ADM’s 2026 Snacking Research Report shows a decisive shift toward snacks that balance indulgence, functionality, affordability, and sensory novelty — with Gen Z and GLP‑1 users accelerating demand for reformulation, added benefits, and global flavour exploration. For producers, this is a moment to rethink portfolio strategy, ingredient architecture, and innovation pipelines.

The new snacking landscape

ADM’s findings reveal that snacking is no longer a simple sweet‑versus‑savoury equation. Consumers now choose snacks based on overlapping emotional and functional drivers. According to the report:

“Today’s snacking occasions reflect both emotional and functional needs, which often overlap.”

Indulgence still dominates escapism and social occasions, but nutrition‑focused moments are increasingly tied to optimisation goals — energy, focus, gut health, and mood support.

For producers, this means that single‑note positioning is losing relevance. Snacks must deliver multi‑layered value: comfort, convenience, and credible functional benefits.

Flavour exploration goes mainstream

ADM notes that consumers are increasingly open to sweet‑savoury hybrids, global inspirations, and distinctive sensory cues such as spicy, cooling, or tingling sensations. This aligns with broader category trends toward experiential eating.

“Snackers are increasingly open to products that blend sweet and savoury flavours, draw on global inspirations and deliver distinctive sensory experiences.”

Producers should consider expanding flavour development pipelines to include regional cuisines, cross‑category mashups, and multi‑sensory formats.

Gen Z: the category’s most disruptive force

Gen Z’s anytime‑anywhere approach to snacking is reshaping demand. They combine multiple snacks in a single occasion and seek benefits tied to mood, sleep, stress, sustainability, and social connection.

ADM highlights: “Gen Z is reshaping snacking with a varied, anytime‑anywhere approach… and seek benefits related to mood, sleep, stress, sustainability, optimization, escapism and social connection.”

Producers targeting Gen Z should prioritise protein‑rich formats, grab‑and‑go convenience, and functional ingredients that support emotional wellbeing.

Affordability outranks texture, ingredients and sustainability

Despite rising interest in premiumisation and functional benefits, price remains the second most important factor after taste. ADM reports that 71% of U.S. consumers rate affordability as important.

This creates a dual challenge of maintaining value‑driven price points while delivering added benefits that justify incremental cost.

Reformulation demand is accelerating

Two‑thirds of consumers are interested in reformulated snacks, especially those with added fibre or clean‑label attributes. Nearly half are willing to pay more for these improvements.

“Over two-thirds of consumers are interested or very interested in reformulated snacks, prioritising added fibre and clean-label attributes.”

This is a clear signal for producers to invest in ingredient optimisation, clean‑label reformulation, and functional fortification.

GLP‑1 users: a fast‑growing innovation segment

Consumers using GLP‑1 receptor agonists (AOMs) are willing to pay more for snacks aligned with their nutritional goals. ADM identifies opportunities in protein, prebiotic fibre, probiotics & postbiotics, and Omega‑3s.

This group is shaping portion control, satiety‑focused formats, and functional ingredient demand.

What producers should do next

To stay competitive, producers should prioritise:

• Functional reformulation — fibre, protein, clean‑label upgrades
• Global flavour innovation — sweet‑savoury blends, sensory cues
• Value‑engineered product design — maintain price competitiveness
• Gen Z‑focused formats — anytime‑anywhere, mood‑supporting, protein‑rich
• GLP‑1‑aligned nutrition — satiety, gut health, portion control