I've got a lot of learnings already just by curating and going through these awesome snacks and food website examples. The web design in my opinion is next level from a UI perspective for some of these sites.
On top of that, theyâre also quite innovative in how they approach their content marketing, social media, loyalty/referral programs, and overall visitor experience.Â
If youâre a foodie like me and you work in the world of eCommerce, youâll love these sites.
What will you find going through this guide of top food and snack websites?
I've chosen these sites based on some of the important factors I just mentioned above that's required to build a thriving eCommerce store.
Then in addition, I've stated in this guide some what the store sells, as well as point out three (3) things I liked that they had on their homepage.
There's a lot more on offer that these food websites do, so I encourage you to go through each of the sites and explore what they do well and hopefully get some key learnings.
Magic Spoon is known for its zero sugar, low carb, high protein cereal, created by two friends who were nostalgic for cereal yet didnât want all the unhealthiness that came with it. Using allulose, which is a natural sugar, they were able to create a sweetness that is neither artificial nor sharp.
Their website is just as magic:
Itâs clear enough to get people to click on the call to action button right away.
Following this up with quotes from well-known magazines and websites is an added touch. This would push interested customers closer and closer to making a purchase.
Nutrition facts are important to consumers, and certainly plays a role in their purchasing decision process. The floating cereal is a great added visual.
Cattie Khoury has a BA in Environmental Sustainability, certified in plant-based nutrition. It only follows that the company she founded will reflect these things that sheâs passionate about. She came up with Toodaloo after one evening, when she was eating a âhealthyâ trail mix from a certain brand, only to look through the ingredient list and discover that it was anything BUT healthy â for consumers and for the environment. Using superfoods, adaptogens, and herbs, she set out on a mission to make the world a better and healthier place.
Hereâs the magic of their website:
Itâs curious to think that Toodalooâs trail mix has specific benefits, kind of similar to adaptogenic tea. This would make customers want to give it a try, almost immediately.
What better way to show that your products are healthy than by showing images of your ingredients and breaking down their benefits?
Everybody wins. Who wonât be convinced to support this brand?
Say goodbye to raw eggs and flour and say hello to Deux, a company that creates plant-based, vegan, gluten-free cookie dough. They got over $1 million in investments during the seed funding and have grown to be a favourite of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Addison Rae. Why? Because itâs cookie dough that is yummy AND healthy.
Their website also manages to set them apart:
I love that the accompanying copy mentioned thin mints, because it hits the nostalgia and interest of the customer by likening it to something familiar.
The mouth-watering images are a nice touch, as it helps convince visitors that this IS a healthy yet yummy alternative.
Because this is what consumers really want to know: Is it as good as it claims to be? Well, according to these reviews, itâs even better than regular cookie dough, so anyone second-guessing would want to give it a try.
Mmmly was born out of the desire to eat more intentionally, as the owner discovered that meaningful food is key to having a meaningful life. And with sweets being a cause for his constant struggle, he reimagined the cookie and made it healthy.
Hereâs a look at how he sells this product through Mmmly:
Cookies without consequences, who doesnât want that? The âDevour nowâ call to action button is a great touch, because everyone would love to devour such a product.... who doesn't love cookies, right?
HEALTHY fats, vegan, fibre, fat protein⌠It truly is the healthy cookie we have always wanted to have - at least. Who wouldn't be sold and convinced to buy?
They have a bunch, and this is great because people usually associate healthy cookies with oats or mashed bananas. This way, consumers get to see that they actually have an array of tasty flavours to choose from.
Moonshot Snacks is a climate-friendly company, and the whole premise of the brand can be summed up with this selling point: âa climate-friendly cracker.â But what does that even mean? The crackers are plant based, carbon neutral, and are made with regeneratively grown wheat. The packaging even uses 100% recycled cardboard â and thatâs just the beginning.
Of course, they best communicate what their brand is all about through their website:
Theyâll ask questions: What is a climate friendly food movement? Why are the moon shot cereal boxes floating? How does visiting this website make me part of the solution? This then leads to the answer, that is, the call to action button: Shop now. Theyâre saying to customers: When you shop from us, you become a part of this movement.
