18 Jul Convention 2024 – Panel: Snack Sensation

On Saturday, June 29, BEMA Convention 2024 brought together an industry panel focused on the increasing prevalence of snacking and the growing consumer desire for more snack variety. The industry panel featured three first-time Convention attendees, including panel moderator Dulcie Freymoyer of Reading Bakery Systems, Joe Amboyer of JTM Foods and Casey Young of Conagra. The newcomers were joined by Bill Quigg of Richmond Baking Co.

The Breakdown

Impact of Regulations – Suppliers and manufacturers of all sizes are seeing a number of regulations coming down the pike. As one member of the panel pointed out, whether the regulation creates an impact large or small, the product still needs to taste great. With increasing focus on nutrient content claims, many believe the industry has both an opportunity and an obligation to create nutritious food for the masses.

More Variety, More Flavor – Consumers, especially younger generations, love to snack, and consumers of all ages want variety. This means manufacturers must have a forward-looking approach when it comes to the production of new products. This includes always looking for new ways to provide solutions for customers and having methods to improve efficiencies. Smaller companies are leading the way with creative products and approaches and tech innovations are making volume easier to produce with equipment that accommodates fast changeovers for a pace that will certainly continue to increase.

Delivery Drivers – Flavor, texture, shape and delivery of flavor lead the pack. The ability to measure the smells, tastes and sounds of a product is creating a subset around the sensory elements of snacks. This includes tracking of retro nasal smell or olfaction, the ability to perceive the flavor dimensions of foods or sensory modality that produces flavor. There’s also the sound(s) a snack makes when you crunch it, and shape also plays an important role. For instance, does the pretzel twist produce “more” flavor than a pretzel ring or stick? Thankfully, there are lots of ways to measure these sensory elements.

Automation and Tech – Over the last five years, automation has allowed variety and programmability. Projects can have lower costs, too. Flexibility is increasingly important because you never know what customers may want today or tomorrow, and automation can make a big difference. This mindset offers good reasons to make capital investments today. Access to technical centers offers an opportunity to gather information about new advancements and to explore if equipment can accommodate the changeovers and flexibility that are so important to the industry.

Building Partnerships – Meeting ongoing and ever-changing customer demands often necessitates partnering with the right team. But automation is only as good as the people who know how to work on it. Building the right relationships starts with bringing the right people together. Partnerships can help make the most of speed and volume and can build a path for long-term success. Having suppliers connect with other suppliers can also be a smart way to create an effective team solution for everyone involved.

Open Innovation – You never know where the next great idea could come from, and those ideas don’t always come from within your own four walls. Look for ideas from consumers, from inventor/creator spaces, read new patents, and seek out sparks of innovation and disruption. Don’t forget the bounty of good ideas that can come from employees, too. Seek advice from HR, IT and maintenance. Talk to your suppliers and look for other companies to participate in ideation projects. Collaboration helps others feel they are a part of the team, and it can also help empower employees and improve engagement and retention.