Office Snack Scoop Episode 2 Takeaways: Layered Comfort, Bold and Briny, and Functional Flashbacks

Welcome back to Snack Scoop, Crafty’s video series serving up the latest food and beverage trends taking over office pantries.

Each episode, Crafty’s resident snack expert and Senior Merchandising Manager Vaibhav Shastry joins Trends Report author Becca Ross to spill the tea on what’s trending, what’s next, and which products deserve a spot in your office pantry.

On the menu for Episode 2? Fall flavors moving beyond pumpkin spice, a sour and briny takeover, and nostalgic lunchbox favorites getting a functional glow-up.

Plus, Vaibhav is bringing the taste test this time! He’s surprising Becca with Shine Water, a vitamin D-packed hydration drink he discovered at Expo West. Will it live up to the hype?

Let’s get into the scoop!

Key Takeaways

• Fall flavors are moving beyond pumpkin spice: Maple, apple, chai, and banana are bringing fresh excitement to seasonal office snacks and beverages.
• Bold and briny flavors are going mainstream: Pickle, olives, seaweed, and kombucha reflect growing demand for sour, savory snacks that balance sweeter options.
• Nostalgic snacks are getting functional upgrades: Classics like Uncrustables, Lunchables, and Go-Gurt are being reinvented with more protein and better-for-you ingredients.

1. Layered Comfort: Fall Snack Flavors Beyond Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin spice used to own fall. Now, it’s practically a requirement. Starbucks and Dunkin’ turned the PSL into an annual countdown, and snack brands followed with pumpkin everything. But when everyone jumps on the trend, what’s left to get excited about?

Enter layered comfort. Pumpkin spice isn’t going anywhere, but maple, apple, chai, cinnamon, and banana are giving fall snacks a flavor upgrade. Vaibhav is seeing maple pop up in cereals, bars, and oatmeal, with salted maple pecan flavors performing well year after year. He’s also betting big on banana, starting with a locally made banana bread muffin Crafty is testing next month.

Becca points to bars, Crafty’s number two subcategory, as an early testing ground for new flavors before they spread to chips, dried fruit, and jerky.

Why it’s happening now:

• Pumpkin spice is the baseline: Consumers still love it, but newer flavors are bringing back the seasonal excitement.
• Fall flavors are going all-day: From breakfast muffins to afternoon pick-me-ups, seasonal flavors are moving beyond dessert.
• Bars are the testing ground: Fast-moving snacks give brands a way to test new flavors before expanding into other categories.

Products from the episode:

• IQBar: Pumpkin spice meets functional snacking in a seasonal protein bar.
• La Colombe: Pumpkin spice in a bright orange can, ready for the office coffee station.
• Nespresso: Pumpkin spice capsules bring fall straight to the coffee machine.
• Olipop: Crisp Apple soda gives a classic fall flavor a fizzy twist.
• Barebells: Banana Bread protein bar offers an early taste of banana's next big moment.

The takeaway: Don't replace your entire pantry with pumpkin spice. Layer in seasonal flavors across snack categories and throughout the day. Think maple at breakfast, pumpkin spice for an afternoon pick-me-up, and apple or banana for something different. The goal is a fall pantry that keeps employees excited to see what's next, not more of the same.

2. Bold and Briny: Why Pickle Snacks Are Taking Over

Pickle is having a moment, and Vaibhav says it’s sticking around “for a hot minute.” But this trend goes way beyond the pickle jar. Olives, artichokes, seaweed, and kombucha are all getting in on the sour and salty action.

We first touched on pickle in Episode 1 as part of the flavormaxxing trend. Now, we’re digging into why briny flavors are earning a permanent spot in the pantry.

Bold and briny is all about balance. After a wave of sweet seasonal flavors and protein-packed snacks, employees are craving something that cuts through the richness. Becca calls it a “very lunchy” trend, while Vaibhav points to Quest’s upcoming dill pickle protein chips as proof that bold flavors are moving into mainstream snack categories.

Employees want fresher, more elevated options. Crafty even renamed its Refrigerated collection to Fresh & Frozen this year to better reflect that growing demand.

Why it’s happening now:

• Sweet needs a salty sidekick: With sweet flavors dominating fall, sour and briny snacks offer a refreshing change of pace.
• Bold flavor without the baggage: Pickle delivers a big flavor punch without the garlic breath before your next meeting.
• Fresh is the expectation: Employees want more deli-inspired, fresh-feeling options that make the office pantry feel elevated.

Products from the episode:

• Poshi: Single-serve pickled veggies deliver all the brine without the jar.
• Quest: Dill Pickle protein chips bring a bold new flavor to a familiar functional snack.
• RMBR: Kombucha flavors like lemongrass and orange offer a smoother introduction to fermented drinks. Vaibhav calls it “the gateway kombucha.”
• Seaweed Snacks: Light, savory, and packed with umami for a break from sweet snacks.