I love that they are able to explain the technicalities of it while still conveying it in a manner the audience could understand.Â
Itâs interesting that none of the blogs were meant for direct product promotion, but the values they teach could lead to conversion. On the flipside, this shows those checking out the site that this is truly a company that stands by its goals, mission, and values.
Cravers introduces itself as a brand obsessed with hazelnuts, and they create healthy, vegan, keto-friendly, and gluten-free products based on this ingredient. Theyâre delicious yet nutritious, and this allows them to be the cravers that they truly are.
Their website makes us crave too:
Look at that dripping hazelnut butter. Who wouldn't want to eat it? Well, now theyâre sure they can do it without feeling guilty. The sticker indicating that itâs vegan and free of palm oil and gluten is a great add.
You can eat it repeatedly, everyday, because itâs healthy like that. And of course, the more customers eat, the more the company sells.
It gives customers all they need to know about the productâs nutrition facts at a glance.
Goodles is short for a âgooder noodleâ â and yes, we know itâs grammatically incorrect, but it makes for a great brand name. Founded by entrepreneurs and innovators, the company interestingly has Gal Gadot as a founding partner. She chose to venture into the startup world with Goodles because of what it stands for as a brand: good noodles, good people, good values.
We see all of that play out on their website:
Or should we say gooder? While I love the âMacâs Backâ catchphrase, itâs the video that stands out. We have a reel of macaroni boxes, with dripping cheese all over them. What viewer wouldnât get hungry?
Itâs great that they accompanied this with an actual, appetising picture of the product to convince more people.
They did a similar comparison table on protein per serving and fibre per serving, and Goodles is the clear winner, thereby proving that it is the superior product.
The Dough Project actually has to do with playdough, not cooking dough, but youâd be surprised to find out that this one is made by all-natural, plant-based, food-grade ingredients. It was created by a former preschool teacher, and what makes it especially great is that children actually get to make their own playdough. Thatâs right, just like one would make actual dough with flour and water, this one comes with different ingredients for children to mix together.
Hereâs what that looks like:
Quite frankly, this image is enough to sell because kids who would see this would automatically tell their parents, âI want to do that.â So, the call to action button right there is a smart move.
The fact that they have a chefâs collection and are selling their own little apron is great product marketing.
They donât advise it, of course. But this lays out just how safe this is for your children.
This is widely used as a conversational term these days, but Stranger Things actor and founder of TBH, Noah Schnapp, decided to use it as a brand name. He did so because he realized that palm oil, an ingredient that supported massive deforestation, was in his favourite choco hazelnut spread. He then set out to make an honest brand, with an honest hazel cocoa spread.
Hereâs a look at their honest website:
I love this. Whatâs also great is that as you scroll down the jar of hazelnut turns, and customers get to see nutrition facts from the get go.
Itâs vegan, has more protein, and less sugar. I also love the radical transparency mark to the side, because it aligns with their brand so well.
It comes with a great tagline that still aligns with food, all while explaining all the good that their brand does for the environment. This convinces buyers that itâs not just another hyped celebrity brand; it actually does something.
Wonder Monday is an independent, self-funded company that was founded by a couple who loved cheesecake but found it too unhealthy to indulge in. They then spent over a year trying to craft the perfect cheesecake alternative without all the junk, carbs, and sugars. The result was a decadent and delicious snack, made with real ingredients.
Hereâs how that sells:
They made it clear that this is THE snack for people who love cheesecake, all while listing down what makes it different from cheesecake. Itâs almost an automatic buy with that kind of pitch.
Itâs a small detail, but the tiny sparkle drawings to the side are a great touch. It adds to the overall appeal of the picture.
This is the last section of the homepage and a little psychological conversion trigger. With this guarantee, people are more inclined and willing to make an order because they don't really have anything to lose given there's a guarantee.
