As headlines around synthetic colors swirl and snacking is on the rise, naturally colored snack products can satisfy both consumer demands and regulatory guidelines.
Mintel 2025
Mintel 2024
Mintel 2023
Mintel research shows that half of consumers enjoy trying “new-to-me” snack flavors (Mintel 2024), and color can be a great first step to introducing a new flavor to an existing consumer base.
Exotic flavors that may be unfamiliar to a regional consumer base can be introduced with color so that shoppers can start to guess what a product might taste like before they open the package. For example, a bright fire engine red seasoning might indicate to a consumer that something is going to be really spicy, while a darker brown-red could indicate a barbeque-type flavor.
While historically synthetic lakes have been the go-to colorant for powdered snack seasonings, the demand for natural colors to replace synthetics creates a need for a natural alternative with the same high-quality color performance. Enter: Microfine™.
This technology gives natural colors the unique ability to fully coat each particle of seasoning with color for a bright, uniform appearance unmatched by standard powder colors.
Whether you are converting existing snack products from synthetic colors or creating new launches, Microfine™ is the color technology you need to achieve deliciously bold seasonings with natural colors.
Mintel-identified launch trends as well as new products highlighted at this year’s Expo West event show that brands are trying to capture consumer interest and increase their cart share with novel concepts.
