New and different flavors, portions and sizes styled for families on the go, and a mix of healthier ingredients including more protein are front and center for manufacturers of frozen breakfast products like pancakes, waffles and French toast.

The scope and variety of snack foods and baked goods continues to evolve across the U.S. foodservice landscape. Snack producers and bakeries, often working in collaboration with restaurant operators, continue to work to build interest and intrigue across all dayparts, including the omnipresent snacking segment, while still remaining comfortingly familiar. It's a delicate balance, and understanding customer motivations and emerging menu trends is the first step.

At its core, eating quality seals the deal on the repeat purchase of a snack. Those of us in the industry might rank a snack’s hedonistic level—the level of pleasure consumption delivers. Snacks can also face organoleptic scrutiny, determining its positive (or negative) interactions with our senses.

Manufacturers of tortilla and tostada chips continue to expand the boundaries of their offerings, in terms of both more imaginative flavors and attempts to address consumer concerns about the healthfulness of a category traditionally known for corn, salt and carbs.