Media Release
Northbrook, IL
July 19, 2021

Bell Flavors & Fragrances Presents Trends at 2021 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Indianapolis

To help open the show on day one, David Banks, Director of Marketing at Bell, hosted an interactive session in which he broke down five macro trends that are shaping consumer behaviors that make up the foundation of Bell’s Spark trends platform.  These macro trends included Finding Silver Linings, Well-Balanced, and Escapism and illustrated how they affect the consumer and the products they gravitate towards.

Banks explained, “We start with identifying deep-seeded macrotrends happening with consumers such as emotional states and cultural drover, not fads.”

“We combine this with an understanding of the conscious and non-conscious decisions consumers are making and tie it back to that olfactory element that food and flavors can create,” he noted.

During the interactive tasting session, Banks explained how these turn into microtrends and how the industry can break these down into starting points for product development that will speak directly to the consumer, based on existing needs, state of the world, and cultural surroundings.

As Banks explained, the confectionary and snack industries are the introductory channels to different concepts and innovative ingredients. Consumers expect newness, but also comfort and familiarity- a balance that is not easy to achieve. Thanks to his extensive walk-through attendants left with a clear sense of where newness was coming from and what was the conductive thread through the hundreds of exhibitors.

A few of the featured microtrends that seem to resonate across the show floor included:

Finding Silver Linings

The need for comfort, indulgence, and nostalgia was a focus through last year and will keep going strong in the future. The emotional level at which a product can connect to the consumer was heightened and brands did not disappoint when providing innovation. One of the best examples is the upcoming Reese’s Potato Chips Big Cup and Garrett’s Popcorn S’mores.

Well-Balanced

“People focused on the basic human need to take care of themselves,” Banks told the audience, adding the three microtrends of mood and emotions, self-care and functional. Consumers want to be more well-rounded and attend to all physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Trü Frü and Sow Good caught a lot of attention thanks to their healthy, fun, and innovative approach.

Escapism

Snackers are looking for excitement. New textures, presentations, ingredients and anything that takes them away from their comfort zone will drive curiosity and can turn products into hits.

Nerd’s Gummy Cluster’s stood out as Best in Show thanks for the combination of flavors and textures.

During the Supplier Showcase Day Bell presented innovative flavors that tapped into all of these trends. The team developed a very well received concept of Escapism that included a trendy and unique Pink Pineapple, a complete line of terpene flavors for sweet and savory applications that gave the impact of specific cannabis strains, as well as a decadent Hazelnut Chocolate truffle.

About Bell Flavors & Fragrances:

Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. is a leader in the flavor and fragrance industry. With eight manufacturing plants across the globe and over 40 sales offices around the world, Bell has the ability to create the flavor, fragrance, or botanical for any application.

Bell Flavors & Fragrances – get in touch with taste!