Ubiquitous Consumption

Sometimes dubbed ‘the fourth meal of the day’, snacks are usurping traditional meals for consumers who prefer smaller portions or are simply too busy for structured sit-down meals. Indicative of consumers’ chronic ‘busyness’, the average American has 52 total minutes per day to prepare and eat their meals, while a third have less than half an hour (Frito-Lay, 2023). See also Commercialising New Food + Drink Occasions.

Nourishing Nibbles

When it comes to snacks, consumers want less of the ‘baddies’ (sugar, salt) and more of the ‘goodies’ (protein, fibre). Pointing to the commercial potential of the latter, the protein snacks market was valued at $3.64bn in 2021, and is predicted to top $8bn by 2030, with a CAGR of 9.7% from 2022-30 (NextMSC, 2023).

Primed for Pleasure-Seekers

For contemporary consumers, there’s a time and place for everything – and this includes indulgence. Towards this, snacking occasions provide ample opportunities to enjoy decadent tastes and textures – even if they’re calorific. They also offer low-commitment product purchases that make more unapproachable or unfamiliar flavours accessible: think intense heat or tangy savoury tasting notes.

Ethical Edible Occasions

Increasingly aware of the fragility of planet earth, consumers are bringing their ethics and values with them into their snacking occasions. Food manufacturers are responding with snack products that minimise food waste, champion plant-based formulations, and turn upcycled ingredients into captivating taste sensations.