Data Bites: The Fastest Growing Office Pantry Categories of 2025

This year’s fastest-growing pantry subcategories point to a clear shift toward convenience, customization, and functional balance. Employees are reaching for options that feel satisfying in the moment while supporting sustained energy and focus throughout the day.

In a workplace environment where output expectations remain high, food is becoming more intentional. The more visibility you have into consumption behavior, the more strategically you can design programs that actually support productivity.

Let’s dig into what grew the fastest.

The Top Growing Subcategories in 2025

Work today is more cognitively demanding than ever. Between constant context switching, back-to-back meetings, and the rapid integration of AI tools that accelerate output expectations, employees are processing more information in less time. The pace has increased. The mental load has, too.

In that environment, office snacks and drinks become fuel to sustain that level of focus, and we're seeing that reflected in the data: 

• • Deli (113%): Hard-boiled eggs and ready-to-eat protein deliver sustained energy and support steadier blood sugar during long focus blocks.
  • Spreads (100%): Hummus, guacamole, and nut butters add protein, fiber, and healthy fats, helping employees build balanced snacks that avoid quick crashes.
  • Soda (118%): From classics like Coke to better-for-you brands like Olipop, Wild Wonder, and Poppi, employees are balancing familiarity with lower-sugar options that offer energy without the slump.
  • Dried Fruit & Nuts (99%): Trail mixes and fruit jerky combine natural carbs, fiber, and fats for portable, sustained fuel throughout the day.
  • Yogurt & Cheeses (88%): High-protein yogurts and cheese sticks provide convenient, satisfying options that support fullness and cognitive stamina.
  • Sparkling Water (98%): LaCroix, Bubly, and Spindrift reflect a growing focus on hydration, which plays a key role in maintaining alertness and mental clarity.

The Functional Themes Behind the Growth

When you look at this data from a bird's-eye view, three nutritional threads connect them: protein, fiber, and lower sugar.

These nutrients directly support employees' energy levels, focus, and performance in cognitively demanding environments.

Protein

Examples: Hard-boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, cheese sticks, hummus, nut butters, trail mixes

From deli to yogurt to spreads, protein shows up across nearly every high-growth category. This aligns with broader health trends and the growth in GLP-1 medications, where it is recommended to eat at least 1.2-1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily.

Why protein matters for workplace performance:

• Promotes satiety, reducing distraction from hunger
• Supports steadier blood sugar levels, minimizing energy crashes
• Helps sustain focus during long work blocks
• Encourages balanced snack building instead of quick sugar fixes

Fiber

Examples: Dried fruit, trail mixes, hummus, nuts, fiber-forward sodas like Olipop

Fiber slows digestion, and research found that fiber helps improve glycemic control and promotes fullness, both of which support steadier energy throughout the day. For employees navigating long meetings and deep work sessions, that stability translates directly to improved focus and output.

Why fiber matters for workplace performance:

• Slows digestion for more gradual energy release
• Helps regulate blood glucose levels
• Reduces mid-afternoon spikes and crashes
• Supports sustained mental stamina

Lower Sugar

Examples: Sparkling water, lower-sugar sodas like Poppi or Wild Wonder, and nuts

Frequent blood sugar spikes followed by rapid drops can interfere with mood, attention, and cognitive performance. Research suggests that excessive added sugar consumption may contribute to long-term cognitive issues and that tightly regulated blood glucose supports optimal brain function.

Why low-sugar options matter for workplace performance:

• Reduces rapid energy spikes followed by crashes
• Supports steadier mood and concentration
• Encourages hydration without added sugar
• Aligns with broader wellness goals

How Workplaces Can Apply These Insights

If today’s work requires sustained cognitive output, your pantry should support it intentionally. Here’s how to translate these insights into action:

• Audit what’s actually moving. Use pantry consumption data to deprioritize underperforming products so you have more room to bring in functional options.
• Start testing protein-, fiber-, and low-sugar options. Introduce high-protein office snacks, fiber-rich choices, and lower-sugar beverages in small batches and see how employees respond.
• Monitor the impact on your team and your budget. Track performance, engagement, and spend to understand what drives both productivity, then refine accordingly.

Why Subcategory-Level Data Is Crucial for Success

In a workplace shaped by AI acceleration and sustained cognitive demand, the most effective pantry programs are built around responding quickly to behavior. Looking at individual products tells you what people grab. Looking at subcategories tells you why.

Subcategory data helps workplace leaders:

• Spot meaningful trends early to identify shifts in preference so you can prioritize
• Optimize budget with intention so you can invest in categories that drive performance
• Continually evolve so your office pantry experience never becomes stale

Conclusion

Employees are fueling for focus. They are choosing protein for stability, fiber for sustained energy, and lower-sugar options to avoid the crash. For workplace leaders, data unlocks a better understanding of employee behavior to iterate quickly and intentionally.

In an AI-accelerated workplace where mental load is high and expectations continue to rise, an intentional pantry strategy is how modern teams stay energized, focused, and ready to perform.