According to "Snack Food Trends in the U.S.: Sweet, Salty, Healthy and Kids Snacks," a new report from Packaged Facts, New York, increasing sales of healthier snacks like yogurt and fresh fruit have been offsetting losses in more-indulgent snacks like candy and cookies.
According to Packaged Facts, the snack-food market was valued at $61.4 billion in 2005. However, cookies and bakery-snack sales decreased by $334 million from 2001-2005, and the crackers and popcorn and/or rice cakes segments each experienced losses of $45 million. On the plus side, yogurt snacks saw gains of $721 million over the same period.
The report discusses the snack market in the context of trends related to the recent national attention paid to children's health, as well as advances in portion control, high-fiber and whole-grain products, natural and organic products, cutting unhealthy trans and other fats, and reducing sugar levels. It also notes that product portability and convenience remain a top priority as more Americans on the run. Since children snack more than adults, the report discusses that snack manufacturers need to keep up with youth trends in snacking while still attracting consumers of all ages.
"In the last five years, snacking overall has increased by 1.5% as the trend for meals being replaced by snacks continues to grow," noted Don Montuori, publisher, Packaged Facts, in a recent press release. "Consumers are serious about these 'meals' being healthy. Simultaneously, manufacturers are serious about meeting consumer, watchdog and governmental demands to make snacks more nutritious--particularly those aimed at kids. These factors are driving a fundamental industry shift which should expand it while making snacking healthier."
The report details sales and consumer trends across six sweet-snack categories: candy, cookies and bakery, yogurt, food bars, fruit, and gelatin and/or pudding cups. It also discusses five salty-snack categories: salty snacks, crackers, nut snacks, popcorn and rice and/or popcorn cakes, and dried meat snacks. It also includes a section devoted to "Trends in Kids and Teens Snacks."
The report pulls data from Information Resources, Inc., Chicago, and Simmons Market Research Bureau, New York, as well as consumer surveys for adults, kids and teens. To view a summary of the report, see http://www.packagedfacts.com/pub/1119533.html.
