grocery store sweets with a jolt of spicy flavor.
2.1
Trend score
Trend
What is the Composite Confection trend?
Composite Confection: Looking to satisfy the desires of thrill-seeking snackers and a growing online subculture of "junk food" aficionados, big snack brands have begun to launch spice-infused versions of confectionery favorites. This progression points to the influence of international cuisine and flavors on the collective North American palate, as well highlighting the influence of this new world of customer-driven food and beverage communities online.
Trend themes
Themes within the Composite Confection trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Spice-infused Confectionery
Big snack brands are launching spice-infused versions of confectionery favorites as a means to cater to a growing online subculture of 'junk food' aficionados and satisfy the thrill-seeking snackers.
02
Global Flavor Influences
Big snack brands are incorporating international cuisine and flavors to satisfy the collective North American palate and respond to the changing food and beverage communities online.
03
Hybridized Sweet and Spicy Flavors
The popularity of hybridized sweet and spicy flavors has created a market for novelty snack lovers and enthusiasts who enjoy audacious foods that keep their taste buds guessing.
Industry implications
What the Composite Confection trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Food and Beverage Industry
The food and beverage industry can incorporate international cuisine and flavors, offering a more diverse product selection.
For
Confectionery Industry
The confectionery industry can offer more hybridized sweet and spicy flavors to cater to the popularity of audacious foods.
For
Marketing and Advertising Industry
The marketing and advertising industry can benefit from using spicy flavors to create celebratory drink options for product launches or anniversaries such as Icee did.
Workshop question
What are the social influences that are impacting your consumer's preferences?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Composite Confection
Trend score 2.1 out of 10, from popularity 28%, activity 27%, freshness 8%.
Popularity28%
Activity27%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Evidence
Examples of the Composite Confection trend
5 featured examples from Sep 21, 2016 to May 31, 2017CategoryLifestyle
Thai Pumpkin Ice Creams
This Jeni's Ice Cream Flavor Tastes of Thai Curry and a Seasonal Gourd
Incorporating global flavors and exotic spices into ice cream products can be a disruptive innovation opportunity for the ice cream industry.
CategoryLifestyle
Spicy Caramel Chocolates
Montezuma's Chocolate Balls are Enriched with Chilli and Peppercorns
The food industry can explore unique ingredient combinations to develop innovative products that cater to adventurous palates.
CategoryLifestyle
Sweet-and-Spicy Candies
Wrigley's is Releasing a New Line of Spicy Skittles
The release of spicy Skittles presents a disruptive innovation opportunity in the confectionery industry, as it introduces a new and exciting flavor profile to the market.
CategoryLifestyle
Spicy Candy Chews
'Sweet Heat' is the Newest Starburst Candy Flavor
The confectionery industry can leverage the trend of spicy candy to create new product lines and partnerships.
CategoryLifestyle
Celebratory Spicy Iced Drinks
The Icee Mango Chili Lime Slushie Drink is for its 50th Anniversary
The launch of Icee's Mango Chili Lime slushie and other flavor varieties highlights a growth opportunity for the food and beverage industry to create innovative and enticing drink…
