Consumers don't have consensus on the definitions of a snack, with only 60% agreeing that snacks are foods eaten between meals. Consumer attitudes and behaviors offer guidance to brands, while…
US
Consumer Attitudes
Snacks
simple
US Snacking Motivations and Attitudes Consumer Report 2025
"As snack culture shifts, brands have a major opportunity to help define the future, but only if prices remain affordable enough for consumers to enjoy innovation."
Michele Scott - Associate Director, US Research Food and Drink
US consumers don’t agree on what a snack is, with only six in ten agreeing that snacks are foods eaten between meals. Snacking habits are changing alongside definitions, making it an opportune time for brands to influence how those changes shake out.
US Consumer Snacking Insights from Mintel
Consumer attitudes and behaviors offer guidance to brands, while the importance of snacking, associations with indulgence and meal replacement behaviors help define key consumer segments (even if snacks themselves continue without a clear definition). Specific snack choices, then, function as both a driver of habit and a result of habit, making plenty of room for varied products and messaging. The US snacks market is as rich with opportunity as it is competition, making it important for brands to understand their target markets as robustly as possible.
Threats to the category come from health concerns, certainly, but with BFY product innovation continuing alongside evolving perspectives on meals vs snacks, the bigger threat is price. While consumers do not necessarily place the burden of price moderation on brands, those most engaged with the category are planning to trade down to cheaper brands or simply buy fewer snacks if prices continue to rise. Affordability – or the lack thereof – has potential to shape the future of snacking in the coming years.
Key Topics Analyzed in the Report
Snacking frequency and changes YOY
Attitudes about snacking
Foods eaten as snacks
Special occasion snacks
Definitions of a snack
Attitudes about snacks and cost
Behavior changes likely if snack prices increase
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
What consumers want and why
Opportunities
MARKET DYNAMICS
Market context
Market drivers
Annual inflation slightly rose in November
Graph 1: headline CPI and core CPI, 2021-24
Black consumer attitudes about snacking shed light on their behavior patterns
Openness to what a snack can be yields more occasions to snack
Graph 2: snacking consumption comparison, Black consumers vs all, 2025
GLP-1 commotion will have bigger impact than actual meds, which remain limited
Graph 4: cluster analysis of snacking attitudes, 2025
Price associations are a red flag for the future
Graph 5: attitudes about snacking, by consumer segments, any agree, 2025
Committed Snackers offer the biggest opportunities, but are not without unique challenges
Committed Snackers snack the most often and are most likely to increase snacking YOY
Moderate Meal Replacers offer one big opportunity, lots of small challenges
Moderate Meal Replacers find snacks important, likely due to occasional meal replacement habits
Indulgence’s biggest challenge is moderation with Indulgent Treaters
Indulgent Treaters see snacks as a between-meals treat
Flip the script on emotional benefits of snacks for Emotional Eaters
Emotional Eaters aren’t replacing meals but agree that snacks are important
BFY can’t mean boring for Occasional Indulgers
Occasional Indulgers see snacks as indulgent but less important overall
Snacking frequency
Snacking YOY highlights more than just frequency change
Graph 6: trended snacking frequency, 2024-25
Moderation isn’t the most useful concept in terms of snacking behavior and brand decision
Graph 7: snacking frequency by cluster analysis of snacking attitudes, 2025
Changes in snacking
Snacking stays the course
Pay attention to Gen Z to see where snacking is going next
Snacking happens at least daily for most
Graph 8: snacking frequency, by various demographics, 2025
Committed Snackers are doubling down on snacks
Graph 9: snacking frequency changes by cluster analysis of snacking attitudes, 2025
Snacking behaviors
Variety is a cornerstone of the snacking landscape
Graph 10: attitudes about snacking, 2025
Key attitudes shape snacker profiles
Graph 11: snacking behavior, by consumer segmentation, 2025
The change in snacking tides happens between Boomers and Gen X
Graph 12: snacking behavior, by generation, 2025
Opportunity is big for brands who make snack time easier on parents
Graph 13: snacking behavior, by parental status, 2025
Foods eaten as a snack
Pair up for max power
Graph 14: foods eaten as a snack, 2025
Variety is the spice of snacks for younger consumers
Graph 15: foods eaten as a snack, by generation, 2025
Balance is key for reaching parents
Graph 16: foods eaten as a snack, by parental status, 2025
Snack choices shape, and are shaped by, consumer approaches to snacking
Graph 17: foods eaten as a snack, by consumer segmentation, 2025
Snack occasions
Help consumers find fun ways to use seasonal products, even if just spicing up mundane occasions
Special products and packaging, don’t get tons of attention, but some occasions stand out
Graph 18: snack type, by occasion, 2025
Make even the smallest celebrations special with snacks
Graph 19: snack type by occasion, by financial situation, 2025
Parents are here to party
Graph 20: snack type by occasion, by parenthood, 2025
Definition of a snack
Snacks don’t need a definition…
Snacks don’t need a definition, except in the hearts and minds of the consumer
Graph 21: definitions of a snack, 2025
Snacks are becoming harder to define with each generation, but there’s opportunity in the grey area
Graph 22: definitions of a snack, by generation, 2025
Definition of a snack by gender
Graph 23: definitions of a snack, by gender, 2025
Snack definitions are poised to change
Graph 24: defining snacks by cluster analysis of snacking attitudes, 2025
Attitudes about snacking
Brands have strong opportunities to build trust and loyalty with consumers by keeping products affordable
Graph 25: attitudes about snacking, 2025
Price sensitivity will shape a generation of snacking
Graph 26: attitudes about snacking, by generation, 2025
Brands will have strong opportunities to build trust and loyalty with consumers by keeping products affordable
Graph 27: attitudes about snacks, by HHI, 2025
Behaviors to manage price increases
The most resilient snacks are those without peers
Graph 28: snacking changes to save money, 2025
Don’t let brand loyalty become a luxury
…and consumers across demos agree on this point
Graph 29: snacking changes to save money – “prioritize my favorite snack,” by various demographics, 2025
The competition will come from all categories if prices get high enough
Graph 30: snacking changes to save money – “stop buying snacks/prioritize other food items,” by various demographics, 2025
Don’t let brand loyalty becomes a luxury
Graph 31: snacking changes to save money – “buy cheaper brands,” by various demographics, 2025
INNOVATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES
Launch activity and innovation
BFY cereals launch into bars
A little (more) spice is nice
Extra spicy can win extra big
Innovation can look like dreaming up new, and renewed, occasions for snacks
Reimagine, not reinvent, the wheel
Marketing and advertising
Snickers marketing continues to lean into snacking
Brands can become synonymous with specific occasions through deliberate marketing
Tailgating might be the next big occasion
Taking advantage of viral moments means leaning in while putting down roots
Cottage cheese can stay relevant after the viral videos cease
Snacks don’t have to ride solo
Popcorn Indiana x Netflix + giveaway = big value
APPENDIX
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Food and drink segmentation clusters and methodology
Generations
Abbreviations and terms
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