US Salty Snacks Market Report 2023
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“Salty snacks are winning in their ability to satisfy cravings and meet emotional needs, expanding their role beyond a quick hunger-satisfying solution. As consumers simultaneously reach for familiar favorites and alternative snacks at an accelerating pace, brands face the challenge of balancing comforting classics and exciting new concepts.”
– Kelsey Olsen, Food and Drink Analyst
This Report looks at the following areas:
- Trended salty snack consumption
- Salty snack purchase location
- Changes in salty snack consumption
- Reasons for increased consumption and motivations to increase consumption
- Salty snack occasions
- Salty snack attitudes and behaviors
- Interest in salty snack innovation
Collapse All
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Overview
- What you need to know
- This Report looks at the following areas
- Definition
- Market context
-
Executive Summary
- Top takeaways
- Market overview
- Figure 1: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of salty snacks market, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 2: Category outlook for salty snacks, 2022-27
- Opportunities and challenges
- Salty snacks are hitting the sweet spot
- Figure 3: Trended consumption of salty snacks, 2021-22
- Accessibility will shine in times of inflation
- Figure 4: Change in salty snack consumption, by financial situation, 2022
- Evolve with snack time occasions
- Figure 5: Occasions for salty snacks – NET– Any Snack, 2022
- Incorporate exciting twists beyond the BFY space
- Figure 6: Interest in salty snack innovation, 2022
-
Market Size and Forecast
- Salty snacks continue to shine
- Figure 7: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of salty snacks market, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 8: Total US sales and forecast of salty snacks market, at current prices, 2017-27
- Salty snacks continue to shine
-
Segment Performance
- Other snacks outpace, while accessibility brings steady growth
- Figure 9: Total US retail sales of salty snacks, by segment, at current prices, 2022
- Figure 10: Total US retail sales of salty snacks, by segment, at current prices, 2017-2022
- Versatile needs are met by variety of retailers
- Figure 11: Total US retail sales of salty snacks, by channel, at current prices, 2017-2022
- Other snacks outpace, while accessibility brings steady growth
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Market Factors
- Financial situations may pose barriers to exploration
- Figure 12: Change in salty snack consumption, by financial situation, 2022
- Its snack time, especially for younger consumers
- Figure 13: Frequency of snacking, 2022
- Snacking motivated by factors beyond health
- Figure 14: US eating motivators, 2022
- An attention to salt
- Figure 15: Microsalt Inc Instagram page, 2022
- Financial situations may pose barriers to exploration
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Market Share/Key Players
- Market leaders prove their place with strong growth
- Figure 16: Multi-outlet sales of salty snacks, by leading companies, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- Niche brands bring small boost to meat snacks
- Figure 17: Multi-outlet sales of meat snacks, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- BFY identities are poppin’
- Figure 18: Multi-outlet sales of popcorn, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- Say Cheetos!
- Figure 19: Multi-outlet sales of cheese snacks, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- Renew excitement in pretzels, with flavor a key driver
- Figure 20: Multi-outlet sales of pretzels, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- Corn snacks dominated by PepsiCo
- Figure 21: Multi-outlet sales of corn snacks, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- Other snacks are prime space for BFY
- Figure 22: Multi-outlet sales of other snacks, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- Market leaders prove their place with strong growth
-
Competitive Strategies and Market Opportunities
- Global flavors cross borders
- Figure 23: Global flavored salty snack products, 2022
- Gourmet Popcorn meets sweet spot for permissible indulgence
- Figure 24: Indulgent popcorn products, 2022
- Meat snacks stray from tradition
- Figure 25: Meat snacks products, 2022
- Meat-free jerky must provide beyond “plant-based”
- Figure 26: Plant-based jerky snacks, 2022
- Sweet on sourdough
- Figure 27: Sourdough pretzel products, 2022
- Turn up the heat
- Figure 28: Hot and spicy popcorn and meat snacks, 2022
- Season’s meat-ings
- Figure 29: Seasoned pork rinds flavors
- Alternative snacks bring different benefits to the table
- Figure 30: “Better” alternative snacks, 2022
- Fun size’s time to shine
- Figure 31: Mini salty snacks and cereal products, 2022
- Global flavors cross borders
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The Salty Snacks Consumer – Fast Facts
- Salty snacks are on the up and up
- Balance the act of old and new
- Show up for evolving routines
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Salty Snack Consumption
- Keep salty snacks booming with old and new
- Figure 32: Trended consumption of salty snacks, 2021-22
- Highlight the vast offerings of salty snacks, especially to men
- Figure 33: Consumption of salty snacks, by gender, 2021-22
- Capitalize on the exploratory younger consumer
- Figure 34: Consumption of salty snacks, by generation, 2022
- Now is the time to solidify relationships
- Figure 35: Repertoire of salty snack consumption, by generation, 2022
- Keep salty snacks booming with old and new
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Salty Snack Purchase Location
- Intrigue consumers before they enter the snack aisle