Sweetgreen was founded in 2007 by a group of friends who found that they only had two choices for food: slow, healthy, and expensive, or fast, unhealthy, and cheap. They then wanted to bridge this gap between quality and convenience by creating a farm-to-table salad chain, now valued at $1.6 billion with 140 locations.
Hereâs what we love about their website:
Convenience sells, and this brand obviously knows how to bank on that.
Almost everyone browses the internet using their phones, so itâs great that the brand decided to cultivate a customer experience that caters exclusively to such users. Again, it makes the ordering process more convenient for customers.
Brands usually utilise Instagram, but TikTok is slowly taking over the consumer base so this is a smart move. Itâs also great that they featured a tutorial video, to show customers the kind of content they could expect.
Sakara is an all-natural food delivery service that was founded by two women who believed in the power of plants. They anchored their brand on 9 pillars, which include eating your water, having 4-6 cups of greens daily, and having a variety of colourful veggies and fruits. Their meals are prepared by a team of experts and chefs, and all are made with fresh organic ingredients.
We see these selling points brought to life on their website:
In exchange for an email sign-up, Iâd say itâs a good proposition and interested customers will take it.
You have to enter your zip code to see the food being delivered to your area. This is great because it shows customers that there is variety and everything is well thought out. And really, would you look at the pictures of the food? Itâs a great sell.
Weâve previously said this, but customers like knowing that what is healthy for them is also healthy for the planet. This is a great way to highlight that.
Manukora was thought up in 1998, when a beekeeper who believed in sustainable honey production met with a businessman who had a deep love for innovation and transparency. They then created a company that ethically farms manuka honey from remote locations, and then bringing this liquid gold to markets.
Hereâs what we love about their website:
The Art of Ethical Beekeeping. Notice their usage of the words âartâ and âethicalâ as both of these, we subconsciously associate with a higher standard of living.
This backs up their claims of quality and standard.
Manuka honey is considerably more expensive than regular raw honey, so itâs great that they highlighted its benefits like this. The entire section is detailed, well-researched, and reputable, making the brand seem like a trusted resource.
Do you know that chocolate end of an ice cream waffle cone, the one that kids usually consider the BEST part of a sundae? Muddy Bites sells those tips as snacks. It sounds so simple, but the brand has since grown their social media presence, and theyâre starting to move into retail locations. Thatâs a feat, given that the brand just started out on Kickstarter, where the founders managed to raise $10,000 within 72 hours.Â
Hereâs how they managed to sell their product so well, as seen through their site:
Complete with a visual, of course. I like that they use ânow available,â which implies that theyâre the first to ever come out with it.
4.9 out of 5 stars is a great rating, and I love the topmost review they chose to feature. âStupid brillianceâ indeed.
When you click on the respective cone and flavour, the image and background change accordingly. Itâs very interactive, and when you click shop now, it redirects to the product page of that flavour.
Created by Front Row Snacks just this year, Ffups is puffs kind of spelled backwards, but with a twist. Itâs basically your regular unhealthy puff, and they even say that for themselves! They make no claims about being good for anyone, and thatâs actually what makes them stand out. They are transparent in their own way, and the way that they market the brand because itâs pretty much brilliant.
Hereâs what stands out to us the most:
And it is NOT a better for you alternative. Itâs just tasty and yummy, and thatâs what makes it good.
Grocery store cheddar? Instant hot chocolate? What kind of puffs flavours are those? But when you think about it, itâs just smart branding with pretty much traditional flavours. The âhilariously big bagsâ is an interesting add, because it works. We also like the lone puff in the middle of the screen that indicates add to cart.
Their branding is evident all throughout, and itâs just funny and engaging for the customer. Such an image always helps sell to more customers.
Freestyle Snacks was birthed over the pandemic when the olive bars closed and founder Nikki Seaman didnât know where to turn to find her marinated olive fix. The traditional olive jars sold in groceries werenât cutting it for her, so she decided to create a product that could satisfy her cravings and made it accessible to other consumers. The company only uses olives from Greece, and their olive snacks are low-calorie, sugar free, and full of antioxidants.
