# Small-Batch Pork Rind Snacks Southern Recipe Small Batch is Debuting New Flavors at Expo West 2026 By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2026-02-25 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/southern-recipe-small-batch-pork-rinds References: [prnewswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-recipe-small-batch-launches-air-fried-rinds-and-three-bold-new-flavors-302696203.html) & [PorkRinds](http://PorkRinds.com)  At Expo West 2026, Southern Recipe Small Batch will debut three bold new flavors—Air-Fried Buffalo Wing and Air-Fried Pizza, and a Pimento Cheese—inspired by nostalgic comfort food flavors, and formulated to deliver the better-for-you benefits snackers crave. Across the board, these new Southern Recipe Small Batch [pork rind snacks are gluten-free](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/simply-snacks), and the Pimento Cheese variety boasts six grams of collagen per serving. "We're proud to bring on-trend flavors to pork rinds, while meeting consumers' changing needs for [low-carb, protein-packed snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/protein-chips1) that are still lower in sodium and sugar," said Mark Singleton, VP of sales and marketing at [Rudolph Foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweet-bbq-pork-rinds). "Pimento Cheese will be the first flavor in this line fried in lard and not sunflower oil, staying in step with consumer demand for removing seed oil as an ingredient." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.1/10 - Popularity: 58% | Activity: 62% | Freshness: 64% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% 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 ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Nostalgic Comfort Flavors:** Nostalgic comfort-food profiles are being translated into snack formats to capture emotional eating occasions while differentiating in a crowded shelf. - **Better-for-you Indulgent Snacks:** Products are blending indulgent textures and indulgent tastes with quantifiable health claims like low-carb, high-protein, and reduced sodium to appeal to health-conscious pleasure-seekers. - **Seed-oil Free Reformulations:** A consumer-driven move away from seed oils is prompting alternative frying mediums and reformulation strategies that change flavor, cost structure, and supply chains. ### Where This Applies - **Snack Food Manufacturing:** Manufacturers are positioned to rethink processing lines and packaging to support small-batch, flavor-forward SKU expansions that command premium pricing. - **Functional Ingredients and Collagen:** Suppliers of collagen, alternative fats, and salt-reduction systems are gaining prominence as brands seek functional claims and differentiated mouthfeel. - **Retail and Foodservice Private Label:** Retailers and foodservice operators are increasingly sourcing unique, better-for-you snack formulations for private-label programs to meet shopper demand for novel, comfort-driven offerings. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Innovative Snack Launches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/utz-brand-inc.md) - [Authentic Hispanic Snacking Brands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/monarca-authentic-snacks.md) - [Peachy QSR Dessert Dishes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bojangles-peach-cobbler.md) - [Crispy Plant-Based Chips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snacklins-range-of-crisps.md) - [Southern Recipe Sausage Slices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ultimate-southern-recipe-sausage-slices.md) - [Buttery Pork Rind Flavors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pork-king-good.md) - [Airy Pork Rind Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mr-porky-puffs.md) - [Athlete-Backed Pork Rind Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pork-rind-appreciation-day.md) - [Pork Rind Manufacturers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pork-rind-plant.md)