The 6 hottest trends in snack foods today

In 2026, there’s a growing number of brands who are turning received wisdom on its head to deliver products that offer both indulgent flavours and better-for-you formats.

At Speciality Food, we’re very much of the belief that the best food is often, if not usually, simple food: produced with short lists of quality ingredients, with a seasoning of passion and innovation, and that philosophy is well represented in our latest edition of Snack Buyer by producers who are genuinely excited to go the extra mile to offer something that can set independent retailers apart from the mainstream market.

In Snack Buyer, we profile these businesses as well as share valuable intel, so it can form a useful part of your snack strategy for the next 12 months. Download your free copy here - and keep reading to discover the biggest buzzwords shaping innovation in the sector today.

1. Protein

Far from being the preserve of gym-goers and body builders, protein-rich snacks have been enjoying a not-so-quiet evolution in recent times.

Those additive-laden protein bars of yore may still be around, but discerning shoppers are replacing them with natural alternatives – nuts and nut butters, protein-rich dairy snacks and dried meats such as biltong.

Read more insight about the protein trend in UK food and drink here.

2. Gut health

If protein is the king of health trends in 2026, gut health is the queen.

Fibre may not be glamorous but it’s certainly having its moment right now – and there are plenty of ways for your customers to up their intake via your snacking range. Think wholegrain snacks and dried fruit, either eaten as is or coated in chocolate for the ultimate permissible indulgence.

3. Dates

Thanks to their efficient ticking of many boxes consumers are seeking in 2026 – fibre-rich, sweet and indulgent without the guilt of processed foods, versatile and edible on-the-go – it’s no wonder that the trend for snacking on dates isn’t going anywhere.

Whether eaten au naturel, soaked and whizzed up into a ‘caramel’ to make healthy millionaire’s shortbread (this recipe is all over Instagram), or topped with nut butter and/or chocolate, there’s no getting away from it – 2026 is the year of the date.

In fact, sales of medjool dates are growing 100% year-on-year at Ocado. Meanwhile, searches for chocolate-coated dates have grown 135% in the last 12 months.

4. Swicy

This trending hybrid of sweet and spicy is showing up in all sorts of places in 2026, and snacks are flying off shelves.

For an extra foodie sales tool, try adding a sense of provenance and value via named chillies… “Swicy isn’t going anywhere, and we’re going to be seeing it evolve with named chillies, like fruity aji amarillo or smoky chipotle,” says Stephen Parkins-Knight in Waitrose Food & Drink Report 2025.

New to the swicy trend? Read our guide with all you need to know here. Why not get to grips with swalty and fricy, too?

5. Fermented

Products like kimchi (a Korean food staple) are very much deserving of their time in the spotlight, so look out for snacks presented with fermented tang.

But don’t rule out your cheese counter; cheese is naturally a fermented product, so by selling cheese in snacking-ready formats you could be tapping into the fermented trend in an exciting new way.

There’s much to explore in the world of fermented food and drink - find out more in our in-depth guide.

6. GLP-1-friendly

Weight-loss medications have been hitting the headlines for a while now, but intel around how vital it is for those taking them to be smart about the (limited) food and drink they’re still consuming is only now becoming commonplace.

Nutrient-density is key here – every bite counts – so GLP-1 users who are looking for long-term benefits are seeking out snacks that not only satisfy them but provide the goodness they need all in one place.

Whole food-based snacks such as trail mixes and fruit and nut bars will do well here, as will dips such as protein-rich clean-label hummus, and with appetites limited this could form one of the main meals of the day so merchandise alongside healthy bedfellows – for example, wholewheat pitta or fresh vegetables alongside a naturally healthy dip.

Haven’t considered the impact of weight loss drugs on your shop? We’ve explored how fine food retailers cater to GLP-1 users, including the best foods for GLP-1 customers, here.