Hereâs a look at our favourite sections of their website:
I love all the colours that pop here, along with the whole âOlives, reimaginedâ bit.Â
Key words that we can see: delicious, different, bagged olives, not suspended in liquid, and pitted. Any olive lover would be convinced. But, because this is social proof, it would have been better if they included the names of those who gave these testimonials.
People who usually purchase olives as a snack are conscious of their health, and this section would be incredibly important to them.
Doughnut Time only opened in 2015, but it has stores all around Australia, and each doughnut is handmade using the finest ingredients. One way they like to put it is that their product is created by real people every step of the way. They really place a premium on brand experience, from names to service to packaging to the website:
A doughnut dessert box that was specially designed for boyfriends? Thatâs pretty brilliant, and a number of girlfriends would make the purchase.
Not all doughnut businesses craft desserts especially designed for weddings or birthday parties. The fact that they included images of what this could look like will help give customers a preview of what to expect.
This makes these services and information easily accessible to anyone interested in them.
Fergus is the love child of two French companies, thought up by women who loved the earth. An online grocery that only sells organic good, it stands out from the market as it makes its products accessible to all, even without the need for a subscription. With its own sustainable farm, it has access to a wide selection of healthy ingredients, now made available and shipped to every customerâs door.
Hereâs how their website makes them stand out from the others in the industry:
Who doesnât want to purchase healthy food that is 50% cheaper than other grocery stores?
Complete with prices, showing customers just how great of a deal they are. The matching, yummy looking images are a wonderful touch.
Customers like knowing who theyâre purchasing from, and for those who are geared towards sustainable living, it is particularly important that theyâre supporting a business that has the same values as they do. This section will give them that feeling of identity towards Fergus.
The company is named after that instinct people have when they eat something yummy - they make two nods. This is what they promise customers will be doing when they get a taste of Two Nods Nut Butter. However, the brand focuses on more than just their product; they also have an advocacy: environmental sustainability and transparency. So, all of their products indicate the CO2e/kg in their packaging.Â
Theyâre done with false eco branding, and they make sure to make that clear on their website as well:
Whether or not it may have been better to include the names of these ingredients boils down to preference. Itâs already pretty cool that theyâre showing the shapes of the ingredients, too. This puts âreal ingredients usedâ into perspective.
Thereâs no mass production here; they do everything by hand. That is definitely a selling point, as it means thoughtful and mindful creation of their nut butters.
This is just one part of it, and I love that they very clearly laid out the steps they take, how they do it, and even the companies they partner with. This is a full show of their transparency as a brand.
You read that right, thatâs the name of the brand. Another food business that started during quarantine, founder Kirstyn jokingly said that she just baked the very best cookie in the whole wide world, then she proceeded to open a Shopify account in that name a few days later. The brand blew up, yet to this day, Kirstyn and her team bakes the cookies in fresh, small batches every day.
And as if the brand name was not enough, hereâs how they sell their products through their site:
The brand name says cookie, so itâs great that the images include other sorts of baked goods. This shows that thereâs something for everyone.
Complete with a catchy headline, of course. And an entire platter of cookies.
This has a personal touch to it, and I love that. Every individual product description goes on to explain how much of the proceeds are going to which organisation. Customers love to feel part of something positive they're contributing to.
Gooey is a chocolate hazelnut spread that takes pride in being low sugar, all natural, vegan, and gluten free. Itâs only the companyâs product thus far, as it was only established in 2021, but it has given them quite the name among retailers and customers alike.
Their website shows us why:
Straight to the point, with a great âGet Gooeyâ call to action button. We have to say, it works well.
Love this section and highlights all the 'goodness' inside what makes this product so good. Nicely displayed CTA as well for people to start exploring products.
Not all brands do this, because people might not buy when they find out how fattening or unhealthy the product is. Gooey obviously doesnât worry about any of that, and people appreciate such confidence and transparency.
Verb Energy was founded in 2016, by a group of Yale students who managed to raise $1.4 million in investments. As the name implies, they produce energy products. But unlike other energy products, they are made with organic and healthy ingredients, ensuring that they are actually good for the consumer over time.
