Asian flavor trends turn conventional snacks into surprising experiences
Implications - Exploring non-traditional combinations and formulations, Asian snack brands are continuously coming out with flavors that dare to create unlikely matches. Taking simple snacking products and breathing new life into them through surprising spices and seasonings draws in curious consumers hungry for change. This experimental approach to flavor pushes the boundaries for emerging trends in snacking, establishing Asia as the top destination for the truly insatiable flavor-seeker desiring exposure to extraordinary taste experiences.
Workshop Question - How can your brand incorporate more diverse ethnicity into your product/service?
Trend Themes
1. Unconventional Flavor Combinations - Exploring non-traditional combinations and formulations in Asian snack brands consistently coming out with flavors that create unlikely matches.
2. Innovative Packaging - Nestle introduced an unusual Kitkat chocolate packaged with an image of Yasutaro Matsuki, a well-known soccer commentator, for the launch of Kitkat Nodo Ame Aji, or the Kitkat Cough Drop Flavor.
3. Shift Towards Healthier Snacks - Sticky-Rice Chips from Dang Foods have about 40% less fat compared to conventional potato chips. Consumers are seeking innovative new snack options that offer more impressive health benefits.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage Industry - The trend of unconventional flavor combinations in snacks and the innovative packaging of food products requires the food and beverage industry to keep experimenting and finding creative ways to add value to their products.
2. Packaging Industry - As the packaging industry grows more innovative, it is vital to re-imagine packaging and enhance consumer experience with clever and engaging packaging designs that accurately reflect the product's features and qualities.
3. Health and Wellness Industry - The shift towards healthier snacks provides opportunities to the health and wellness industry to come up with innovative ideas that align with changing consumer preferences, such as healthier snack options with low fat content and the use of organic and/or gluten-free ingredients.
