Companies, such as those famous for creating treats like Oreo and chocolates, are now bent on creating healthy snacks with chia seeds and protein bars to bring back their customers.
Since the shift of the American consumers to a healthy meal, the sale of chocolatey treats has declined leading to a rise in the healthy snack trends.
The Hershey Company, one of the major chocolate producers, is presently preparing for the launch of its "SoFit" brand on a regional level, which contains protein and fruit squeezes along with snack squares, according to Business Insider.
Hershey began its venture into the snack market last year by acquiring "Krave" and launching a fruit-and-nut bar line in Brookside.
"We understand that consumers' relationship with food is changing," Marcel Nahm, VP of Hershey's snack division mentioned. "Consumers are more than ever interested in knowing what they put into their body, where does it come from, how does it get there... Consumers want more and more choices."
Other major players in the market include Mondolez, who is the owner of Cadbury brands and Oreo. They have been trying since November to offer healthy alternatives to customers, and announced that within the next five years, half of Mondolez's products will be healthy snacks for those who are looking for healthier options. They also mentioned that they are planning to focus on development of healthy goods as of now.
Presently, the trend has rapidly shifted from treats to snacks, as snacks are perceived as convenient, healthy and cost effective, according to a report by Snacker Nation.
The change in food trends also includes avoiding sugary foods, switching high-calorie foods with high-protein foods, and parting ways with candy and gums. This has led the companies to roll out new "healthier" snacks with new marketing techniques.
However, the companies are unwilling to part ways with the brands, which have made them famous.
Thus, it is yet to be seen if the shift in marketing focus can actually allow the companies to capture their market shares once again.