Here are things we love about their website:
The use of âFor real peopleâ makes me curious, so I pressed start here. It just led to their product page, but I have to say, that image copy worked well on me.
There were 6 call to action buttons on their homepage, all leading to the starter kit. With their tenacity, people are bound to press on one at some point.
Reviews are super important for social proof and highlighting to visitors that there are real consumers of the product. Many stores just like to highlight mainly 5-star reviews, but I like the fact that they have included one star reviews which shows visitors that this is a company is transparent. Besides, 4.7 stars and 3,049 5-star reviews is still a great rating, and consumers would think so as well. Remember, consumers in general are getting smarter, and are becoming more sceptical if they only see 'perfect' 5-star reviews (I know from experience I would anyway).
Peekabooâs goal is to create better-for-you ice cream that is yummy as it is actually good for the body. How did it start? When a mom, who is also the owner of a popular ice cream store in Miami, couldnât get her children to eat veggies. So, she started sneaking them into their ice cream. Genius, right?Â
It sells with the public too:
Vegetables in classic ice cream flavours? That alone is enough to sell, because whoâs not curious enough to try that? Check out those product titles on the cups.
Most websites put this as a pop-up or a footer, but Peekaboo put this smack bang in the middle of its website. And since at that point, people are convinced they already want to try their ice cream, they will definitely go for that discount code in exchange for their email.
The most honest reviews a brand could get, and seems much more authentic than the usual quotes.
Snackn I came across my news feed and love what theyâve done with their site. Theyâre an Aussie-based company which at the moment looks like theyâre in the fairly early stages, but they look like one of the first protein-rich keto spreads on the market.Â
If youâre in the early phases of your store, keep an eye on this site and how they will roll out.
The visual illustration with the product and annotations of key information around it makes it really pop out. This is something I believe more brands should be doing with their marquee products.
Theyâve kept the design simple considering theyâre going to be launching new products in the not-to-distant future.Â
The branding and visualisations look awesome, so Iâm keen to see where they go over time.
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Many of the above food website examples Iâve broken down display some of the core sections where these sites do a great job directing potential customers to convert. The key characteristics that you see across them, regardless of their UI design, include great design for social proof, use of high definition images, engaging videos, clear CTAs, great product cards and imagery, and a good site structure. If you do these well, youâre already giving yourself the best chance to make the most of the traffic you generate.
I selected each of these because I believe they all possess amazing UX and UI design. However, if I had to choose my favourite five food websites, they would have to be The Dough Project, Magic Spoon, Sweet Green, Manukora, and Wonder Monday. Definitely visit them if youâre an eCommerce marketer. Lots to learn from each of them.
We all know the importance of content marketing to build up organic traffic. Yet, itâs one thing to generate traffic, and another thing to actually ensure they are optimised for conversions. Iâm a fan of the Moonshot Snacks blog. Great content related to the product, and a great UX.
The short answer is that itâs super important to have beautiful high quality imagery and videos that are genuinely engaging. Both of these content formats donât just belong on the homepage, but also across all the key pages on your site. Many of the sites Iâve spoken about have great collection pages and product pages that I highly encourage you to go through and assess what they do with their layouts.
If youâre just starting your first food and drink website, a snacks online store, or perhaps your specialty foods site, Iâm a big believer in keeping things simple at first, then gradually add new content and other design elements to make your site âpopâ more over time. What I see a lot of people do when first starting out (even before they launch) is focus too much on the design and spending lots of money on it, then barely have any budget left for growth. Itâs important to have a distinct brand and a unique approach to web design, but shouldnât sacrifice user experience, or having the funds to actually drive people to the site. I personally love minimalistic design, and Iâd say most visitors would feel the same. Good amount of white space, with beautiful imagery and supporting videos go a long way. Focus on highlighting your specific product offering and ensure that stands out over anything else (after all, thatâs the purpose of your site). Remember too that mobile UX is crucial to focus on.