Table of Contents
Overview
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- What you need to know
- Definition
Executive Summary
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- The issues
- 94% of US adults snack daily; 15% snack 4 or more times per day
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- Figure 1: Snacking frequency, March 2017
- A quarter of super snackers claim to be too busy to eat a full meal
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- Figure 2: Snack attitudes – Busy, by snack motivation, March 2017
- View of what constitutes a snack is expanding
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- Figure 3: Snack attitudes – Identifying snacks, March 2017
- The opportunities
- The largest percentage of snackers do so for a treat
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- Figure 4: Snacking motivations, March 2017
- Afternoon is the most popular snack occasion
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- Figure 5: Snacking occasions, March 2017
- Brand plays top role in snack purchase decision, followed by price, health
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- Figure 6: Snack purchase drivers, March 2017
- What it means
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- A quarter of young snackers claim to be always hungry
- 17% of young snackers claim to be too busy to eat a full meal
- Consumer view of what constitutes a snack is expanding
- 12% of snackers purchase snacks at foodservice
Market Perspective
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- 12% of snackers purchase snacks at foodservice
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- Figure 7: Food sales at home and away from home, January 2003-December 2016
- Snack delivery services aren’t yet taking hold
Market Factors
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- A quarter of young snackers claim to be always hungry
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- Figure 8: Snack attitudes – Hunger, by age, March 2017
- A quarter of super snackers claim to be too busy to eat a full meal
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- Figure 9: “Snackfesto / Lorissa’s Kitchen” TV ad, April 2017
- Figure 10: Snack attitudes – Busy, by snack frequency, March 2017
- Young snackers are most likely to claim they’re too busy for a full meal
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- Figure 11: Snack attitudes – Busy, by age, March 2017
- A high percentage of consumers skip breakfast
- Obesity epidemic keeps health top of mind; 66% of Americans are dieting
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- Figure 12: Snack attitudes – Health, by snack motivations, March 2017
- Consumer view of what constitutes a snack is expanding
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- Figure 13: Snack attitudes – Identifying snacks, March 2017
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- Figure 14: Snack behavior – Concept, March 2017
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- Figure 15: Snack attributes by occasion – Any occasion, by snack frequency, March 2017
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- Figure 16: Snack behavior – Concept, by age, March 2017
Key Players – What You Need to Know
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- Healthy eating and a bit of indulgence drive retail food sales
- Snacks appear to be delivering on convenience
- A third of snackers are limiting their intake of sweet snacks
- Permissible indulgence through “real” food
What’s Working?
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- Healthy eating and a bit of indulgence drive retail food sales
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- Figure 17: “Snack” launches, by fastest growing claims, 2013-17*
- Snacks appear to be delivering on convenience
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- Figure 18: Snack attitudes – Convenience, March 2017
- Older consumers appreciate convenience
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- Figure 19: Snack attitudes – Convenience, by age, March 2017
What’s Struggling?
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- A third of snackers are limiting their intake of sweet snacks
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- Figure 20: Snack behavior – Sweet, March 2017
What’s Next?
