Natural Colour for Topical Seasonings and Dry-Blend Applications

Activity is Hot in Salty Snacks and Topical Seasonings

Snacking continues to evolve as one of the most dynamic segments in the food industry, driven by changing lifestyles and growing demand for convenient, flavourful experiences. Consumers are increasingly seeking snacks that fit their busy routines while offering variety, indulgence, and excitement. According to Mintel (Trending in Snacks 2025), 55% of German snackers are interested in trying new savoury snacks made with base ingredients they have not tried before. This curiosity fuels innovation across the category, from baked and puffed snacks to crisps and coated nuts, as brands compete to stand out on shelf and deliver memorable taste experiences.

At the same time, consumers’ sense of adventure remains rooted in familiarity — they are open to innovation, but within a comfort zone.

In Italy, 68% of snackers are interested in trying new crisps or savoury snacks with base ingredients they have not tried before.

This highlights their desire for unique indulgence that feels both novel and reassuring.

Successful innovations balance discovery and comfort, introducing new formats or ingredients while maintaining recognisable flavours, textures, and colours that signal taste and quality.

Seasoning's Crucial Role

In that environment, seasonings and the according colouring of the final snack product play a crucial role. Having conducted consumer testing to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of colouring in savoury applications, key insights include:

The colour of crisps is an important driver of product appeal and product associations
Colour intensity raised consumers’ impression of a more appetizing and higher quality product
Colour intensity raised consumers’ impression of a more of tasty and flavourful product – ‘right’ level of taste

This should influence activity in seasonings where new product development is not only pertaining to packet seasonings but also many savoury offerings like puffed snacks and crisps that are coated in seasonings.

Colour plays a critical part in seasonings by bringing all of the different flavour offerings to life through unique shades.

One would expect a hot and spicy snack to look different than a cheesy one. Colour helps create the expectation of a flavour’s visual appeal in seasonings. Since flavours with an exotic twist or an adventurous touch are a strong driver for the salty snack category, the expectation to see custom colouring shades rises accordingly. This underlying interest for a natural, yet visually appealing snack could be a huge opportunity for snack and seasonings developers. There is certainly room for growth in snacks, especially those combining on-the-go convenience, natural ingredients like colour from plant-based sources, and flavour innovation.

cheese, chips, puffs, and peppers

When formulating with colouring foods or natural colouring solutions, product developers should take a few factors into consideration:

THE PARTICLE SIZE

of the colouring solution has a direct impact upon the coating distribution

THE REQUIRED USAGE

rate to achieve a desired shade may impact the flavour profile of the seasoning

THE MOISTURE

can affect the colouring solution’s stability and can cause migration

THE PH SENSITIVITY

may cause colour degradation or shade shifting depending on the source of the natural colouring solution

If you want your brand to show differentiated product offerings, and if you have a new project in mind to focus on product impact for your next snacking innovation, request a consultation or a sample with us today:

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