Better-for-You Snack Foods

in the Spotlight
Snack foods are a bright spot in the industry, and because U.S. consumers continue to
look for ways to eat healthier, better-for-you (BFY) snack foods present opportunities
across a variety of situations and needs. See what we see in the better-for-you snack
food segment . . .

Energy/sports/nutrition/protein bars
and fruit cups/applesauce are the
Consumers are
fastest-growing BFY more likely to plan
snack-oriented foods. in advance and have
BFY snack-oriented
1/3 of BFY snack foods are foods on hand
eaten with a meal. compared to savory or
sweet snack foods, which
are more likely to be
impulse purchases.

14% of BFY snack-oriented foods are eaten NOTE: The following are included in
our definition of BFY snack-oriented
while consumers are watching a TV program. foods: gelatin cups, refrigerated
Watching TV is more popular while eating sweet (22%) or yogurt, granola bars, cereal fruit bars,
savory (20%) snack foods. cereal breakfast bars, energy/sports/
nutrition/protein bars, diet bars,
rice/popcorn cakes/snacks,
14% 20% 22% single-serve cottage cheese cups, dried
fruit, fruit cups/applesauce, fresh fruit,
single-serve canned fruit, nuts, seeds.

Consumers’ attention to health concerns is having an impact on food and beverage sales. It’s critical to
understand better-for-you snacking trends so you can stay relevant amid competition and changing
generational needs. SnackTrack® captures the who, when, where, why, and how of snack-oriented food
consumption, and it examines related situational and motivational dynamics. It’s the definitive source
for snack food consumption information in the United States.

Source: The NPD Group/SnackTrack®, two years ending June 2018

Get more insights like this. Contact your NPD account representative,
call 866-444-1411 or email contactnpd@npd.com.