2025
9
US Potato and Tortilla Chips Market Report 2025
2025-02-20T10:01:43+00:00
REPD34F0B3B_D386_4889_B543_4EFAAFEEC177
3695
179631
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Report
en_GB
Chips remain a snacking staple, but there is potential to spice up flavors, formats, and creative use ideas to keep the category from getting stale. Julia Mills, Analyst - Food…
US
Snacks
Food
simple

US Potato and Tortilla Chips Market Report 2025

"Chips remain a snacking staple, but there is potential to spice up flavors, formats, and creative use ideas to keep the category from getting stale."

Julia Mills - Food & Drink Analyst

Julia Mills - Food & Drink Analyst

While innovation is key in the potato and tortilla chips market, it is equally impactful to showcase fresh ways for consumers to enjoy tortilla and potato chips – such as incorporating them into new meal ideas or creative usage occasions.

Potato and Tortilla Chips Market Analysis – Current Landscape

Potato and tortilla chips remain a popular snack choice, valued for their versatility in both spontaneous snacking and planned occasions.

Mintel’s potato and tortilla chips market analysis shows that generational differences play a significant role in shaping consumption trends. Gen Z’s, Millennials’, and parents’ potato chips consumption tends to be driven by factors such as convenience. In contrast, older generations like Gen X and Baby Boomers report lower consumption, with health concerns and price sensitivity often dampening tortilla chips market share among this target group.

Potato chips consumption is fueled by a balance of convenience, practicality, and emotional satisfaction. While nutrition may not always be a priority for snackers, products that successfully combine taste, convenience, affordability, and nutritional value have the potential to stand out in the market.

Potato and Tortilla Chips Market Statistics

  • Potato Chips Consumption: Approximately 50% of US consumers eat plain potato chips and tortilla chips, making them a top snacking choice.

US Potato and Tortilla Chips Market Research – What’s Inside?

Key Topics Analysed in this Report

  • Growth trends and tortilla chips market dynamics in the US.
  • Reported potato chips consumption, including trends from previous years and in comparison to last year.
  • Potato chips consumption occasions.
  • Consumer interest in potato and tortilla chip innovation and willingness to pay for innovative products.
  • Consumer attitudes toward potato and tortilla chips.
  • Trends and opportunities in launch activity for potato and tortilla chips.

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Market size & forecast of potato and tortilla chips
    • Market predictions of future opportunities and challenges
    • What consumers want & why
    • Opportunities
    • Find flavor inspiration in foodservice trends…
    • Use chips as a carrier to make global flavors more accessible
    • Graph 1: [no title]
    • … and take cues from foodervice-branded products in other categories
    • Leverage size, texture, and flavor to create memorable chip experiences
    • Don’t be afraid to reimagine the look and taste of chips
    • Sugar & spice, and everything nice: the rise of “cricy” and “swicy”
  2. MARKET DYNAMICS

    • Market context
    • Market drivers
    • Traditional meals shrink to smaller meals and bigger snack breaks
    • Graph 2: frequency of snacking, by generation, 2023
    • Gen Z and Millennials require more from their snacks
    • Graph 3: salty snacks behaviors and attitudes, by generation, 2023
    • Openness to explore salty snacks increases as age falls
    • Graph 4: salty snacks behaviors and attitudes, by generation, 2023
    • Growing diversity creates an appetite for bold and global flavors
    • Graph 5: distribution of US generations, by race, 2023
    • Graph 6: distribution of US generations, by Hispanic origin, 2023
    • Two thirds describe their financial situation as something other than “healthy”
    • Graph 7: financial situation, 2024
    • Store brands focus on innovation to meet growing demand for value
    • Graph 8: percent of branded and private label chip launches, 2019-24
    • Young adults create space for processed foods in their diets
    • Graph 9: agreement with the statement, “a healthy diet can include some processed foods in moderation,” by age*, 2024
    • Definition of a BFY snack shifts with age
    • Graph 10: BFY attributes in healthy snacks, by generation, 2024
    • PepsiCo brings Siete Foods on board
    • Corn-based chips could require a new ingredient
    • Market size and forecast
    • Despite inflation-driven surge, chip sales continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace
    • Chip’s sales performance remains stable
    • Retail sales and forecast of potato and tortilla chips
    • Market segmentation
    • Boost sales by reaching more dayparts with potato and tortilla chips
    • Potato and tortilla chip sales are on the up and up
    • Graph 11: total retail sales and forecast of potato and tortilla chips, by segment, at current prices, 2019-29
    • Retail sales of potato and tortilla chips, by segment
    • Market share/brand share
    • Private labels thrive on consumers’ hunt for value
    • Graph 12: market share of potato and tortilla chips, 2024
    • PepsiCo loses share to private label
    • Plays on texture, ingredients, and formats boost sales across legacy and “other” brands
    • Graph 13: market share of potato chips, 2024
    • Private labels lead in potato chip share growth
    • PepsiCo leads the tortilla chip market, but private label and other brands gain ground
    • Graph 14: market share of tortilla chips, 2024
    • Leading brands see sales decline despite category growth
  3. CONSUMER INSIGHTS

