NEW YORK―A steady increase in U.S. snack sales is being driven by several simultaneous occurrences: reduced restaurant dining, harried lifestyles that reduce opportunities for sit-down meals, and a growing penchant for “grazing” vs. three-meals-a-day lifestyles, says market research firm Packaged Facts in a new report, “Sweet and Salty/Savory Snacks in the U.S.: Lifestyle Marketing and New Product Development in the New Economy, 3rd Edition.”
In the midst of global recession, consumers are snacking more than ever, says the report. The U.S. retail sales of packaged snacks, estimated by the company at $68 billion in 2008, is projected to increase approximately 20% in 5 years, to reach nearly $82 billion by 2013.
Other economic factors shaping sales include increasing job-loss fears, health insurance woes, and environmental and social justice anxieties that push consumers to a “value” mentality that appreciates products that represent quality and “whole” ingredients, “better for you” recipes, and green production practices. Low prices are still popular, according to the market research, but snacks with fewer additives or preservatives, and even more-expensive organic and premium snacks used as treats should grab market share.
