"Health" is one of the most complex — and often misunderstood — themes in snack innovation. For some, it means clean labels and simple ingredients; for others, nutritional benefits or weight management; and for many, a sense of guilt-free enjoyment. Starting from consumer insight, this session unpacks what "healthy snacks" truly mean to different groups, and explores how brands can translate that value through ingredients, processing, and packaging design.
Many confectionery brands succeed with one iconic product. Storck took a different path — building strong brands across multiple categories, from boxed chocolates and wafers to candies and jellies. The key lies in clear brand positioning. Each Storck brand plays a distinct role in consumers' lives. merci, for example, turns chocolate into a simple yet meaningful way to say "thank you," while Knoppers positions itself as a satisfying energy boost for busy mornings.
With these clearly defined brand roles, supported by high-quality production and technology from Germany, Storck has built confectionery brands that resonate with consumers in more than 100 countries. This session will explore how Storck creates lasting brand relevance across categories, markets, and generations.
Quality trust is becoming the core driver of high-quality growth in the healthy snack sector. The industry now faces three key challenges: substantiating health claims with science, building end-to-end compliance systems, and creating differentiated product competitiveness. Building a systematic trust framework, based on scientific transparency, standardized testing, visible processes, and traceable quality, is the path to long-term brand growth. It enables brands to move from self-claims to third-party endorsement and secure lasting growth in the healthy snack market.
Based on Mordor Intelligence projections, the AI market in the food and beverage sector is expected to reach USD 29.94 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 45.8%. With AI, sensory analysis is no longer limited to subjective evaluation. It can accelerate product development, shorten innovation cycles, and improve the accuracy of predicting consumer acceptance. From E-Nose and E-Tongue to deep learning, and neurophysiological technologies, this session explores the latest AI-driven sensory analysis tools.