The Hershey Company has unveiled a new 'Oat Made' line of chocolate bars -- the brand's first vegan chocolate offering, which contains an oat milk base. The vegan-friendly chocolate will be accompanied by a marketing push promoting its healthy, plant-based ingredient list.
Offered in flavors such as 'Classic Dark and 'Extra Creamy Almond & Sea Salt,' these better-for-you bars offer a viable alternative to the brand's popular dairy milk-based chocolate. Apparently, the launch of these chocolate bars represents the brand's tentative first steps into the space of plant-based confectionery products -- a steadily growing sub-category to the vegan revolution currently sweeping through the food industry.
"Expanding our expertise, building new capabilities, and delivering more choices in better-for-you confection is the next big category opportunity for us to lead,” said Kristen Riggs, Chief Growth Officer at Hershey.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Plant-based Confectionery
- The rise of veganism has resulted in a growing demand for plant-based confectionery, creating opportunities for companies to innovate in this space.
- Better-for-you Snacks
- Consumers are increasingly looking for healthier snack options, presenting an opportunity for companies to develop better-for-you snacks to meet this demand.
- Vegan Chocolate
- As more consumers adopt a vegan lifestyle, there is an opportunity for companies to create chocolate products that cater to this growing market.
Where This Applies
- Confectionery
- The confectionery industry can capitalize on the trend towards plant-based and better-for-you snacks by developing innovative products that cater to these preferences.
- Vegan Food
- The vegan food industry is growing, providing opportunities for companies to create plant-based snacks and confectionery products that appeal to this market.
- Health & Wellness
- As consumers become more health-conscious, there is an opportunity for companies to create better-for-you snacks and confectionery products that cater to this trend towards healthier lifestyles.
