Oracular Spectacular
Snaxshot is a newsletter on upcoming food and beverage trends that offers a curation of brands and aesthetics written by Andrea Hernández.
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Dearest viewer/and or occupant of the other end of the screen, big or small, it’s been a minute since these words transversed across the digital realm into your inbox. It would please you to know that this absence was brought on by exciting things in the works, that I’m elated to share with you, but before, let’s play catch up. This space has always felt intimate, and I’m thankful you’re here to enjoy the unveiling of contemplations and minor cogitations, and because I’ve been away, it felt only appropriate to share with you a compilation of the aforementioned, like a pirate sharing in the bounty, a treasure trove accumulated during their long travels.
On Snax-as-a-Signaler
You’ve probably read this more than once on here, we’ve deep dived into the phenom that is using snacks and drinks in the same way fashion items are external signalers from McDonald’s selling out of their “adult kids meals” to luxury fashion brands spinning up their own deli carts and cafes, Fendi baguette anyone?
A behavior I also love to call “affordable affluence” — a $2 bottle of PRIME becoming as coveted as any premium sneakerhead item is something novel, considering no one is really feeling the same way about… Gatorade. We may not be able to afford houses but our rental’s pantry is very well stocked that it may just be confused for a curated grocer.
More evidence of this “snax as a signaler” as seen on the latest Baleennnnnciaaaaaga! runway — what started off as a collaboration rumor this summer while designer Denma was spotted carrying an empty bag of Lay’s, became SS23’s most unexpected “hot item” —the $1800 leather Lay’s bag clutch (yes, this is an official collaboration as confirmed by both parties) a trend that is also something we noted in our mid year report, under Pantry KITH.
Fashion brands taking from snax culture isn’t novel of course but the way we see it being elevated in a non-cringe way, take Campari x Parcivel and the drop that stirred the internet, would I ever see myself wearing Campari merch despite my love for aperol and negronis, the answer is no. But something like this? I’ve never coveted a plain white tee branded by an aperitif this much before, Campari is thirst trapping, literally.
Diet Culture and Carb-naissaince
Are we witnessing the return of Y2K staples like low-rise jeans alongside the resurgence of toxic diet culture? Not just evidenced by the disappearing curves of the Kardashians and their admission of extreme diets to fit Met Gala dresses, but Kate Moss recently collaborated with Diet Coke, a nod to “supermodel” eras of yore, remember Tyra’s recount of rooming with models who soaked cotton balls in orange juice that passed as meals? —this Millennial does. What’s also interesting is noting “smart wearable” fatigue and the concept of biometric shaming—that is when your smart wearable or patch makes commentary on missing a goal for example. Do GenZers realize the implications of trying to bring back 2000s, are JNCOs and Von Dutch really worth this type of aftermath?
Paradoxically, carbs are finally getting a redemption arc after decades of being dubbed dietary demons. They are everywhere now, from bread and butter sculptures, to bread bags as the IT accessory in 2022 thanks to GOHAR to entire outfits made out of pasta via Panache, carbs are cool. Would love to thank our generation, Millennials, the generation that normalized getting in cars with strangers, as we have also normalized indulging in carbs again by making this food group part of an aesthetic—from slurping spaghetti shots to full on carb installation a la Ananas Ananas, to viral TikTok trends like butter boards and edible bread ladders via Fridayy, this food group that has been such a staple since the beginning of civilizations, is back in full force, and with the same reverence it once held, raise a toast (or baguette) to carb-naissance!
New Experiential Grocer
Last year. we deep dived into the rise of curated experiential grocers around the world and the rise of curation as a service in food and beverage, and we have been tracking the evolution of them and their manifestations to this day. We aren’t taking about the likes of Jungle Jim’s, this new crop of experiential grocers serve as UGC havens, they demand great lighting, beautiful shelves, neatly stocked trendy brands, selfie mirrors, photo op stations and in some cases disco balls a la Pop Up Grocer.
However, experiential grocers are quickly evolving and Gjusta has set its precedent, all of the above is great but have you ever slept inside a grocer? Well this isn’t technically inside but adjacent, Gjusta grocer offers an apartment that comes with pantries and kitchen fully stocked with their items, you can rent it out here. Groceries evolving as lifestyle brands, going from grocery snob Meccas like Erewhon and its $135 hoodies, to offering accommodations that resemble their brand, that also serve as a way to help educate and inspire how to use their luxe items, closing the loop by providing you the ideal kitchen, dining room etc, in which you can indulge in both the illusion and the snax, fucking genius!
