Offering ready-to-enjoy trail mix is a great opportunity to create everyday snacking options, in addition to your special occasion gift options. Snacks, in general, are experiencing substantial growth right now. More specifically, 32% of consumers claim their household is purchasing more trail mix since the COVID-19 outbreak.

While the options are seemingly limitless, typically a successful trail mix hits three categories: (1) nuts and seeds, (2) dried or freeze-dried fruit and (3) something fun or indulgent. This last category is where confectioners can really put their unique spin on a mix.

In an article published in RCI’s Kettle Talk magazine, Charlotte Green with Barry Callebaut U.S.A., Inc. recommends to, “take your most popular confections and either miniaturize them or deconstruct the flavors and combine with fruits and nuts to make a trail mix for chocolate lovers. Chocolate-coated graham crackers can build a s’mores trail mix, caramel turtles can be the inspiration for a caramel apple pie trail mix, or a simple mini peanut butter cup can be part of a PB&J trail mix. Get creative! 42% of consumers consider their favorite flavor most important when buying nuts, seeds or trail mix.”

Trail Mix Mendiants

For a more upscale spin on trail mix, create trail mix mendiants. Mendiants are a French confection consisting of a chocolate disk studded with nuts and dried fruits. Make your own by adding your favorite trail mix ingredients to small pools of milk, white or dark chocolate before they set.

With the arrival of fallaround the corner (“hello” to fall hiking, campfires and football games) and National Trail Mix Day on August 31, we can’t think of a better time than now to start experimenting with different trail mix combinations.

If you’re at a loss for what trail mix combinations would get the most interest out of your customer base, start by asking some of your loyal customers or create a poll on Facebook. By inviting consumers to share their input, not only can you more easily meet their needs, you’re more likely to get buy-in and interest in a new product from consumers who participated in the ideation process.

Happy trails to you!

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