The chocolate and snack fair ISM took place in April this year in Cologne. The fair again hosted the newest products, trends, and brands for snacks.

As in previous years, the products were highlighted under the headings of sustainability and environmental awareness. Vegan foods, more “natural” and “functional” snacks, recyclable packages, and brands that communicate more with the consumer...

In addition to these, the "pleasure" and "entertaining" aspects of snacking were also at the forefront. Many different features, from the colors on the packages to the slogans, QR codes, and packaging materials, were capable of attracting the attention of the consumer. Let's take a closer look at these products.

The ketogenic food trend, which is one of the rising trends of the last few years, remains current. Bars with low sugar and high nutritional value were among the product ranges of the companies this year as well.

In products with "low or reduced sugar", ingredients such as oligofructoses, synthetic sweeteners (such as acesulfame and aspartame), or natural sweeteners like stevia were used. Besides, keto bars were introduced as more vegan protein bars at this fair instead of whey protein in the past. Vegan logos were on the packaging of almost all snacks.

Unlike these, there were innovations in some products that did not claim to be healthy food and that everyone knew to be high in sugar or oil. For example, “high-fiber donuts”, “sugar-free cotton candy”, “sugar-free chocolate spreads," and caramel” are some of them.

                     

The trend of products with no E-code and clean labels was already continuing. But now much more has been added to the "free" claims. It has been specifically stated in the packages that there are many "free" ingredients, from allergens such as gluten to plastic packaging materials, from palm oil to sugar, from animal ingredients to artificial sweeteners. 

There were also innovations made to inform the consumer more. For example, if the product is "healthy" according to the sugar and fat content, it is written on the packages in both letters and colors. According to this ranking from A to E and from green to red, it is aimed at encouraging consumers to consume red and E-coded products more carefully. On the other hand, the fair trade logo is a pretty new trend for snacks. With the certification system and logo on the packages, consumers are informed that the ingredients of the product support small farmers and trade fairly. 

The trend of adding local or exotic flavors to snacks that started in previous years continues this year as well. Pretzel flavored chocolate, smoked flavored chips, boba milk tea flavored chocolate, Thai flavored chips, ginger flavored chocolate wafers, paprika lentil chips, cannabis chocolate...

When it comes to marketing strategies for snacks that are assumed to be luxury items, the limits can be pushed. The fact that some snacks contain +18 ads can also trigger buying behavior. When it comes to entertainment, there is a wide variety, ranging from board games to legos, darts, and jellies that seem like pizza and wraps.

Real fruit and vegetable ingredients are the most popular concept in this year's snacks. Fruit and vegetable-filled candies and bars seem to be on the rise with the vegan trend. Tooth biscuits for babies are also among the innovative products in this concept. When it comes to innovation, we should not forget products such as real fruit-containing powdered ice cream, which won an award last year.

Edible packaging is also among the snack trends. Paper-shaped candies are one of the most innovative products at the fair. The functional snack trend is also among those that continue. Many functional products, such as energizing caffeinated and taurine candies, immune-boosting and sleep-enhancing jelly beans, and antioxidant chewing gums, continue to enter the market.

Finally, let's talk about candies with alcohol. Chocolates with alcohol, one of the snacks that are always up-to-date, remain popular, especially in the European market.