PHOTO: STOCKFOOD
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Snack Attack
There was a time when snacking meant grabbing a bag of chips or a handful of
cookies. For many of today's consumers, a daily snack takes on a healthier role,
offering a flavorful nutritious meal replacement or energy boost. While the healthfulsnacking market is flourishing, there's still room for pleasing consumers who like to
snack for fun. Manufacturers and retailers who provide both are poised for success.
BY DENISE SHOUKAS
S
nacking can be a dirty word, especially with the country's current obesity epidemic. The onus for snacks to
be healthful has produced an emerging market flush with nutritious alternatives that meet the needs of busy,
health-conscious consumers. According to Mintel, from 2008 to 2012, there have been more than 9,000
snack product launches, with 2011 seeing the highest number as manufacturers recovered from the recession and
recommitted to creating innovative, healthful snacks. In product launches, snack/cereal/energy bars took the lead,
followed by nuts and fruit snacks. Still, fresh fruit, cheese and cereal rank as the top three snacks chosen most of the
time. Developing portable versions of these segments will meet the needs of health-minded grazers. That said, even
the healthiest snackers want to indulge every so often, so creating healthful items that give them the sense that they've
strayed could create customers for life.
"Healthy snacking" is a difficult term to define as it can be interpreted in numerous ways. In this report Mintel
allowed respondents to self-define what foods they believe constitute healthful snacks; it includes items like fresh fruit,
cheese, cereal, yogurt, nuts/seeds and raw vegetables.
MARCH 2013
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