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- Anything can be a snack
- …including drinks
- Permissible indulgence through “real” food
- Portable health
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
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- 94% of US adults snack daily; 15% snack 4 or more times per day
- The largest percentage of snackers do so for a treat
- Brand plays top role in snack purchase, followed by price, health
- Afternoon is the most popular snack occasion
- A third of snackers say the majority of snacks they consume are healthy
Snacking Frequency
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- 94% of US adults snack daily; 15% snack 4 or more times per day
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- Figure 21: Snacking frequency, March 2017
- 16% of snackers have increased snacking in the past year
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- Figure 22: Snack behavior – Increase, March 2017
- Super snackers are more likely to be male, and consumers under age 45
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- Figure 23: Share of snacking frequency, by gender, March 2017
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- Figure 24: Share of snacking frequency, by age, March 2017
- Young adult snackers are most likely to have increased snacking
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- Figure 25: Snack behavior – Increase, by age, March 2017
Snack Motivations
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- The highest percentage of snackers do so for a treat
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- Figure 26: Snacking motivations, March 2017
- Mintel Purchase Intelligence finds that indulgence still leads
- Older snackers are most likely to be looking for reward, younger snackers function
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- Figure 27: Snacking motivations, by age, March 2017
- Convenience stores lead for treats, natural food stores for health
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- Figure 28: Snacking motivations, by purchase location – Any purchase, March 2017
Snack Purchase Location
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- More than a third of snackers most often buy snacks at supermarkets
- Opportunity exists to increase the purchase of snacks online
- Amazon ups its snack focus
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- Figure 29: “Introducing Prime Surprise Sweets” online video, April 2017
- Figure 30: Snack purchase location, March 2017
- Close to half of 18-24s purchase snacks at convenience stores; nearly a third use vending machines
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- Figure 31: Snack purchase location – Any purchase, by age, March 2017
Snack Purchase Drivers
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- Brand plays top role in snack purchase, followed by price, health
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- Figure 32: Snack purchase drivers, March 2017
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- Figure 33: TURF Analysis – Snack purchase drivers, March 2017
- Figure 34: Table – TURF Analysis – Snack purchase drivers, March 2017
- Men pay closer attention to brand; women look for deals
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- Figure 35: Snack purchase drivers, by gender, March 2017
- Low price, new flavors drive purchase for younger snackers
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- Figure 36: Snack purchase drivers, by age, March 2017
- New flavors are important to super snackers
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- Figure 37: Snack purchase drivers, by snack frequency, March 2017
Snacking Occasions
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- Afternoon is the most popular snack occasion
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- Figure 38: Snacking occasions, March 2017
- Men are more likely to snack at less common occasions
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- Figure 39: Snacking occasions, by gender, March 2017
- Young snackers start to snack early in the day
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- Figure 40: Snacking occasions, by age, March 2017
Snack Attributes by Occasion
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- Snackers want to start the day with energy and health; look for indulgence in the evening
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- Figure 41: Correspondence Analysis – Snack attributes by occasion, March 2017
- Figure 42: Snack attributes by occasion, March 2017
- Young adults want snacks that are filling
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- Figure 43: Snack attributes by occasion – Any occasion, by age, March 2017
- Emotional cues may resonate with Hispanics
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- Figure 44: Snack attributes by occasion – Any occasion, by Hispanic origin, March 2017
- Healthy eaters look for healthy snacks; exercisers look for energy
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- Figure 45: Snack attributes by occasion – Any occasion, by snack motivation, March 2017
Snack Behaviors
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- The majority of snacks are planned
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- Figure 46: Snack behavior – Planning, March 2017
- Young adult snackers are driven by impulse
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- Figure 47: Snack behavior – Planning, by age, March 2017
Snack Health
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- A third of snackers say the majority of snacks they consume are healthy
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- Figure 48: Snack behavior – Health, March 2017
- Women are more likely than men to claim to be healthy snackers
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- Figure 49: Snack behavior – Health, by gender, March 2017
- Young adult snackers are not prioritizing health
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- Figure 50: Snack behavior – Health, by age, March 2017
- Snacks seem to be delivering on health
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- Figure 51: Snack attitudes – Health, March 2017
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- Figure 52: Snack attitudes – Satisfying, March 2017
- Close to a third of men say taste is more important than health
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- Figure 53: Snack attitudes – Health, by gender, March 2017
- Expanding healthy snacks can appeal to young adults
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- Figure 54: Snack attitudes – Health, by age, March 2017
- On-the-go snackers call for healthier options
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- Figure 55: Snack attitudes – Health, by age, March 2017
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
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- Data sources
- Consumer survey data
- Consumer qualitative research
- TURF methodology
- Correspondence analysis methodology
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
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