For the most up-to-date market research on the US snacks market, take a look at Mintel’s newly published US Trending Flavors and Ingredients in Salty Snacks Report 2025
Topics Analyzed in this Report
- Consumers’ associations with indulgent and satisfying snacks.
- Experience with and interest in flavors and ingredients in salty snacks
- Consumers’ behaviors and attitudes in the US salty snacks market.
- Flavor and ingredient product development in the US salty snacks market.
US Salty Snacks Market Outlook
While sales in the US salty snack market have been largely dependent on inflation, consumption continues to rise, especially among younger consumers. Extended occasions, such as those that carry over into mealtimes, signal that the purpose of snacking is evolving.
- US Snacking trends: One-quarter of consumers agree that snacks and meals are interchangeable.
Trending Flavors in Snacks: Key Takeaways
Flavor leads the way in indulgent occasions
Flavor is what makes a snack feel indulgent to consumers. With taste at the forefront, brands who want to participate in indulgent occasions can do so with straight flavor, collaborative efforts and even pairing suggestions to elevate more basic snacks.
- Trending flavors in snacks: 52% of consumers associate sweet and savory flavor combinations with indulgence.
Potential of Better for You Snacking
Snacks as a treat and healthy do not have to be mutually exclusive. As better for you snacking becomes more holistic, nutritionally sound snacks can satisfy flavor cravings through basic satiety like protein rich cheese.
- Flavor trends in snacks: 25% of US snackers say they are satisfied when their snacks have healthy ingredients.
Purchase our US Trending Flavors and Ingredients in Salty Snacks Report to receive a five-year forecast, consumer behavior analysis, and recommendations for market opportunities. Readers of this report may also be interested in our US Better for You Snacking Report, or our range of Snacks Market Research.
Brands Featured in the Full Report
Pringles, Siete, Dorito, Cape Cod, Signature Select, Busseto, Field Trip, Lay’s, Blue Diamond, Moku.
Expert Insights from a Food and Drink Analyst
This report, written by Sydney Riebe, a leading research analyst, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight flavor trends for snacks and add expert context to the numbers.
As the purpose of snacking continues to evolve, flavor remains the central motivator. Innovation that pairs flavor with function can extend occasions even further.
Sydney Riebe
Food and Drink
Collapse All
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- Key issues covered in this Report
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Executive Summary
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Consumer Insights
- Consumer fast facts
- Interest in snack flavor preparation
- Graph 1: interest in snack flavor preparation, 2021-23
- Graph 2: interest in preparation method inspired snack flavors, by generation, 2023
- Indulgent snack associations
- Graph 3: indulgent snack associations, 2023
- Satisfying snack associations
- Graph 4: satisfying snack associations, 2023
- Experience with and interest in flavors and ingredients in salty snacks
- Graph 5: experience with and interest in flavors and ingredients in salty snacks, 2023
- Graph 6: experience with and interest in flavors and ingredients in salty snacks, 2023
- Graph 7: Gen Z experience and interest in international snack flavors – NET – any interest, 2023
- Salty snacks behaviors and attitudes
- Graph 8: salty snacks attitudes, 2023
- Graph 9: salty snacks attitudes, by generation, 2023
- Graph 10: salty snacks attitudes, 2023
- Graph 11: salty snacks attitudes, by generation, 2023
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Competitive Strategies
- Marketing and advertising
- Opportunities
- Graph 12: frequency of food behaviors, 2023
- Graph 13: interest in salty snack innovation, by generation, 2023
- Product development – Now – What’s trending
- Graph 14: textures of salty snacks, 2021-23
- Product development – Near – What to watch for
- Product development – Next – What’s in the pipeline
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The Market
- Market context
- State of the market
- Graph 15: total US retail sales and forecast of snacks, by segment, at current prices, 2021-23
- Graph 16: changes in salty snack consumption, by gender, generation and financial situation, 2023
- Market drivers
- Graph 17: reasons for snacking less, 2023
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Appendix
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