March 10 2016
By: Olivia Mitchell, Marketing Coordinator
Everyone snacks. In fact, Mitel states that about 94% of Americans snack at least once a day in a report titled, Snacking Motivates and Attitudes US 2015. I know I love a piece of chocolate each day, but what are the snacking differences among generations?
The NPD Group, Inc. recently published an article that breaks down snacking patterns between two large demographics, Millennials and Baby Boomers. Baby Boomers seem to outshine the Millennials when it comes to snacking. In fact, they snack 20 percent more often than Millennials, according to NPD’s tracking. The reasoning behind this is that Millennials grab something quick simply because they are hungry, where Boomers eat snacks to avoid preparing a large meal.
The snack food production industry is expected to grow over the next five years to 2020, to reach $44.9 billion, according to IBISWorld. Keeping this growth in mind, food manufacturers need to stay in tune with snack food consumption patterns, like the recent boost of potato chips, tortilla chips, nuts and seeds, due to renewed consumer spending.
As we all know, a trend among all demographics is healthy eating. By incorporating healthy options or substitutes, such as 100-calorie packs or reduced sodium options, food manufacturers can remain competitive. Since consumers will not stop snacking, understanding the difference in consumer consumption will help brands succeed.