'Comfort Food Takes the Cake' and chocolate is top quarantine snack, trend report reveals

Quarantine snacking has seen wide variance in consumption between relishing in comfort food and enhanced diligence to healthier habits, the new report reveals.

“Due to shelter-in-place orders, there is more 'at home' everything, including snacking – which has spiked as many consumers are eating more throughout the day instead of opting for traditional meals​,” said a spokesperson for the company.

Highlights of the full report on Quarantine Bakery and Snack Trends include:

• Functional Foods: The heightened health awareness over coronavirus has many consumers seeking decadent better-for-you snacks that still provide nutritional benefit. Plant-based alternatives, herbs and other functional ingredients with perceived health benefits are conventional snack aisle staples.

• Anxiety Baking: DIY consumers are alleviating stress by sharpening their baking skills during these unprecedented times. Yeast, an ingredient commonly used to make bread and other bakery products, saw sales surge by 647% in the week ending March 21, compared to the same week in 2019. Online searches for homemade bread recipes hit nearly 900,000 views with banana bread being a staple pandemic treat.

• Comfort Food Takes the Cake: As indulgent bakery sales continue to rise, 79% of consumers admit to purchasing more comfort food now than in previous months. Chocolate is still the top quarantine snack with 90% of shoppers purchasing some form of this treat in the past three months.

• Childhood Indulgences: Nostalgic flavors, like cinnamon roll and s'mores, are gaining traction as consumers recreate experiences they are not currently able to do. Backyard margaritas and homemade birthday cake creations will trend deep into summer.

• Flavor Combinations: Salty snacks featuring confectionery coatings have recently seen a strong level of popularity, with caramel corn and chocolate covered popcorn remaining traditional favorites.