# Functional Candy Bars The Crunchy One by Harken Sweets is Plant-Based & Rich in Fiber By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2024-03-13 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plant-based-candy-bar References: [nosh](https://www.nosh.com/news/2024/expo-west-functional-candy-bar-harken-sweets-expands-lineup) & [harkensweets](https://harkensweets.com/products/the-crunchy-one-12-pack)  The Crunchy One is the newest salty-sweet addition to [Harken Sweets'](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/harken-sweets) plant-based candy bar portfolio and it loads the brand's signature date caramel with pretzel pieces. Showcased at Natural Products Expo West 2024, The Crunchy One joins other [date-caramel candy bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/candy-dates) by Harken Sweets like The Gooey One and The Nutty One. Each plant-based candy bar offers a richly satisfying experience with texture and flavor, ensuring that ingredient-conscious individuals with a sweet tooth aren't left wanting more from the experience. Coated in an indulgent milk chocolate-style coating made with oats, these [plant-based candy bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/misfit-plant-based-protein-bars) double as first-of-their-kind functional candy bars. Free from additives and artificial ingredients, these bars made with prebiotic fiber are more than just a sweet treat. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 48% | Activity: 65% | Freshness: 22% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Functional-candy-bars:** The Crunchy One by Harken Sweets blurs the line between indulgence and functionality with its plant-based fiber-rich composition. - **Plant-based-candy-bar:** Harken Sweets' date-caramel candy bars showcase the growing trend towards plant-based confectionery options, appealing to ingredient-conscious consumers. - **Prebiotic-fiber-snacks:** The incorporation of prebiotic fiber in the plant-based candy bars by Harken Sweets signals a rising interest in gut health benefits within the snacking industry. ### Who This Affects Most - **Confectionery:** The evolution of plant-based candy bars like The Crunchy One presents an opportunity for confectionery companies to explore functional ingredients and healthier formulations. - **Health Food:** Harken Sweets' emphasis on plant-based and fiber-rich compositions in their candy bars highlights the intersection of the health food and confectionery markets, creating new avenues for nutritious snacking options. - **Snack:** The emergence of prebiotic fiber snacks like The Crunchy One by Harken Sweets suggests a shift towards more digestive-friendly and functional snacks in the snacking industry landscape. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Plant-Based Candy Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/harken-sweets.md) - [Low-Sugar Crunch Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crunch-bar.md) - [Date-Sweetened Chocolate Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/naturally-sweetened-chocolate-bar.md) - [Stuffed Date Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stuffed-date-snacks.md) - [Protein-Rich Vegan Candy Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barebells-caramel-peanut.md) - [Crunchy Candy-Like Protein Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/warrior-crunch-bars.md) - [Textually Crunchy Snack Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/one-crunch-bars.md) - [Candy-Inspired Probiotic Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/belliwelli-crunchy-peanut-butter-chocolate.md) - [Crunchy Low-Sugar Protein Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/one-crunch.md)