How Chicory Helps Brands Win During In-Between Meal Moments
Morning coffee. Afternoon snacks. Late-night cravings. These moments may fall outside traditional mealtimes, but they’re still rich with opportunity. In fact, they’re some of the most habitually driven parts of a consumer’s day.
That’s exactly why in-between meal moments present the perfect opportunity to leverage contextual commerce media—and why Chicory is uniquely positioned to help brands show up in the moments that matter.
Why It Works: Contextual Commerce Media for Everyday Cravings
In-between meals don’t fall in traditional meal moments like weekday meal planning or one-pot dinners. That doesn’t mean they’re not perfect for in-recipe placements, though. Chicory’s ad formats help brands appear during these moments, bridging the gap between intent and action.
Here’s why that’s so effective:
Built-in Purchase Intent - 63% of shoppers make buying decisions before reaching the store. From coffee recipe searches to snackable ideas, these moments tap directly into consumer planning behavior.
Continuous Engagement Throughout the Day - With 91% of shoppers using online recipes to guide meals and snacks alike, brands can activate across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between.
High Brand Recall in Contextual Environments - 78% of consumers say in-recipe ads increase brand recall and consideration. For snack, beverage, or even household brands, this translates to staying top-of-mind without interrupting the consumer experience.
Use Cases for In-Between Meal Moments
In-between meal moments are driven by habit and convenience, making them ideal for contextual activation. Take morning coffee, for example. Although it’s not always tied directly to a recipe, it’s an undeniable kitchen ritual. Whether someone is browsing cold brew how-tos or cozy breakfast pairings, these are prime opportunities for coffee beans, flavored creamers, or even brewing appliances to enter the frame.
In the afternoon, snack time takes center stage. From back-to-school lunch prep to mid-meeting cravings, consumers turn to recipes for low-lift bites—protein-packed, no-bake, or five-minute ideas. It’s the perfect environment for pantry brands, grab-and-go snacks, and ready-to-eat products to show up as practical solutions.
By evening, late-night treats offer another opportunity to reach engaged consumers. Whether they’re browsing for an easy dessert or seeking something sweet to unwind, these moments reflect real browsing behavior tied to relaxation and convenience. Brands offering better-for-you treats, frozen desserts, or even beverage pairings can naturally align with this behavior.
What unites all of these examples is that they don’t feel forced. They’re timely, relevant, and aligned with how people actually live and eat throughout the day.
What Brands Can Achieve
By targeting in-between meal moments, brands can:
Reach Consumers Before the Cart - These are the earliest signals of intent and the perfect time to influence decisions.
Stay Top-of-Mind in a Natural Way - Contextual placements feel timely, useful, and relevant, far from the disruption of traditional ads.
Capture Habitual Behaviors - These moments repeat every day. That means brands have recurring opportunities to insert themselves into daily routines with snackable inspiration, wellness goals, or caffeine boosts.
In-between meal moments aren’t defined primarily by ingredients per se, but more so by behavior. Whether someone is easing into their morning routine, reaching for a mid-day pick-me-up, or winding down with a snack, these are meaningful windows for brands to show up with relevance. Chicory helps brands reach shoppers in those exact moments that matter.
Conclusion
By tapping into in-between meal moments, brands can activate high-intent environments that align with real behaviors, driving discovery, shaping preference, and converting inspiration into action. Whether you’re a coffee brand or looking to push protein bars, Chicory can help you show up where it counts.
Want to learn more about how Chicory helps brands win across the full day? Get in touch here.
