Five or six years ago, when you thought of meat snacks, you probably thought of meat sticks or beef jerky. Then, other proteins started to come into play. Then those categories expanded with new flavors, greatly expanding the customer base for the category. Then came charcuterie packages and meat bars, and health-conscious consumers began to realize that meat could be a better choice than a calorie- and sugar-filled protein bar. What people used to dismiss as greasy and unappealing junk food now has a format, texture and flavor profile for any consumer.
If you think the meat snack category has reached its creative limits, think again. In the last couple of weeks alone, I have had press releases sent about pork chips and beef rinds. I was unfamiliar with biltong until a year or two ago, and now there are multiple brands raising awareness for the traditional African snack in the United States.