    • Consumer fast facts
    • Types of chips consumed
    • What you need to know:
    • Chips are a #1 choice in snack repertoires
    • Graph 15: types of chips consumed, 2022-25
    • Younger consumers are explorers in the chip category
    • Graph 16: types of chips consumed, by generation, 2025
    • Parents diversify chip choices to satisfy diverse snacking preferences
    • Graph 17: types of chips consumed, by parental status, 2025
    • Consumers rely on chip’s trusted reputation and flexibility during financial struggles
    • Graph 18: type of chips consumed, by financial situation, 2025
    • Frequency of chip consumption
    • What you need to know:
    • A quarter of consumers report eating chips more often
    • Graph 19: frequency of chip consumption compared to last year, 2025
    • Changes in chip consumption stem from shifting lifestyle needs
    • Graph 20: frequency of chip consumption compared to last year, by generation, 2025
    • Marry practical value-driven messaging with engaging campaigns to retain financially-struggling consumers
    • Graph 21: frequency of chip consumption compared to last year, by financial situation, 2025
    • Thought starters to emphasize value
    • Stay top of mind in snacking repertoires by balancing practical and emotional factors
    • Graph 22: reasons for consuming chips more often, 2025
    • Millennials cite diverse motivations for increased chip consumption beyond snacking
    • Graph 23: reasons for consuming chips more often, by generation, 2025
    • Little nutrition combined with high costs are the main barriers for the category
    • Graph 24: reasons for consuming chips less often, 2025
    • Price and health concerns deter older consumers from chips
    • Graph 25: reasons for consuming chips less often, by generation, 2025
    • Chips occasions
    • What you need to know:
    • Both spur of the moment and planned occasions drive chip purchases
    • Graph 26: chip occasions, 2025
    • Potato chips as a standalone snack vs. tortilla chips as a complement
    • Graph 27: chip occasions, by type, 2025
    • Tortilla chips are not meeting their full potential
    • Older consumers favor potato chips for traditional occasions
    • Graph 28: potato chip occasions – NET any varieties, by generation, 2025
    • Gen Z and Millennials stretch tortilla chips across occasions
    • Graph 29: tortilla chip occasions – NET any varieties, by generation, 2025
    • Chips are a multi-occasion staple among younger consumers because of…
    • Interest in chip innovation
    • What you need to know:
    • Consumers embrace innovation that feels exciting, with a hint of familiarity
    • Graph 30: interest in chip innovation, 2025
    • Keep things simple in plain chip varieties
    • Graph 31: interest in chip innovation, by types of chips consumed, 2025
    • Think of chip innovation as a way to carry new flavors and textures at a more affordable cost
    • Graph 32: interest in chip innovation, by generation, 2025
    • Innovative chips can spice up snack time and create fun family moments
    • Graph 33: interest in chip innovation, by parental status, 2025
    • Interest in and willingness to pay for chip innovation
    • What you need to know:
    • Consumers may be willing to pay more for healthier options, but not for everything
    • Graph 34: interest in and willingness to pay for chip innovation, 2025
    • Gen Z, Millennials…
    • Graph 35: willingness to pay a lot more for chip innovation, by generation, 2025
    • …male…
    • Graph 36: willingness to pay a lot more for chip innovation, by gender, 2025
    • …and parent consumers are most willing to pay for innovation in chips
    • Graph 37: willingness to pay a lot more for chip innovation, by parental status, 2025
    • Innovation is a “nice to have,” but not always a priority when budgets are tight
    • Graph 38: Which of the following describes your interest in and willingness to pay more for the following types of chip innovations?
    • Potato chip attitudes
    • What you need to know:
    • Brand reputation and community are just as vital as potato chip products themselves
    • Graph 39: attitudes toward potato chips, 2025
    • Younger consumers are more capricious in their attitudes toward potato chips
    • Graph 40: attitudes toward potato chips, by generation, 2025
    • Provide meal and snack solutions with chips to highlight their role as a family staple
    • Graph 41: attitudes toward potato chips, by parental status, 2025
    • Tortilla chip attitudes
    • What you need to know:
    • Performance and adaptability matter more than brand in tortilla chips
    • Graph 42: attitudes toward tortilla chips, 2025
    • Bridge the gap between curiosity for new tortilla chip use ideas
    • Graph 43: attitudes toward tortilla chips, by generation, 2025
    • Use tortilla chips as a budget-friendly base for meals, snacks, and entertaining
    • Graph 44: attitudes toward tortilla chips, by financial situation, 2025
  4. INNOVATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES

    • Launch activity and innovation
    • Flavor inspiration comes from global…
    • …down to local
    • Health takes a backseat in chip purchases, posing challenges for nutrition-added options
    • Graph 45: perception of Power Crunch Barbecue Flavored Protein Crisps versus overall potato snacks, 2017-24
    • Emphasizing naturalness with healthily-perceived ingredients builds a stronger BFY image
    • Co-branding offers a safe avenue for flavor exploration
    • A quarter of snack consumers say co-branded flavors take the risk out of trying new flavors
    • Graph 46: [no title]
    • Marketing and advertising
    • Brands get consumers in on the action
    • Chips receive a classy makeover with ideas for premium additions…
    • …but creative applications don’t always have to be over-the-top
    • Brands bring chips to life with experiential moments
    • Better-for-You chip brands cater to underrepresented chip eaters
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • Market size methodology
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Generations
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast fan chart methodology
    • Data
    • Total retail sales and forecast of potato and tortilla chips, at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Average annual household spending on potato and tortilla chips
    • Total retail sales of potato and tortilla chips, by segment, at current prices, 2022 and 2024
    • Total retail sales and forecast of potato chips, at current prices
    • Total retail sales and forecast of potato chips, at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Value, average price and volume of multi-outlet potato chips sales
    • Total retail sales and forecast of tortilla chips, at current prices
    • Total retail sales and forecast of tortilla chips, at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Value, average price and volume of multi-outlet tortilla chips sales
    • Total retail sales of potato and tortilla chips, by channel, at current prices
    • Total retail sales of potato and tortilla chips, by channel, at current prices, 2022 and 2024
    • Supermarket sales of potato and tortilla chips, at current prices
    • Convenience store sales of potato and tortilla chips, at current prices
    • Sales of potato and tortilla chips through other retail channels, at current prices

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