Select findings include:
- More than two out of five consumers (42 percent) say they usually skip one meal a day or replace a meal a day with snacks.
- Roughly three-quarters (74 percent) of snacking takes place at home. However, consumers aged 18-24 are more likely to snack outside the home than other groups (32 percent versus 26 percent).
- Consumers purchase the majority of their snacks from retail locations as opposed to restaurants (83 and 17 percent, respectively).
- About one in five consumers (19 percent) have broadened their definition of snacks to include more types of food.
“Growing snack consumption and the consumer’s broadening perception of what constitutes a snack are changing how operators and manufacturers should position this category,” says Darren Tristano, EVP at Technomic. “The greatest opportunities likely exist for packaged snacks and prepared offerings at retail locations and limited-service restaurants, although many full-service concepts seem to have room to market snacks as well.”
Some trends and venues examined in this report include:
- Bar snacks and happy-hour menus: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse’s 5 for $6 ‘Til 7 Bar Menu
- Ethnic-inspired upscale food trucks: Mmmpanadas, Kogi’s
- Healthy and fresh: Jamba Juice’s 3g Energizer, McDonald’s Parfait
- Bundling snacks into combo meals: Long John Silver’s Popcorn Shrimp Snack
- Afternoon menus: Einstein Bros.’ Snack Out Menu
- Beverages as snacks: Caribou Coffee’s chocolate-based specialty drinks.