The takeaway: Start with pickle! It’s already a familiar favorite outside the office, making it an easy way to introduce bolder flavors. Stock briny snacks alongside fresh and lunch options, where their acidity complements heavier meals. And don’t sleep on kombucha. It’s making a comeback in office drinks with more approachable flavors. If it hasn't worked in your pantry before, try a milder option like RMBR before ruling it out.

3. Functional Flashbacks: Nostalgic Snacks With More Protein

Remember Lunchables, Go-Gurt, and Rice Krispies Treats? The lunchbox legends are making a comeback, but this time with a functional upgrade. Vaibhav is seeing two sides of this trend: legacy brands reinventing their classics and newcomers giving childhood favorites a better-for-you makeover.

Nostalgia meets nutrition. Uncrustables, the most popular product in Crafty’s frozen category, is adding more protein and better ingredients as newcomers like James shake up the category with stronger macros and partnerships with professional sports teams.

Meanwhile, adult Lunchables are taking shape as elevated snack plates. Becca even campaigned for Olli in her office’s monthly employee vote! Go-Gurt has grown into protein-packed drinkable yogurt, and the throwbacks don't stop there. Becca's husband says Pips cinnamon sticks taste just like Taco Bell's, only better. Vaibhav even has a better-for-you Rice Krispies Treat alternative lined up for testing.

Why it’s happening now:

• Familiarity wins: Employees are more willing to try functional snacks when they come in formats they already know and love.
• Better macros raise the bar: New brands are pushing legacy favorites to rethink ingredients, protein, and nutritional value.
• Nostalgia brings the fun: A little childhood throwback can brighten a workday full of spreadsheets and meetings.

Products from the episode:

• Olli: Meat and cheese snack plates bring the adult Lunchables to life with fresh flavor and a solid shelf life.
• Uncrustables: The frozen pantry favorite is getting a protein-forward upgrade.
• Jams: A higher-protein crustless sandwich giving the original some serious competition.
• Chobani: Drinkable yogurts with 15, 20, and 30 grams of protein make fueling up between meetings easy.
• Kylo: A PB&J bar that tastes just like the classic sandwich, proving nostalgia works beyond the lunchbox.

The takeaway: Don't ditch the classics. Give employees the nostalgic favorites they already love, then introduce a functional challenger alongside them. If Uncrustables are flying out of your freezer, test a high-protein alternative and see what wins. For extra fun, try the toasted Uncrustables trick from our Snack Hacks. And remember, trends don’t perform the same everywhere. Kylo didn’t take off in one market, but it could be a hit with snack-curious teams in the Bay Area. Let your pantry data decide!

Taste Test: Shine Water

Every episode ends with a surprise taste test, and this time Vaibhav brought something he’d been saving for months. Meet Shine Water, a hidden gem he discovered in the final hour of Expo West.

Functional hydration is having a moment. While natural hydration leans on ingredients like coconut and watermelon, functional drinks are bringing added benefits to every sip. Shine stands out with a daily dose of vitamin D, plus vitamins E and B12, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. All for just 20 calories and zero sugar per can.

So, how did it taste?

• Coconut Lime: Gave Becca major Baja Blast vibes, with a refreshing lime finish and none of that artificial coconut taste.
• Strawberry Lemon: The unanimous winner! More lemonade than strawberry, with just the right amount of tartness.
• Peach Mango: Not Becca’s personal favorite, but her pick for the office crowd-pleaser. Who doesn't love a tropical drink?

The takeaway: Shine nails the most important part: taste. The flavors are balanced, the vitamin D adds a functional benefit for employees spending their days indoors, and the only question is size. At 16 oz, it’s bigger than the 12 oz cans most office pantries prefer. But Vaibhav thinks the flavor could win teams over.

Office Snack Trend FAQs

What are the top office snack trends?

Fall office snack trends include flavors beyond pumpkin spice, like maple, apple, chai, and banana. Bold, briny snacks like pickle chips and seaweed are also gaining popularity, alongside nostalgic favorites reinvented with more protein and better-for-you ingredients.

How can I introduce new snack trends into my office pantry?

Start with employee favorites and introduce trending products alongside them. Rotate seasonal flavors, test bold snacks in small quantities, and offer functional alternatives to familiar classics. Use employee feedback and consumption data to see what earns a permanent spot.

That's a Wrap on Episode 2!

From fall flavors getting a glow-up to bold, briny bites and nostalgic snacks making a comeback, the office pantry is getting a whole lot more interesting.

Vaibhav and Becca will be back with more trends, taste tests, and insider insights to help you stay ahead of what employees will reach for next.

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