Table of Contents
Overview
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- What you need to know
- Definition
Executive Summary
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- The issues
- RTE, portable, and health-forward snacks gain increased consumption
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- Figure 1: Frequency of snack consumption, March 2018
- The snack preferences of young women are not as clear-cut
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- Figure 2: Frequency of frozen snack consumption, by age and gender, March 2018
- The opportunities
- Private label product innovation is paying off
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- Figure 3: Product launches, by brands and private label, 2015-17
- Households with children are a core purchase demographic
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- Figure 4: Household frozen snack consumption, March 2018
- Women can visualize the meal potential in frozen snacks
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- Figure 5: Frozen snack habits, “feel they can be a light meal,” by single and married men and women, March 2018
- What it means
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- Frozen snack sales estimated to grow, but at a slow pace
- Supermarkets are facing competition from other retailers
- Restaurants cater to a “snack break” mentality
Market Size and Forecast
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- Frozen snack sales recover from a bumpy few years
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- Figure 6: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of frozen snacks, at current prices, 2012-22
- Figure 7: Total US sales and forecast of frozen snacks, at current prices, 2012-22
Market Breakdown
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- Frozen appetizers lead in sales despite a smaller market share
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- Figure 8: Total US retail sales of frozen snacks, by segment, at current prices, 2015 and 2017
- Grocery stores face stronger competition from other channels
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- Figure 9: Total US retail sales of frozen snacks, by channel, at current prices, 2012-17
Market Perspective
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- Consumers lean into snacks with health benefits, specifically protein
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- Figure 10: Frequency of snack consumption, March 2018
- Restaurants have a unique snacking advantage
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- Figure 11: Made-to-order snack purchases in foodservice, March 2017
Market Factors
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- Blogs influence snack expectations
- Young men and women have different views toward healthy snacking
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- Figure 12: Snack behavior – Health, by gender and age, March 2017
Key Players – What You Need to Know
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- Cheese please . . .
- Familiarity is essential for frozen snacks
- Restaurants set a tone for international interest
Company and Brand Sales of Frozen Snacks
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- Companies display signs of growth with private label leading the way
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- Figure 13: Multi-outlet sales of frozen snacks, by leading companies, rolling 52 weeks 2017 and 2018
What’s Working?
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- Comfort style food maintains interest
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- Figure 14: Product launches for frozen mozzarella sticks and mac and cheese bites, 2015-17
- Private labels aim to stand out
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- Figure 15: Product launches, by brands and private label, 2015-17
- Pretzel mania stays strong
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- Figure 16: Frozen pretzel products launched, 2015-17
What’s Struggling?
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- A premium message requires familiarity
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- Figure 17: Purchase intent, frozen snacks versus Lundberg Family Farms Arancini
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- Figure 18: Purchase intent, hors d’oeuvres/canapes versus mini beef franks
What’s Next?
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- Restaurant menus set the tone for international influence
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- Figure 19: International cuisine consumption, at home versus away from home, February 2018
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- Figure 20: Growth of international cuisines on menus, Q4 2015-Q4 2017
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
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- Consumers are snacking more, but it’s a competitive landscape
- Frozen snacks cater to more than one person in a home
- Regional cuisine interest could drive flavor innovation
Snack Consumption
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- Frozen snacks maintain core audience in a scattered snack category
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- Figure 21: Snack and frozen snack consumption in the past year, March 2018
- Tradition remains strong for frozen snack brands
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- Figure 22: Frozen snack consumption in the past year, March 2018
- Salty snacks and chips focus on flavor innovation from restaurants
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- Figure 23: Snack consumption in the past year, March 2018
- Women aged 35+ place less reliance on frozen snacks
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- Figure 24: Frozen snack consumption in the past year, by males and age, March 2018
- Parents remain loyal to frozen snacks
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- Figure 25: Snack and frozen snack consumption in the past year, by parents and nonparents, March 2018
Snack Consumption Frequency
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- A quarter of consumers are eating more frozen snacks
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- Figure 26: Frequency of snack consumption, March 2018
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- Figure 27: Frequency of frozen snack consumption, March 2018
- iGens and Millennials
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- Figure 28: Frequency of snack consumption, by generations, March 2018
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- Figure 29: Frequency of snack consumption, any frozen snacks, by generations, March 2018
- Young women’s frozen snack consumption not as stable as young men
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- Figure 30: Frequency of frozen snack consumption, by age and gender, March 2018
Household Frozen Snack Consumption
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- Kids love frozen snacks
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- Figure 31: Household frozen snack consumption, March 2018
- Frozen snacks are a household snack
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- Figure 32: Household frozen snack consumption, by married and single men and women, March 2018
- Frozen snacks cater to the social scene
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- Figure 33: Household frozen snack consumption among “My friends,” by generation and location, March 2018
Snacks by occasion – Correspondence analysis
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- Methodology
- Frozen snacks stand apart as a meal replacement option
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- Figure 34: Snack associations, March 2018
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- Figure 35: Snack associations, March 2018
- Age plays more of a role than gender for snack associations
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- Figure 36: Frozen snack associations, by gender and age, March 2018
Frozen Snack Purchase Motivators
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- Premium and protein drive greater purchasing, up to a point
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- Figure 37: Frozen snack purchase motivators, March 2018
- Parents are motivated by appetizer appeal within frozen snacks
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- Figure 38: Frozen snack purchase motivators, by parents and nonparents, March 2018
- Millennials are separated by different lifestages, but still share common ground
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- Figure 39: Frozen snack purchase motivators, by young, old, and non-Millennials, March 2018
- Hispanics value shareable offerings
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- Figure 40: Frozen snack purchase motivators, by Hispanic origin, March 2018
Frozen Snack Habits
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- What’s for dinner? How about snacks?
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- Figure 41: Frozen snack habits, March 2018
- Women see the snack meal potential more so than men
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- Figure 42: Frozen snack habits, by gender, March 2018
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- Figure 43: Frozen snack habits, by single and married men and women, March 2018
- Empty nest equals less-complicated meals for Baby Boomers
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- Figure 44: Frozen snack habits, by generations, March 2018
Frozen Snack Flavor Innovation
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- Consumers crave what already works
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- Figure 45: Frozen snack flavor innovation interest, March 2018
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- Figure 46: Frozen snack flavor innovation interest, by generations, March 2018
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- Figure 47: Frozen snack flavor innovation interest, by race and Hispanic origin, March 2018
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
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- Data sources
- Sales data
- Fan chart forecast
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
Appendix – The Market
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- Figure 48: Total US retail sales and forecast of frozen snacks, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2012-22
- Figure 49: US supermarket sales of frozen snacks, at current prices, 2012-17
- Figure 50: US sales of frozen snacks through other retail channels at current prices, 2012-17
- Figure 51: Total US retail sales and forecast of frozen appetizers/snack rolls/pretzels, at current prices, 2012-17
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- Figure 52: Total US retail sales and forecast of frozen appetizers/snack rolls/pretzels, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2012 -17
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Appendix – Key Players
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- Figure 53: Multi-outlet sales of frozen appetizers/snack rolls/pretzels, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2017 and 2018
- Figure 54: Multi-outlet sales of frozen handheld entrees, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2017 and 2018
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