Brands as Record Labels
Relevant to logistics-as-a-service, Acid League’s latest Maker Series, is one of the smartest concepts to hit pantries and grocer shelves. Though just a few years old, Acid League has had tremendous success both IRL and URL, focusing on experimentation of flavors that appeal to modern consumers yearning to explore and further develop their palates, a success they are now leveraging to bring more under the radar makers and brands to North American markets, like forming a record label for pantry items, their first drop with Onima, a very “if you know, you know” condiment brand hailing from Barcelona, Spain, is proof that this generation of consumers are eager to uncover new flavors and makers, with Acid League now as a curator and also a stamp of quality for more unknown brands.
Nick Kroll identifies as a Snaxboi
If you have been here since the start, you’ve probably tattooed snaxboi on the inside of your wrist, snaxboi, a term which we originally coined as fuckboi meets Erewhon market, to define the “who” in Snaxshot. Even as our cult has grown, it still felt like the term remained very “in the known” that was until my surprise while watching Nick Kroll’s new Netflix special, he self identifies as a snaxboi, not only that but he shared our post acknowledging he is IN FACT in the know of what a snaxboi is, celebrities using snaxboi now proves our cult roots are continuing to spread far and deep, we welcome you to the church of snax!
Snaxshot Turned Two
On a beautiful sunny fall Friday —we celebrated turning two at Pearlfisher’s beautiful rooftop in the heart of Soho, where we brought our community together to commune in the best in snax. From our OG friends like Ruby to new and exclusive friends from UK and Canada like Geez Louise, Barbet KYOOT, and previews of unreleased brands more!
Graza and Challah Dolly partnered to create the FIRST EVER, Challah-tini, L’solina and Montes hosted a pasta bar and we indulged in amazing Cometeer x Doce espresso mezcal martinis!
Enter the Snaxverse
The end is clear, we are enlisting palate pioneers to help us populate snaxverse, a new kind of world, where we say fuck you to ratings as an obsolete system because taste is highly subjective —the time has come to build a new universe. It will be NOTHING like you have ever experience. Discover your taste language, learn to speak in tongues, licks are the new likes.
Want more greedy snaxboi? We curate daily on Instagram.
First Fall Guide
We’ll buy what she’s buying, curation is a form of edging, delaying orgasm in favor of prolonging pleasure— that’s our take on it, and on that note, enjoy.
Oracular Spectacular
A subsidiary of the Snax Television Network
Shhhhhhhhh!!!! My favorite show’s about to start “What’s New, You Ask?”
Today’s feature is brought to you by —the letter D, the color BLACK and readers like you.
SUPA
In line with our predictions of the rise of après sport drinks.
ALICE
Not psychedelic, unfortunately?
MINUS
Gearing up for a big launch, bean-less coffee is here to stay.
SPRING
Here for sexy ferment drinks.
PIKA PIKA
You had me at calamansi marmalade.
LEATH
Indoor gardening is getting slimmer and chicer.
SLOW SIPS
Syrups and bitters are getting so fucking sexy.
SUNDAYS
Oreo’s have met their match, launching soon!
EAT IT LIKE
Popped barley is like Erewhon Crispy Crunch!
GO EASY
Houston born cannabis snax.
TOFU TOFU
Ok but why is it so sexy?!!!
NOUD
Oh the French make everything sound hot, including porridge.
VIVE
“THINK DRINK”
KORA
Made by MIT scientists, part of science backed function movement.
DESERT DUST
Date seasoning?! Hot.
WELLY
Like Athletic Greens for babies, plus insanely cute branding.
BOBA
Launching DTC and on GoPuff.
SUPER LEGERE
Non-alcoholic beer is getting so good looking!
Let’s chat, snax, join our new home, Geneva!
Raising Spirits
We’re hosting a sober Halloween tasting—RSVP here if you’re in NYC!
Spoonful News 🥄
Re: Creator Packaged Goods, Mr. Beast is raising at $1.5 Billion valuation!
Veso launches Eclipse, which is like Acid League meets Empirical spirits for aperitifs.
The Goods Mart opens its THIRD location in Bryant Park!
Nestlé’s Blue Bottle launched instant espresso!
Our friends at Graza launched at Wegman’s and will be at Nordstrom soon via YOWIE.
BTR is launching chocolate candy bags just in time for Halloween!
From puzzles to glassware, Ghia continues to expand its universe beyond aperitifs!
Target is doubling down on private label as PL continues to outperform branded.
Hoxton Farms closes $22M round for cultivated animal fat.
Snax Concierge 🛎️
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