While health and wellness is not generally top-of-mind for many consumers in South Africa, post-pandemic, many of them are now more aware of healthy eating. Consumers, especially those with higher incomes, can afford healthier snacks accompanied by various claims, including snacks high in protein, low in fat, no sugar, or lactose free, especially as they become increasingly aware of food intolerances or allergies. South Africans have been examining their diets more closely in connection with spe

Many consumers in China are aware of the link between a poor diet and health problems, with overconsumption of sugar recognised as one area which can easily be addressed. No sugar, which is a type of better for you claim, therefore remained the largest health and wellness claim within snacks in 2023, with retail value sales of CNY4.5 billion. In China, there is an also anti-ageing argument for no sugar products, as excess sugar intake is believed to accelerate ageing. However, despite retaining

Two of the most dynamic claim within health and wellness snacks in New Zealand in 2023 was no sugar, with this seeing a striking 43% current value growth to reach NZD89 million. No sugar snacks primarily benefited from a strong performance for no sugar gum, which saw sales soar by 91%. Sales benefited from soaring demand for no sugar gum, which benefited from 2023 being the first post-pandemic year to see no COVID-19 restrictions. Consumers thus returned to their normal lives, with no sugar gum

The increasingly fast pace of modern lifestyles and the fragmentation of traditional family structures is serving to erode consumers’ capacity to keep to regular mealtimes. This is leading to a rise in snacking and on-the-go consumption. At the same time, the ongoing rise in health consciousness is generating greater awareness of consumers’ nutritional requirements. In this context, consumers are looking for snack products that provide them with particular nutritional benefits, including fortifi

The return to snacking as a common dietary habit among the Norwegian population during the post-pandemic era supported positive growth across many categories of health and wellness snacks during 2023. With the pandemic over, more local people returned to their active lifestyles and took full advantage of the opportunity to spend far more time outside of the home. This led many people to prioritise convenience as impulse purchases increased substantially, underpinning a shift towards smaller, mor

The health and wellness trend came to the fore following the outbreak of COVID-19 and although the World Health Organisation declared the health crisis to be over in early 2023 there remained a heightened demand for snacks with health and wellness claims. Encouraged by this demand players continued to launch of a wide range of healthy snacks options in 2023. Snacks based on vegetables and options accompanied by claims such as high protein, high fibre and good source of vitamins all grew in 2023.

While easing somewhat from 2022, inflationary pressures linked to the global recovery from COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continued to create difficult trading conditions for health and wellness snacks in Chile in 2023. Given that such products tend to be more expensive than standard alternatives, they were particularly exposed to more cautious attitudes to discretionary spending among consumers in a context of sustained price hikes and falling disposable incomes. At the same time, sn

According to Euromonitor International’s Voice of the Consumer Survey, fielded January-February 2024, 13% of respondents claimed, “I am vegetarian”, and around 17% claimed, “I do not typically eat meat or fish, but will occasionally”, or in other words are flexitarian. Both of these figures are higher than the global average. Vegetarian products are increasing in popularity as more consumers turn to a vegetarian or flexitarian diet. This is partly because more consumers are interested in the hea

In 2023, health and wellness snacks continued to benefit from an increased consumer focus on products which might help to maintain good general health and prevent health problems and illnesses. Organic products are often seen by consumers as being less harmful to health and more natural, which are popular attributes in packaged food, particularly as consumers have increasing health concerns in the wake of the pandemic. As a result, organic was the largest health and wellness claim in snacks in S

Concerns about calorie and carbohydrate intake continued to rise in Germany in 2023, supported by a greater interest in health and wellness since the pandemic and greater access to information, especially on the internet. This helped to support a number of health claims within snacks in Germany at the end of the review period, including snack bars and fruit snacks. With increasing interest in health and wellness, many local consumers are looking for convenient and on-the-go options that still pr

While consumer interest in health and wellness in Mexico was rising before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the outbreak of the virus bolstered the trend's speed, being a motivation factor that led more consumers to analyse their dietary intake. Partnered with Mexico's high rate of obesity and rising cases of type-2 diabetes, interest in health claims has risen, boosting positive growth for natural, no sugar, high protein and low-fat claims in 2023. In addition, a growing number of consumers

Although the pandemic is over, it has had a lasting impact on consumers’ perceptions of food, with the health and wellness trend continuing to rise within snacks in India, and many health and wellness claims seeing increases in consumption as a result. Consumers are examining their diet more closely in connection with specific health concerns, and have started to be more selective about products they choose according to the ingredients and nutrients they contain. This has benefited alternatives

