Although snacking has never gone out of fashion – for example, 49% of Americans enjoy three or more snacks a day¹ – the way in which consumers snack has definitely changed.
Traditional onboard snacks such as crisps, nuts or sandwiches still have a place, as is evident from the popularity of En Route’s Taste of Spain Serrano Ham & Iberico Cheese sandwich, which won ‘Best Onboard Snack’ at this year’s WTCE in Hamburg. However, emerging trends, especially present since the Coronavirus pandemic, have caused a noticeable shift in snacking preferences. Consumers’ eating habits have shifted with heartier snacks doubling as meals, and the disruption of ‘normal’ eating patterns, leading to a new snacking culture replacing traditional meal times.
Nature-Driven Snacking: Embracing the Outdoors and Nostalgia
After the enforced lockdowns with hours and hours spent inside during the pandemic, consumers have made a real effort to embrace the outdoors. As mentioned in WGSN’s article titled ‘Outdoor Food & Drink’², the “renewed interest in picnics is feeding into the trend for nostalgia and offers a way for consumers to connect and share.” Snacks, being an ‘on-the-go’ food type, have benefited significantly from this trend.
En Route’s regional sandwiches showcased at WTCE feed into this trend by offering passengers nostalgic flavours that bring comfort and familiarity to the plate. From a hearty beef pretzel roll to a lighter sweet potato falafel and spinach wrap, as well as the award-winning Serrano ham & cheese, there’s a robust selection of retail on-board options that can be taken away and enjoyed later, if required.
Nature-driven snacking can also appeal to passengers who value health and wellbeing, so offering ‘better-for-you’ products with positive nutritional values can cater to a range of passengers looking to make healthier choices whilst in the air (especially if they are on their way to an indulgent holiday destination!).
Shareable Snacking: Enhancing the Communal Experience
Eating is a social activity, and food has traditionally been shared between friends and family. Snacking is a communal experience, and consumers are looking to enjoy it in the company of others. En Route recently supported Emirates at the second day of The Ashes at Old Trafford with a selection of cheeses which are served across Emirates’ first and business class cabins. With a buffet-style service, as well as receiving some excellent feedback, we witnessed firsthand how the different tastes, textures and accompanying garnishes sparked conversations between different groups and ourselves, and how much the guests enjoyed sampling and discussing the different options.
One way to offer shareable snacks to passengers is with a range of customisable snack boxes. En Route creates snack boxes for any environment – retail onboard or complimentary – and can work with you to create a snack box specifically appealing to specific demographics, elevating the passenger experience and ensuring they have access to the types of snacks they desire. We’re currently developing a ‘fresh,’ longer-lasting tapas box for Emirates, designed to help reduce cabin wastage – something that passengers are heavily concerned with.
Guilt-Free Snacking: The Sustainable Choice
For consumers, guilt-free snacking isn’t just about selecting low-fat, low-calorie or better-for-you options, but also choosing products that consider sustainability and environmental factors in their design and packaging processes. With 81% of consumers demanding sustainable packaging³, it’s evident that this is a large concern and should be carefully considered when selecting which products are offered onboard.
Guilt-free snacks can go hand-in-hand with other types of course, and combining natural ingredients with recyclable packaging, for example, can have a large appeal. Products offering a nutritional hit, natural sweetness, and eco-considered packaging, such as our Juice Shots, fit well into this category.
At En Route, we understand the evolving preferences of airline passengers when it comes to snacking. With our finger on the pulse of the latest trends and a focus on providing delightful and satisfying inflight meals and snacks, we aim to partner with airline caterers and global airlines to enhance the snacking experience for passengers worldwide. Our diverse range of nature-driven, shareable, and guilt-free snacking options will not only tantalise taste buds but also leave a lasting impression of satisfaction on every journey.
¹ ‘Tell me more, tell me more’: Summer loving with the US Snack Index (bakeryandsnacks.com)
² Outdoor Food & Drink Forecast 2024 – WGSN Food & Drink
³ Demand for sustainable packaging sky rockets (again) to 81% – Protega Global (protega-global.com)
