Energy Bars has been there for some time and has made their presence concrete by positively influencing kids and youths worldwide in recent years. The last decade has been the era of substantial shifts in meal patterns & food habits, probably because of the gradual inclination towards packaged food items and the immediate urge to adapt to global cuisines and dishes and try out different yet trendy food and beverages. Besides, with the growing pool of fitness enthusiasts worldwide, people are constantly looking for something nutritious at the same time. However, with fast-paced lives, people nowadays, particularly in the workforce, no longer find enough time to make breakfast or invest their time in cooking lip-smacking yet healthy dishes. This is where Energy Bars came into the picture, fulfilling and mouth-watering simultaneously. No wonder why, The Global Energy Bar Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 5.6% during 2023-28.

What Does Energy Bar Contain?

Energy bars are supplement bars that offer energy, along with nutritional value and food benefits. These bars are a perfect replacement for meals as they are enriched with proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The protein and added carbohydrates in the bar act as energy boosters during a workout or training. It also supplies post-workout nutrition to build new muscle tissue and repair any minor muscle tears that occur during the workout sessions.

Raising The ‘Bars’ with 100% Natural and Vegan Ingredients

The significant number of people turning vegan has called for more plant-based products, and coming from athletes, the demand is no less than a game changer for the industry. In countries like the UK, half the population has started cutting down their meat intake, which is their way to turn vegan. Likewise, the USA, Australia, Mauritius, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Sweden follow the same trends. Thus, veganism has become a new trend across developed countries, which in turn prompts the incorporation of more plant-based ingredients, and the snacks industry is no exception. Let us substantiate this with a few instances.

NuGo Nutrition Slim Bars, as the name suggests, are low in calories and are highly fulfilling. Made with real dark chocolate and natural ingredients with no Artificial Sweeteners, these bars are gluten-free and also Vegetarian-Friendly. Rx Bars are enriched with nutrient-packed ingredients such as protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Likewise, Bearded Brothers Energy Bars, comprising nutrient-dense raw ingredients, is a great vegan alternative.

Increasing Trends for On-The-Go Snacking

On-the-go-snacking has been a recent trend that has remarkably maximized the production and sales of these bars. Be it a protein bar, nutrition bar, cereal bar, fiber bar, or any other type, the popularity has surged in the past few years, particularly in youth and children. In an attempt to cater to these emerging needs and appeal to consumers, the food brands bring forth more sweet and salty snacks with vibrant colors. For instance,

• Perfect Bar unveiled Perfect Kids as the original refrigerated kids’ snack bar at Expo East 2018, now available across Target stores in the United States. The snack bar boasts clean-food credentials of USDA organic, low-GI and non-GMO project verified. The product has a cookie dough texture and taste.
• Bright Foods, popularly known for its fruit and veggie-packed whole food bars, is all set to enter into new territory with the launch of ‘clean protein’ bars.
• In 2020, Kind LLC, a US-based snacks company, came up with new energy bars formulated with whole grains, carbohydrates, and oats.

Allergy Triggered by Ingredients Continues to Be a Challenge

The utilization of allergy-triggering ingredients in the energy bar has been an obstacle when it comes to maximizing the sales of these snacks. According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), around 25 to 40% of people are allergic to both tree nuts and peanuts. In fact, all pre-packaged foods in the United States that use nuts as an ingredient must list the type of nut on the label, as a requirement of the federal Food Allergen Labelling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA).

Sum Up

With the contemporary trends of Veganism and On-the-go-snacking, the foods and snacks manufacturers are coming up with a variety of energy bars to cater to youth, athletes, and even the working populace, willing to pay for the different, trendy, delicious yet healthy snacks like energy bars. It is evident from the recent launches, the industry players have adapted to these trends and are ready to include organic and plant-based products and bring forth more innovative varieties. And as such, the energy bars are surely here to stay.