September Workplace Insights: Industry Office Trends, Grocery Habits, and Swicy

Consumers say that grocery shopping has become predictable, overwhelming, and kind of a drag. Endless aisles filled with too many choices, combined with retailers doubling down on “low price” signage, have left many shoppers uninspired. The Kearney Consumer Institute’s latest report highlights this growing fatigue: while consumers are still looking closely at price tags, they’re also searching for something more such as fun new flavors, better-for-you indulgences, and low-lift ways to treat themselves.

The data underscores the point:

• 68% of shoppers prioritize taste over price
• 48% want a balance of affordability and quality
• One-third are purely price-driven, but even these consumers crave novelty

As grocery prices have climbed nearly 23% over the past five years, consumers are also growing tired of decision fatigue. When faced with ten versions of the same item, many default to the familiar instead of exploring something new. This results in these grocery trips feel more like chores than opportunities for discovery. 

The same people walking the aisles feeling uninspired are the ones showing up to your office every week. If grocery shopping has become “blah,” employees are bringing that mindset with them into the workplace. They want discovery, not monotony. They want small wins: products that brighten their day, surprise them with flavor, or help them feel healthier without requiring a big investment of time or money. 

The tea: Your pantry can be that place of discovery. Unlike the grocery store, where choice overload and rising prices dull the experience, the workplace pantry is curated, cost-free to the employee, and designed for daily impact. Stocking it with functional yet exciting options creates the kind of affordable luxuries and “small wins” people are craving but not finding in their weekly shop.

Protein-forward items are taking center stage, not just because they’re trendy, but because they fuel focus and keep teams energized through long days. Nurri protein shakes, Hormbles Chormbles chocolates, and macro-friendly chips and bars are proving popular because they combine indulgence with performance — a perfect example of how workplace pantries can meet both emotional and functional needs.

And this isn’t just about delight; it’s about building your pantry into your workplace strategy: 

• With food costs climbing and financial stress widespread, snacks have become part of the compensation package, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for employees and delivering immediate, tangible value.
• Pantries also fight decision fatigue. Every small choice, from where to grab coffee to what snack to grab, pulls focus from higher-value work. A well-stocked pantry removes that friction, sustaining energy and mental bandwidth throughout the day. 

The key to making that a reality is ensuring your assortment delivers thoughtful options. Sometimes that means offering the new, cool products employees have heard about such as Nurri protein shakes, Hormbles Chormbles chocolates, or macro-friendly chips they wanted to try but didn’t want to buy themselves. Just as often, it means having the essentials they rely on every day. A pantry that balances both creates consistency while still surprising and delighting.

The way to do this well is to keep your pantry agile and use data to guide decisions. When you can see where every dollar goes and how products actually perform, you can optimize your pantry spend for the greatest impact.

Skittles is taking its boldest swing yet with Skittles Gummies Fuego, a sweet-and-spicy mashup launching nationwide in 2026. Each pack combines familiar fruity flavors such as mango, watermelon, raspberry, strawberry, and lemon along with a tangy chile coating that brings layered heat. It’s the first time the brand’s gummy range has gone spicy, and it lands squarely in one of the fastest-growing snack trends: “swicy.”

According to Mintel’s 2026 snacking report, consumers are increasingly open to bolder flavor pairings, with sweet heat standing out as a mainstream favorite. Innova Market Insights has also tracked steady growth in chile-flavored candy launches worldwide over the past three years, confirming that heat is no longer just for chips or hot sauce

• Chili flavors in packaged F&B have grown at a 5% CAGR over the past five years
• Sauces and seasonings dominate chili innovation (42% of global activity), but snacks, ready meals, and even meat substitutes are climbing quickly
• Beyond generic “chili,” flavors like sriracha, sweet chili, peri peri, pimento, and ghost chili are all seeing double-digit CAGR growth

Of course, TikTok is fueling the buzz. From frozen Skittles to freeze-dried candy, playful spins on legacy brands have gone viral, giving confectionery companies new ways to engage Gen Z. By offering early access to Gummies Fuego on TikTok Shop, Skittles is positioning this launch to ride the wave of “taste it, film it, share it” trends that make swicy snacks especially sticky with younger audiences.

The tea: If employees are craving discovery and cool options, swicy is the perfect way to deliver it. You don’t have to wait for Skittles Gummies Fuego to launch in 2026 to give your team that sweet-heat thrill. A few ready-to-stock options can bring the trend straight into your pantry today:

• Solely Chili Mango Fruit Jerky
• Think Jerky Sriracha Honey Turkey Jerky
• Sweet-and-Spicy Trail Mix

Adding even a handful of these products gives your lineup a kick, builds variety, and shows employees you’re tuned into what’s happening in food culture. 

We often talk about snack nostalgia (like classic snacks from childhood), but nostalgia isn’t the same for everyone. The modern workplace is diverse, and flavor profiles like swicy resonate globally in ways that feel both familiar and celebratory.

Top Swicy Combos from Around the World

• Mexico: Mango + Chili
• Caribbean: Pineapple + Habanero 
• Mesoamerica: Chocolate + Chili
• Thailand: Coconut + Chili
• South Korea: Honey + Gochujang
• West Africa: Peanuts + Chili 

These pairings highlight how sweet heat has long been a beloved part of food culture across the world. For the workplace, that matters. When your pantry reflects cultural diversity through flavors like swicy, you’re creating moments of recognition, inclusion, and shared discovery. It’s proof that the pantry can be both a performance driver and a cultural connector, giving employees one more reason to feel the office is worth the commute.