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
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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”
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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