24 • May | June 2026 • abasto.com From the Touchscreen to the Tactile Palate: Why Now The logic behind the phenomenon is al- most paradoxical: the more digitized our lives become, the more intensely we seek physical experiences that remind us we are flesh-and-blood beings. Digital overs- timulation has created a kind of emotional numbness. Food has become one of the last frontiers where humans can outsmart AI: no algorithm can chew; no language model can taste the spice. “Digital saturation has reprogrammed consumer expectations, and food is no ex- ception,” notes the SFA in its trends report. “Amid the ‘numbness’ of modern life, con- sumers demand friction, vibrancy, and au- thenticity, not bland neutrality. They want experiences that make them feel alive.” The result is a new hierarchy of value on the shelf: if a product fails to cut through the noise in terms of flavor, texture, aro- ma, or visual impact, it simply won’t have a place in 2026. What Defines a SenseMaxxing Product It’s not enough to add chili to everything or paint packaging neon. Authentic Sen- seMaxxing operates on simultaneous la- yers. First, extreme and contrasting tex- ture: combinations that clash within the same bite, a soft core with a layer of explo- sive sweetness. The sound of the crunch is no longer accidental; it’s product enginee- ring. Second, hyper-vivid color: pigments that shift in hue, presentations impossible to ignore while scrolling through Insta- gram. Virality isn’t a bonus, it’s part of the design. Third, aroma as the first hook: olfac- tory elements that trigger nostalgia or cu- riosity before the first bite. And finally, flavors on the edge: acidi- ty that makes you squint, Szechuan spice that leaves your lips numb, dark chocolate with pepper. It’s not about pleasant flavors in the conventional sense; it’s about me- morable flavors in the neurological sense. The Opportunity for Retailers: Beyond the Product For the retail channel, SenseMaxxing isn’t just a buying signal; it’s a roadmap for the entire shelf strategy. Multisensory products are perceived as premium or ar- tisanal, which justifies higher margins. When a sweet offers a complex sequence of changing textures and flavors, the con- sumer is willing to pay more than for a product with a simple texture. The display also enters the equation. High-contrast displays, tactile packaging, and a visual narrative that anticipates the product’s internal experience are now conversion tools as important as price. Packaging doesn’t inform, it promises. And in the experience economy do- minated by Millennials and Gen Z, that promise of a mini-sensory adventure, accessible, immediate, shareable, holds enormous purchasing power. The snack is no longer fuel. It is pocket-sized enter- tainment. 2026: The Year the Shelf Speaks Louder The complementary trends identified by the SFA for 2026 all point in the same direction: the modern consumer doesn’t want passive products. They want products that tell a story, that engage them. In 2026, products that evoke a feeling will continue to win. Those that do nothing for the senses will simply cease to exist in the shopping cart. • Continuation of page 22 Special Insert Sweets & snacks