- Figure 36: Salty snack purchase location, 2022
- Prove cravability to the impulsive Gen Z shopper
- Figure 37: Salty snack purchase location, by generation, 2022
- Be there for the salty snack shopaholic
- Figure 38: Repertoire of salty snack purchase locations, by parental status, 2022
- Intrigue consumers before they enter the snack aisle
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Important Attributes of Specific Salty Snacks
- Guarantee flavor above all else
- Figure 39: Important attributes of specific salty snacks, 2022
- Age is more than a number
- Don’t leave out older snackers in the alternative snack space
- Figure 40: Important attributes of alternative salty snacks, by generation, 2022
- Find familiar and exciting sweet spot for meat snacks
- Figure 41: Important attributes of meat snacks, by generation, 2022
- Guarantee flavor above all else
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Change in Salty Snack Consumption
- Make snacking a constant during a time in flux
- Figure 42: Change in salty snack consumption, 2022
- Compete for attention from Gen Z
- Figure 43: Change in salty snack consumption, by generation, 2022
- Bring hybrid snacking solutions to the next normal
- Figure 44: Change in salty snack consumption, by remote work status, 2022
- Make snacking a constant during a time in flux
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Reasons for Increased Consumption
- Sprinkle snacks throughout the day
- Figure 45: Reasons for increased salty snack consumption, 2022
- Incorporate excitement into non-parent snacking behaviors
- Figure 46: Reasons for increased salty snack consumption, by parental status, 2022
- Spice up the snack from home experience
- Figure 47: Reasons for increased salty snack consumption, by employment and work-from-home status, 2022
- Sprinkle snacks throughout the day
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Motivations to Purchase More Salty Snacks
- Remind consumers that snacks can be simple
- Figure 48: Motivations to purchase more salty snacks
- Double down on value with accessible healthy snacks
- Figure 49: Motivations to purchase more salty snacks, by generation, 2022
- Tailor concepts to the open-minded parent
- Figure 50: Motivations to purchase more salty snacks, by parental status, 2022
- Remind consumers that snacks can be simple
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Consumption Occasions for Specific Salty Snacks
- Provide emotional support snacks
- Figure 51: Occasions for salty snacks – NET– Any Snack, 2022
- Keep pace with generational occasions
- Figure 52: Occasions for salty snacks – NET– Any snack, by generation, 2022
- Create more associations specific to occasions
- Figure 53: Correspondence Analysis – Symmetrical map – Salty snack occasion consumption, 2023
- Provide emotional support snacks
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Salty Snacks Attitudes and Behaviors
- Inspire incorporation into mealtimes
- Figure 54: Salty snacks attitudes and behaviors, 2022
- Create connections with younger generations
- Figure 55: Salty snacks attitudes and behaviors, by generation, 2022
- Make snack exploration fun for the family
- Figure 56: Salty snack attitudes and behaviors, by parental status, 2022
- Inspire incorporation into mealtimes
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Interest in Salty Snack Innovation
- Break the monotony with snacks
- Figure 57: Interest in salty snack innovation, 2022
- Help consumers level up their salty snacks
- Figure 58: Interest in salty snack innovation, by generation, 2022
- Differentiate for the household
- Figure 59: Interest in salty snack innovation, by parental status, 2022
- Break the monotony with snacks
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Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
- Data sources
- Sales data
- Forecast
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
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Appendix – The Market
- Total market size and forecast, at inflation-adjusted prices
- Figure 60: Total US Retail sales and forecast of salty snacks, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Market size and forecast by segment, at current prices
- Figure 61: Total US retail sales and forecast of meat snacks, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 62: Total US retail sales and forecast of popcorn, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 63: Total US retail sales and forecast of cheese snacks, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 64: Total US retail sales and forecast of pretzels, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 65: Total US retail sales and forecast of corn snacks, at current prices, 2017-27
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- Figure 66: Total US retail sales and forecast of other salty snacks, at current prices, 2017-27
- Market size and forecast by segment, at inflation-adjusted prices
- Figure 67: Total US retail sales and forecast of meat snacks, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 68: Total US retail sales and forecast of popcorn, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 69: Total US retail sales and forecast of cheese snacks, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 70: Total US retail sales and forecast of pretzels, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 71: Total US retail sales and forecast of corn snacks, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
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- Figure 72: Total US retail sales and forecast of other salty snacks, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Total market size and forecast, at inflation-adjusted prices
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