Snackable #2 - Fresh food data & insights, served monthly

Claire Brunaud

Oct 7

4 min read

Welcome to this new edition of Snackable, KaryonFood’s newsletter dedicated to international food, retail and data trends.

Every month, we review the signals shaping food markets worldwide: retailer and distributor strategies, shifts in shopper and consumer behavior, product innovations, commercial activations, retail & foodservice dynamics, and new ways of using data.

The goal: to help you better understand market movements, identify opportunities, and turn the right signals into concrete decisions.

On the menu this month:

Top Story : Premium or low price: American shoppers embrase both ends of the market
By the Numbers : +12,7%
Data Decode : Value vs volume
KaryonFood Picks : Foodservice Data Playbook
Innovation Shelve!

Enjoy the read 😊

Top Story

Premium or low price: American shoppers embrace both ends of the market

In the United States, consumer goods purchases are becoming increasingly polarized: growth is concentrated in premium and value offerings, while mid-range products are losing ground, according to NIQ and World Data Lab.

Both approaches can coexist within the same shopping basket. A shopper may choose a premium beverage while opting for a cheaper alternative for everyday essentials. Private labels are also strengthening their presence at both ends of the market.

Our take: for manufacturers, every product needs to earn its place in the basket. A distinctive benefit, an attractive price, the right pack size: the challenge is to identify what actually drives purchases, category by category, and use those insights to refine assortments and commercial actions.

📍 Source : NielsenIQ

That’s the year-on-year growth in US retail sales of functional snacks, measured by value over the 52 weeks ending April 19, 2026. The segment now represents $19 billion in sales.

Protein, energy, digestion, hydration: consumers are looking for snacks that meet specific needs beyond a tasty treat.

Our take: for manufacturers, analyzing sales by product benefit claim alongside traditional categories can help identify growth opportunities and guide assortment and innovation decisions.

📍Source: Conagra Brands, Future of Snacking 2026 — Circana and NIQ data.

Data Decode

Value vs volume: what's really drivin

your sales growth?

Your revenue is growing. But are you selling more products, or are your products selling at higher prices? The same growth figure can reflect very different realities.

Value sales measure the revenue generated.

Volume sales measure the quantities sold, expressed in units, kilograms or liters.

Why does the distinction matter?

Revenue growth can come from higher quantities sold, price increases or a shift in the product mix, with more expensive products accounting for a larger share of sales.

Conversely, rising revenue can hide declining volumes. Reported growth does not necessarily mean demand is strengthening.

What decisions can you draw from this?

If value sales are growing while volumes are falling, identify the products, retailers or pack sizes affected before deciding whether to review pricing, adjust a promotion or refine the assortment.

If volumes are increasing without revenue growth, examine discounts and the share of lower-priced products, then assess their impact on margins.

The right approach: analyze value and volume together, using a comparable scope and consistent units of measurement. When comparing different pack sizes, kilograms or liters can be more revealing than the number of packs sold alone.

KaryonFood Picks

Foodservice Data Playbook

Which distribution centers offer the greatest potential? Which products deserve more support? Are your promotions generating sustained sales?

With the Foodservice Data Playbook, KaryonFood offers a practical method to help sales and marketing teams turn fragmented data into clear action priorities.

By aligning KPIs, combining sell-in, sell-out and field insights, and identifying performance gaps, this guide helps you understand what is happening across your distribution network and where to focus your efforts.

👉 Discover the analyses to run and the concrete decisions they can inform, illustrated by a customer case study.

Download the ebook

Innovation Shelve

One of Karyon’s passions is, of course, innovation.

Not just because the words sound good together, but because we’re both food lovers and endlessly curious.

Here’s our TOP selection of innovations that caught our attention:

🇺🇸 Yucatan & Cabo Fresh: protein comes to guacamole

In the United States, Insignia International is adding protein to guacamole through its Yucatan and Cabo Fresh brands. Unveiled in September, the range delivers 5g of protein per 3oz serving (approximately 85g), using fermentation-derived yeast protein. Available in individual cups and squeezable pouches, the products are rolling out at retailers including Kroger, Target, Publix and Albertsons.

👉 Why we like it: a way to bring added protein to a familiar dip, with convenient formats suited to both snacking and everyday cooking.

🇬🇧 New York Bakery: when bagels meet pizza

On September 8, 2026, New York Bakery entered the frozen aisle in 497 Tesco stores with its Stuffed Pizza Bagels. Developed with Food Brands Now, the range combines bagels with pizza-inspired fillings: Margherita, ham and mozzarella, and pepperoni. A convenient format designed for a quick meal or a savory snack.

👉 Why we like it: an indulgent crossover that helps an established bakery brand reach new eating occasions and expand into a new supermarket aisle.

🇯🇵 HI-CHEW: bringing the crunch of fruit to candy

In Japan, Morinaga launched HI-CHEW Shari Shari Fruit Mix on September 29, 2026. This soft candy combines Fuji apple and Kosui pear flavors in a single bite, with a lightly crunchy texture designed to recreate the sensation of biting into fruit.

👉 Why we like it: an innovation that explores texture as much as flavor, refreshing the experience of a familiar brand and adding an element of surprise to an everyday treat.