The volume growth of snacks in Japan has been hampered by the fact that the population is facing a declining trend. Moreover, companies have been having difficulty controlling product costs and maintaining their profits, as raw materials, energy, and logistics costs increased significantly during the past few years. As a result, snacks players have been looking to sell value-added products to maintain their value sales. Products with health and wellness claims are seen as a promising way to add

Health and wellness trends were already underway prior to the pandemic in Taiwan, but the coronavirus crises served to accelerate them. Local consumers faced the fear of contracting the virus and the challenges posed by the sedentary lifestyles and overconsumption associated with lockdown periods. The rise in consumer health consciousness has given birth to a wide range of healthy snacks, with high protein options proving to be particular popular, especially in seafood snacks, savoury snacks and

With interest in wellness and health bolstered by the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2023, consumers were increasingly looking to improve their diets, reaching for food and drink with fortified and functional benefits. Additionally, many consumers aim to avoid harmful ingredients, including sugar, fat, salt, and artificial ingredients. The ongoing conversation surrounding the negative impact of artificial ingredients and ultra-processed foods has continued to drive demand for the natural claim. Alignin

Sales of health and wellness snacks continued to be undermined by the economic challenges facing Singapore in 2023 with high inflation and a rise in the cost of living making many consumers more price sensitive. Additionally, there was an increased emphasis on the consumption of standard snacks in moderation, hence pushing the purchase of multipacks. The multipack format supports portion control, allowing consumers to indulge in unhealthy and indulgent snacks in smaller portions while also being

In recent years, consumers have been examining their diet more closely due to specific health concerns, and have started becoming more selective about the ingredients and nutrients included in their foods. This has benefited alternatives to animal-based products, and also foods that align with a specific type of diet. As a result of this trend, plant-based snacks maintained solid growth in 2023. With closer scrutiny of diet, plant-based is an increasingly popular dietary and free from claim in t

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers in Poland have been increasingly focused on improving their overall health and wellness, supporting everyday living and working towards preventing long-term illnesses. This has led many to migrate towards snacks with health and wellness positionings, including reducing potentially harmful ingredients, such as fat, salt, sugar, lactose and gluten. For example, chocolate confectionery players have launched healthier alternatives with the natural claim, no

Consumers in Turkey became increasingly price-sensitive in 2023 due to factors such as the steep inflation rate, the earthquake in February 2023 and the drop in tourist arrivals since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with these being key source markets. Companies have therefore had to work hard to attract and retain the attention of shoppers and many have been doing so through product differentiation, leading to regular new product launches. While some producers focused on offering discounts on the

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Sweden, there has been a growing focus on healthier food options as consumers take a closer look at the nutritional value of their choices, aiming to improve and support their long-term health. As such, snacks that are positioned as healthier, with strong health and wellness claims, have increasingly driven growth. One of the key trends of healthier living is the ongoing migration to vegetarian, vegan and plant-based lifestyles. This consumer switch is encou

As food manufacturers respond to the shift towards healthier eating habits in Thailand, they are not only introducing new options with no or low sugar claims, but they are also strategically investing in marketing campaigns that align with evolving consumer values. By emphasising the specific benefits of their products, such as weight management or improved oral health, they are able to differentiate themselves from traditional sugar-laden snacks and treats. This strategic approach allows player

Retail value sales of snacks with no sugar claims continued to grow in 2023. Post-pandemic, local consumers continue to pay significant attention to the impact that food has on their health, including the greater risk of being overweight or obese through the regular consumption of snacks high in sugar. Negative publicity surrounding the impact of sugar on health has increased interest in snacks accompanied by claims of low, no added or no sugar, and players have responded to this trend by increa

Most Swiss consumers are already acutely aware of the immediate health dangers of excessive sugar consumption, including tooth decay and weight problems. Moreover, it is widely understood among the local population that the long-term health implications of a diet high in sugar include a number of potentially fatal diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. According to official information, the Swiss population’s sugar consumption is double what is recommended as ideal by the World Health Orga

High fibre remained the leading health and wellness claim in snacks in Finland in retail volume and current value sales terms in 2023. Several categories continued to see strong interest in products with this positioning, as Finns are increasingly conscious of how nutrition affects overall health and becoming more inclined to make dietary changes that can improve general wellbeing and reduce the risk of various illnesses. Snacks that are naturally rich in or fortified with fibre are among the be