Table of Contents
Scope and Themes
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- What you need to know
- Definition
- Data sources
- Mintel Menu Insights
- Consumer survey data
- Advertising creative
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
Executive Summary
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- The market
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- Figure 1: U.S. foodservice snack sales and fan chart forecast of market, at current prices, 2006-16
- Market factors
- Calorie disclosure legislation
- Obesity and diabetes
- Population
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- Figure 2: Population, by age, 2010
- Menu strategies
- Snack strategies
- Value pricing
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- Figure 3: Top 10 menu items priced between $1-1.99, Q1 2009-Q1 2012
- The consumer
- Usage and frequency
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- Figure 4: Restaurant snack usage and frequency, March 2012
- Snack times
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- Figure 5: Snacking dayparts, March 2012
- Consumer attitudes
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- Figure 6: Snacking drivers for food items, by usage, March 2012
- What we think
Issues in the Market
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- What are the primary drivers behind snacking?
- Who is snacking when, where, and how often?
- Which items are restaurants offering that match consumer price points?
- Are Baby Boomers ready for foodservice snacking?
Insights and Opportunities
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- Repositioning items
- Rewards methods
- Facebook offers
- Facebook credits
- Gaming
- Mobile coupons
- Inverted deals
- Customer service optimization
- Online ordering
- Seating and payment
Inspire Insights
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- Trend: Transumers
- Trend: Life—An Informal Affair
Market Size and Forecast
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- Key points
- Market size insight
- Foodservice snacking sales and forecast of market
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- Figure 7: Total U.S. foodservice snack sales and forecast of market, at current prices, 2006-16
- Figure 8: Total U.S. foodservice snack sales and forecast of market, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2006-16
- Fan chart forecast
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- Figure 9: U.S. foodservice snack sales and fan chart forecast of market, at current prices, 2006-16
Market Drivers
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- Key points
- Restaurants looking forward to a strong sales year
- Rising commodity prices
- Government-mandated calorie disclosure
- High obesity and diabetes rates support snacking
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- Figure 10: Rate of adult obesity, by age, 2010
- Younger consumers lead the snacking initiative
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- Figure 11: Population, by age, 2010
- Disposable personal income expands
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- Figure 12: Real disposable personal income, January 2007-April 2012
- Consumers cautiously optimistic
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- Figure 13: Consumer sentiment, March 2007-May 2012
- Unemployment inched up
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- Figure 14: Unemployment and underemployment rates, January 2007-May 2012
Competitive Context
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- Food trucks secure snack sales
- Food trucks
- Kiosks
- Convenience stores
- Prepackaged snacks
- Grocery stores
- Retail menu items
- Co-branding snacks
Menu Analysis—Snack Strategies
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- Key points
- Quick Service Restaurants
- Fast Casual Restaurants & Coffeehouses
- Casual Dining Restaurants
Menu Insights Analysis—Value Pricing
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- Key points
- Economy menu level (<$0.99)
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- Figure 15: Top 10 menu items priced less than $0.99, Q1 2009-Q1 2012
- Dollar menu level ($1-1.99)
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- Figure 16: Top 10 menu items priced between $1-1.99, Q1 2009-Q1 2012
- Value menu level ($2-3.99)
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- Figure 17: Top 10 menu items priced between $2-3.99, Q1 2009-Q1 2012
- Extra value menu level ($4-5.99)
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- Figure 18: Top 10 menu items priced between $4-5.99, Q1 2009-Q1 2012
Marketing Strategies
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- Overview of the brand landscape
- Television advertisements
- Arby’s
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- Figure 19: Arby’s television ad, 2012
- Sonic
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- Figure 20: Sonic television ad, 2011
- Church’s Chicken
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- Figure 21: Church’s Chicken television ad, 2012
- Wendy’s
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- Figure 22: Wendy’s television ad, 2012
- McDonald’s
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- Figure 23: McDonald’s television ad, 2012
- Bojangles
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- Figure 24: Bojangles television ad, 2012
- Mobile advertising
- Burger King
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- Figure 25: Burger King BK Alerts, April 2012
- Dunkin’ Donuts
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- Figure 26: Dunkin’ Donuts Sims campaign, August 2011
- Sonic
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- Figure 27: Sonic YouTube video, Feburary 2012
- McDonald’s
- Billboard advertising
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- Figure 28: McDonald’s beverage billboard, June 2011
- Menu boards
Restaurant Usage and Snack Frequency
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- Key points
- Quick service restaurants lead snacking usage and frequency
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- Figure 29: Restaurant snack usage and frequency, March 2012
- Men use restaurants for snacks more than women
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- Figure 30: Restaurant snack usage, by gender, March 2012
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- Figure 31: Restaurant snack frequency, by gender, March 2012
- Choosing restaurants for snacks decreases with age
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- Figure 32: Restaurant snack usage, by age, March 2012
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- Figure 33: Restaurant snack frequency, by age, March 2012
- Coffeehouse snacking increases with household income
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- Figure 34: Restaurant snack usage, by household income, March 2012
- Figure 35: Restaurant snack frequency, by household income, March 2012
Snack Times Defined
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- Key points
- Snacking at restaurants typically occurs midday
- Women tend to snack earlier in the day while men snack later
