There are four reasons why people are snacking.
It’s known as the munching “universe” for a reason. The reach is extensive when it comes to macro trends and core eating, according to Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice-president of Information Resources, Inc. (I.R.I. ), who delivered the keynote talk at SNAXPO18, which was held in Atlanta on March 12–14.
She claimed that “the universe of macro snacks is vast and spans many categories beyond what we consider to be core snacking.”Ms. Lyons Wyatt cautioned snack manufacturers that there is no “magic bullet” that will satisfy customer demands because people are continuously changing where, when, and how they nibble.
Four fundamental consumer demands were identified by Ms. Lyons Wyatt as being met by snacking: treating, indulgence, wellness and health, and indulgence that is acceptable. While the wellness market offers naturally healthy products, like those with particular nutritional advantages, it is also acceptable to indulge in decadent snacks that have been given an additional health benefit or have had an unhealthy component taken out, like cookies with extra fiber or an otherwise decadent snack with less sodium. Chocolate, candies, and gums are examples of treats. Indulgent snacks are those heavy favorites.”We noticed that wellness lagged a little bit as we looked at those areas and their sales, and that permissible indulgence, indulgence, and treating grew,” she said.This decline can be attributed, in part, to decreased yogurt sales in terms of both dollars and units.
Snacking is on the rise when compared to the previous year, when very few of the top 10 categories showed growth. This year, sales of dollars and units increased in six out of the ten top categories, which included tortilla and potato chips.
According to Ms. Lyons Wyatt, lifestyle continues to be the primary factor influencing the kinds of snacks that customers select. However, as Americans strive to become experts at multitasking and purposeful snacking, lifestyles become more complex.For instance, I.R.I. included additional milk-based foods and drinks in their study, including ice cream. Additionally, despite a 40% drop in sales for the majority of this sector, items making claims like being organic and high-protein are gaining ground.
Cookies that made claims like “extra energy” had a 17% rise in sales.According to Ms. Lyons Wyatt, a closer examination of the core snacking sector showed that many goods provide more than simply the food itself.She said, “They’re offering things like transparency, protein, and satiety.” “They even provide side dishes for other kinds of food.”
However, there is increase being observed in other items, such as granola bars, that cater to particular demands, such as indulgence or satiety.”To cater to the various consumer types in the United States, it does require a great deal of insight into your business and the products you have to offer,” Ms. Lyons Wyatt stated. “There isn’t a miracle cure.”
She pointed out that while Americans are moving toward real sugar and full fat in some categories, they are not running away from no-fat or low-fat options in others. “You’re catering to a very diverse marketplace,” she added, cautioning snack manufacturers not to give up on any particular eating category or style of preference, like baked chips. There is a market for everyone; the secret is to figure out which particular routines and ways of living will work best for you.