Top Snack Bars at Every Price Point

Let's talk bars. No, not the kind where you meet for happy hour, but the key to keeping your energy levels up and hangry co-workers at bay.

A recent study from Nutrients on snack consumption reported that 90% of American adults report eating snacks daily, with the average person consuming 1-3 snacks daily. When you boil it down, snacks contribute to 20% of the average adult's overall calorie intake. This isn't surprising because Crafty data shows that office snack bars account for 27% of office pantry spending. 

The US snack bar market is estimated at $11.48 billion and will reach $18.61 billion by 2030. The beauty of this category is that there are snack bars for various purposes at various price points, and it's our job to help you find what works best for your office.

Let's explore the top bars for any budget, brands to watch, and trends that will help you pick the perfect bar for your pantry.

Top Bars for Work at Every Price Point

Whether your team is into sweet or savory, there's a snack bar at every price point to tickle their taste buds while fitting into your budget. 

• Snack Bars
  • Value: Nature Valley, Crunchy Bars
  • Premium: Zee Zees, Berry Apple Crisp Bar
• Breakfast Bars
  • Value: belVita Breakfast Biscuits, Cinnamon Brown Sugar
  • Premium: KIND Breakfast Bar Blueberry Almond
• Protein Bars 
  • Value: Clif BUILDERS Protein Bar Chocolate Mint
  • Premium: Pure Protein Bar Variety Pack OR Power Crunch Peanut Butter Creme
• Energy Bars 
  • Value: IQ BAR Almond Butter Chip 
  • Premium: Verb Energy Caffeinated Snack Bar Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
• Vegan Bars 
  • Value: Nature's Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars
  • Premium: GoMarco Protein Bar Blueberry + Cashew Butter  

Snack Bar Brands to Watch

• Zee Zees: Smart Snack compliant, their soft, nut-free breakfast bars are made without artificial colors and high fructose corn syrup. Plus, they are Kosher, vegetarian, and sesame-free. Zee Zees is committed to giving back by donating time and funds to serve food-insecure families. Plus, they are committed to sustainability by working to reduce food waste with their raw commodities processing.
• IQ BAR: IQ BAR's brain-boosting energy bars have clean, keto-friendly ingredients that support cognitive health. Their bars are packed with 12 grams of plant protein along with magnesium, an essential mineral found in nuts, cocoa, legumes, and leafy vegetables. All of these work together to influence brain function, energy production, cognitive performance, and mental health.
• GoMarco: These high-protein, plant-based bars include organic ingredients that are vegan, gluten-free, Kosher, non-GMO, soy-free, and dairy-free. GoMacro, a mother-daughter-owned company, was founded after Amelia Kirchoff's cancer diagnosis in 2003, leading her and her daughter Jola to create plant-based MacroBars that promote a balanced lifestyle, which has since grown into a nationwide brand.
• Power Crunch: Power Crunch offers a unique protein bar experience with its light, crispy wafer texture and smooth, creamy fillings. Packed with 12g of high-quality protein, each bar provides a satisfying, guilt-free snack that's perfect for on-the-go, in between meals, or pre/post-workout. Beyond creating delicious snacks, Power Crunch is committed to giving back, partnering with organizations like Boys and Girls Club and Feed the Children to support those in need through various community initiatives.

Office Snack Bar Trends

With the Crafty Platform at our fingertips, we don't have to go too far to get office snack bar trends and insights. We are constantly monitoring pantry consumption trends across the 400+ offices we service, and here's what we found:  

• Bars saw a 102% increase in consumption YoY 
• Spending on bars went up 51% compared YoY 
• The top bar across Crafty clients in KIND Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt
• The three cities that spend the most on bars are: 
  • New York City
  • Chicago
  • The Bay Area
• Spring is when we see the biggest uptick in bar consumption

We don't see the snack bar trend going anywhere, especially with more and more people opting for protein-rich diets. Food Dive recently reported that a new study found that individuals taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy want smaller, protein-rich portions and hydration-focused snacks to match the changes in how their bodies process food. Goldman Sachs estimates that 15 million people, or 13% of the US population, will be on these medications by 2030.  

To get ahead of the protein-forward movement, here are some snack bar market highlights to keep in mind: 

• Bars are consumed most frequently for breakfast or as a morning or afternoon snack in the first half of the day.
• The top reasons for eating snack bars were the taste, convenience, and staying full all day.
• The leading snack bar flavors are peanut butter, milk chocolate, dark chocolate and caramel.

Bars are a versatile snack to stock because they are shelf-stable and provide sustained energy for the day. In fact, they are tied for fifth place as the top office snack in the US, as popularity grows with younger generations. 

Conclusion

Keeping your office stocked with a variety of snack bars at different price points is a small investment with huge payoffs. It keeps your team fueled, focused, and feeling the love.

Crafty's platform makes managing your office snack station a breeze, so you always have a wide variety of bars at the right time for the right people. Create a happier, more productive workplace. Because, let's face it, a well-snacked team is a happy team.