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- Figure 36: Snacking dayparts, by gender, March 2012
- Young consumers over index for late day snacking
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- Figure 37: Snacking dayparts, by age, March 2012
Snacking Ordering Behavior
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- Key points
- Consumers usually order a combination of food and drink as a snack
- Men are more consistent than women in snack choices
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- Figure 38: Snacking ordering behavior, by gender, March 2012
- Younger consumers are more likely to order food snacks without a drink
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- Figure 39: Snacking ordering behavior, by age, March 2012
- Affluent consumers purchase beverage-only snacks more than others
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- Figure 40: Snacking ordering behavior, by gender, March 2012
Snacking Spend
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- Key points
- Consumers comfortable spending more on combos than single items
- Men are willing to spend more on snack combos
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- Figure 41: Consumer spending on restaurant snacks, by gender, March 2012
- Younger consumers typically spend more for their snacks
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- Figure 42: Consumer spending on restaurant snacks, by age, March 2012
- Affluent consumers stick to the dollar menu
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- Figure 43: Consumer spending on restaurant snacks, by household income, March 2012
Snacks Ordered at Restaurants
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- Key points
- Dollar/value menu and appetizer menu are used most often for snacks
- Women prefer dollar/value menu over men
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- Figure 44: Snackable menu sections, by gender, March 2012
- Dessert snacking popular for young consumers; drops off at age 45
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- Figure 45: Snackable menu sections, by age, March 2012
- The affluent are less menu section specific when choosing snacks
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- Figure 46: Snackable menu sections, by household income, March 2012
- Portable items are in great demand for snack time
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- Figure 47: Chicken McBites, January 24, 2012
- Men care more about packaging while women crave sweets
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- Figure 48: Food snacks ordered at restaurants, by gender, March 2012
- Soup and salad for seniors
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- Figure 49: Food snacks ordered at restaurants, by age, March 2012
- “Sides & Snacks” menu sections
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- Figure 50: Food snacks ordered at restaurants, by household income, March 2012
- Low-priced drinks are popular; regular soda edges out diet
- Men prefer regular soda and tea while women like diet soda and smoothies
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- Figure 51: Beverage snacks ordered at restaurants, by gender, March 2012
- Older consumers prefer plain coffee
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- Figure 52: Beverage snacks ordered at restaurants, by age, March 2012
- Regular soda may be a sign of financial constraints
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- Figure 53: Beverage snacks ordered at restaurants, by household income, March 2012
Snacking Behavior Changes
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- Key points
- Consumers are seeking value and better health
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- Figure 54: Changes in snacking behavior, March 2012
- Men and women increase coupon use
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- Figure 55: Changes in snacking behavior, by gender, March 2012
- Younger consumers are interested in limited time offers
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- Figure 56: Changes in snacking behavior, by age, March 2012
- Consumers with incomes <$75K are using the value menu more
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- Figure 57: Changes in snacking behavior, by household income, March 2012
Snacking Drivers
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- Key points
- Consumers look for taste, value, and convenience in food snacks
- Women apply more specific criteria to their snack decisions
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- Figure 58: Snacking drivers for food items, by gender, March 2012
- Young consumers want a variety of cravable options
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- Figure 59: Snacking drivers for food items, by gender, March 2012
- The affluent desire BFY, calorie-controlled snacks
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- Figure 60: Snacking drivers for food items, by household income, March 2012
- Women count calories when choosing a beverage snack
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- Figure 61: Snacking drivers for beverage items, by gender, March 2012
- Young consumers have strong beverage snack preferences
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- Figure 62: Snacking drivers for beverage items, by age, March 2012
- Beverage taste is more important to affluent consumers
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- Figure 63: Snacking drivers for beverage items, by household income, March 2012
Attitudes toward Snacking at Restaurants
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- Key points
- Snackers are driven by hunger, treats, and their on-the-go lifestyles
- Men snack for energy while women snack from boredom
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- Figure 64: Attitudes toward snacking at restaurants, by gender, March 2012
- Rich snackers, poor snackers
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- Figure 65: Attitudes toward snacking at restaurants, by household income, March 2012
Light, Medium, Heavy, and Super Heavy Snackers
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- The propensity to order healthy items increases with usage
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- Figure 66: Food snacks ordered at restaurants, by usage, March 2012
- Super heavy users order water more often than any other group
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- Figure 67: Beverage snacks ordered at restaurants, by usage, March 2012
- Super heavy users are comfortable spending $5-6.99 on combo snacks
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- Figure 68: Consumer spending on restaurant snacks, by usage, March 2012
- Super heavy users find combo meals important in their snack decision
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- Figure 69: Snacking drivers for food items, by usage, March 2012
- Super heavy users have strong snacking attitudes
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- Figure 70: Attitudes toward snacking at restaurants, by usage, March 2012
Appendix—Trade Associations
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