Table of Contents
Overview
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- What you need to know
- Definition
Executive Summary
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- Overview
- The issues
- MTO remains a low proportion of consumers’ overall snacks
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- Figure 1: Total snacking frequency, January 2015 and November 2018
- Consumers visiting retailers more often for MTO snacks
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- Figure 2: Foodservice snacking purchase location in last three months, March 2017 and November 2018
- The opportunities
- MTO snack purchasing is up
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- Figure 3: MTO snack consumption over the past three months, March 2017 and November 2018
- iGens love MTO snacks
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- Figure 4: Foodservice snacking purchase location in last three months, by generation, November 2018
- Filling and healthy MTO snacks appeal to consumers
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- Figure 5: Desired snacking attributes by daypart – Net: Any occasion, November 2018
- What it means
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- Snacking frequency continues to rise
- Consumers have more options for MTO snacks than ever before
- Generational shares are shifting
Market Perspective
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- Convenience stores focus on freshness
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- Figure 6: Total US sales and fan chart of c-store foodservice sales, at current prices, 2012-22
- Supermarkets invest in foodservice snack options
Market Factors
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- Americans are snacking more often
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- Figure 7: Total snacking frequency, January 2015 and November 2018
- iGens become increasingly important snackers for operators
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- Figure 8: Population, by generation, 2013-23
Key Players – What You Need to Know
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- QSRs and casual dining restaurants roll out snack menus
- Snack shops adapt to the decline of the mall food court
- Fast casuals launch happy hour menus
What’s Working?
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- QSR chains add snack options to menus
- Casual dining restaurant menus innovate with small plates
What’s Struggling?
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- Mall closings put snack shops at risk
What’s Next?
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- Fast casuals become happy hour destinations
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
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- MTO snacking is increasing, but remains a low proportion of consumers’ overall snack consumption
- Consumers visit a variety of locations for MTO snacks
- Parents are important MTO snack customers
- Healthy means different things across generations of snackers
Foodservice Snacking Purchase Locations
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- Fast food restaurants remain most visited for snacking occasions
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- Figure 9: Foodservice snacking purchase location in last three months, March 2017 and November 2018
- iGens love MTO snacks
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- Figure 10: Foodservice snacking purchase location in last three months, by generation – Nets, November 2018
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- Figure 11: LSR foodservice snacking purchase location in last three months, by generation, November 2018
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- Figure 12: Retail foodservice snacking purchase location in last three months, by generation, November 2018
- Parents are top foodservice snackers
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- Figure 13: Foodservice snacking purchase location in last three months, by parental status, November 2018
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- Figure 14: Famous Dave's of America’s email “Sunday Funday with All Day Happy Hour!”
- Figure 15: LSR foodservice snacking purchase location in last three months, by parental status, November 2018
Foodservice Snacking Frequency
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- MTO remains a low proportion of consumers’ overall snacks
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- Figure 16: Foodservice snacking frequency, November 2018
- Dads are frequent purchasers of MTO snacks
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- Figure 17: Foodservice snacking frequency, by parental status, November 2018
Snacking Attributes by Occasion
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- Foodservice snackers are doing so more often throughout the day
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- Figure 18: Snacking occasions – Net: Any snacking and foodservice snacking, November 2018
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- Figure 19: Desired snacking attributes by daypart – Net: Any occasion, November 2018
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- Figure 20: Restaurant behaviors, by generation, October 2018
- Foodservice snackers seek different attributes throughout the day
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- Figure 21: Correspondence analysis – Snack attributes by occasion, November 2018
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- Figure 22: Snack attributes, by occasion, November 2018
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- Figure 23: Starbucks August 2018 Happy Hour promotion
- Figure 24: Domino's: Your Late Night Snack Buddy
Foodservice Snack Motivators
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- Foodservice snackers see snacking as a way to relax
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- Figure 25: Snack motivators – Net: Any snacking and any foodservice snacking, November 2018
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- Figure 26: Chick-fil-A email, “Enjoy a Midweek Snack TODAY Only!”
- Frequent snackers are more motivated by health
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- Figure 27: Snack motivators, by net – Frequent and infrequent foodservice snackers, November 2018
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- Figure 28: Sweetgreen email, “Snack Game Strong”
Foodservice Snacking Behaviors
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- Four in 10 consumers typically purchase a beverage with their snack
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- Figure 29: Foodservice snacking behavior statement agreement, November 2018
- Half of frequent snackers do so in transit
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- Figure 30: Foodservice snacking behavior statement agreement, by frequent versus infrequent snackers, November 2018
- Household income plays a key role in snack habits
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- Figure 31: Foodservice snacking behavior statement agreement, by household income, November 2018
Healthy Snack Attributes
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- High-protein snacks are of interest to health-conscious consumers
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- Figure 32: Healthy snack attributes – Net: Any rank, November 2018
- Baby Boomers want high-fiber and low-fat snacks
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- Figure 33: Healthy snack attributes – Net: Any rank, by generation, November 2018
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
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- Data sources
- Consumer survey data
- Consumer qualitative research
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
Appendix – The Consumer
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- Correspondence Analysis Methodology
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