CHICAGO — Growth in the snack category isn’t news anymore. It’s been happening for the past several years; the pandemic just hit the accelerator … hard. Today, the overall snack category is still growing, according to a trend report from SNAC International, presented by David Walsh, the association’s VP of membership and communications, at Pack Expo International, held Oct. 23-26 in Chicago.
At the heart of growth are consumers, who have set the stage for the category with eating habits that have evolved into the all-day snacking trend.
“We’ve seen how consumers are snacking everywhere and at all times of the day,” Walsh said. “Pre-pandemic, it was all about on-the-go, portability and convenience. Now, with working from home — even schooling from home — snacking from home has become really important, and it’s exploded the category.”
As society moved toward a more post-pandemic way of life, hybrid schedules are maintaining that momentum. While the average consumer snacks 2.7 times per day, the number of people who are snacking five or more times in a day has increased.
With more people focused on health and wellness, the shift toward several smaller meals throughout the day has gained power, especially among millennials and Gen Z. Walsh noted that, according to SNAC’s research, 92% of these consumers are replacing at least one meal per week with just a snack. He also noted that the 18- to 34-year-old age range is driving the snacking frequency trend.
“People are relying a lot more on the snack category,” Walsh said. “This, combined with pre-COVID on-the-go lifestyles, has led to a lot of new innovation.”
Whether it’s functional foods that boost brain power, digestion and heart health, or allergen-friendly alternative ingredients, consumers are combining adventurous eating with healthy habits. That has created a huge landscape of innovation in the snack space where consumers now have exciting options when it comes to making healthy food choices.
“Functional snacks are more important than ever,” Walsh said. “Things like high fiber, protein, calcium-fortified, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants — just to name a few — are finding a home through innovation in the snack category.”
Some popular snack ingredients include cassava for healthy digestion, ashwagandha for immunity and brain health. With these new functional ingredients, consumers are more apt to pay more for snacks they perceive as healthier, according to SNAC International.