Gen Z and Millennials are reshaping eating habits, prioritizing snacking over traditional meals, making it a pivotal aspect of daily consumption. But how can snacks transcend mere satisfaction? And how can the younger generation of consumers get involved in this snacking evolution?
In collaboration with Tastewise, a cutting-edge generative AI platform tailored for modern food & beverage brands, we created Almond Board of California’s Tastemaker Trials: an opportunity for students to use AI-informed resources to create almond-centric snacks that are innovative, satisfying and nutritious. With the help of Tastewise’s predictive prowess, students were able to create “intentional indulgence” in snacks that fit what consumers truly want. We saw exciting trends in the following areas:
Sharpening the Lens on Health
Gen Z and Millennials are moving away from “healthy” as a general claim, zooming in on specific and personalized areas like fitness, weight management, energy, gut health, blood sugar and stress relief. Students saw possibilities with this insight and created The Billion Dollar Energy: Almond Brownie Energy Cups—rich, nutrient-dense vegan energy cups that have a medium glycemic load and are packed with almonds in every decadent layer.
Eco-conscious Eating
Top claims among Gen Z and Millennials include local produce, sustainability and food waste. Vegan is a prominent dietary claim as younger generations cite environmental and personal health reasons for going plant based. This area proved perfect for the student-developed Break-IT-Brittle: a fun, shareable almond brittle that is loaded with flavor and vegan friendly. Break-IT-Brittle comes in a jalapeño flavor that offers a balance of sweet and spicy.
Connectivity through Consumption
Younger consumers view food as a form of self-expression and are embracing smaller treats to meet personal needs and values. “Travel” and “friends” are the top two social setting claims among Gen Z and Millennials. How can snacks provide an indulgent escape, represent globalizing palates or create shareable experiences? Students saw the shareability of snacking with Almond Mousse Dippers: a combination of crisp, thinly rolled almond flour crackers and a fluffy almond mousse in a portable, dippable snack pack that’s vegan, gluten-free and low carb.
In the ever-evolving world of Gen Zs and Millennials, it’s important to stay ahead of consumer tastes. The students of the Almond Board’s Tastemaker Trials were inspiring in their use of AI data to develop unique creations. Visit https://www.almonds.com/trends to see how you can leverage Almond Intelligence to revolutionize your snack offerings.
