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Snacks and Sweets Statistics
Snack Stats
As published in the Fall 1999 issue of Fiery Foods & Barbecue Business Magazine.
Chip Packs at Sam’s
Sparta Foods, Inc., based in St. Paul, Minnesota, has begun shipping its Banditos products, including individual packages of tortilla chips and salsa, and tortilla chips and nacho cheese, to Rupari Food Services, Inc. This company will then distribute the snack products into a major regional center of SAM’s club, a division of Wal-Mart.
Nibbling Numbers
Ninety-three percent of Americans snack, with 50 percent of them doing so two or three times a day; 40 percent at least four times a day; and 13 percent five or more times a day.
Source: International Dairy Deli Bakery Association’s What’s in Store report, volume 13, September 1998.As reported in the March/April 1999 issue of Fiery Foods Magazine.
Sales of tortilla chips rose by 7.7 percent in 1997, according to a report by the Snack Food Association. This was attributed to the introduction of new flavors, as well as products made with the fat substitute olestra. In the first six months, olestra-containing Wow! Doritos, by Frito Lay brought $45.8 million in sales, according to Information Resources, Inc.
Innovative chip flavors included salsa and cream cheese, and salsa verde Baked Doritos; as well as lime and chili Fritos. Several hot and spicy offerings included Cajun, chili, and jalapeño and lime. Other offerings were cheddar and sour cream, lime and chili, and spicy black bean on blue corn. "While more than 61 percent of the tortilla chips sold were regular flavor," says the report, "innovative and tasty flavors continued to complement the category-gainers. In this ranking were spicy/hot and salsa flavors, which posted 2.2 percent and 1.9 percent gains over 1996."
In 1998 an estimated 133,400,000 Americans watched the Superbowl on television. Following is a list of just some of the things they ate during this event:
How much consumed
Snack Food (in millions of pounds)
Potato chips 11.2
Tortilla chips 8.2
Pretzels 4.3
Popcorn 3.8
Snack Nuts 2.5Source: Snack Food Association and The Potato Promotion Board.
As part of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 4, the first national championship game ever held on a college level, Frito-Lay will feature the winning Tennessee Volunteers on a special, limited edition Tostitos Tortilla Chip bag. These bags will sport a specially designed four-color team logo, a "1998 National Champion" banner, and the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl logo. They will be distributed in retail stores throughout Tennessee for a limited time. "We wanted to recognize this historic moment with special commemorative packaging and we have every reason to believe these Tostitos championship bags will become a hot collectors’ item among college football’s biggest fans," said Roger Berdusco, Frito Lay’s senior vice president of marketing.
As reported in the November/December 1998 issue of Fiery Foods Magazine.
More Meaty Information
The sales of beef jerky and other meat strip snacks have increased 60 percent over the last three years.
Source: Allure, September 1998
The Oberto Sausage Company, an 80-year-old manufacturer of meat snacks, and the leading marketer of Natural Style jerky in the U.S., has instituted a campaign to teach consumers about the nutritional benefits of Natural Style beef jerky. In 1997, meat snacks experienced 20 percent growth and rang up over $860 million in sales. That figure is estimated to reach $1 million by 1999.
Is Chocolate Losing Ground?
The National Confectioners Association reports that overall candy sales reached $8 billion in the 52 weeks ending on March 1, which is 2.3 percent more than the same period last year. Non-chocolate candy sales were up 6.8 percent, while chocolate candy sales went up only 1.1 percent. However chocolate is still king as retail sales hit $3.13 billion, while retail non-chocolate sales reached $2.1 billion.
Source: Foodtrends Newsletter
Is Chocolate Losing Ground?
The National Confectioners Association reports that overall candy sales reached $8 billion in the 52 weeks ending on March 1, which is 2.3 percent more than the same period last year. Non-chocolate candy sales were up 6.8 percent, while chocolate candy sales went up only 1.1 percent. However chocolate is still king as retail sales hit $3.13 billion, while retail non-chocolate sales reached $2.1 billion.
Source: Foodtrends Newsletter
Snack Attacks by Region
As reported in the September/October issue of Fiery Foods Magazine.
Food Processing's A.M. Update reports the per capita snacking frequency and habits in various parts of the U.S.:
West Centralites have the highest snack consumption, and prefer popcorn and snack mixes.
Pacific Coasters have the lowest snack consumption, and prefer tortilla chips, multi-grain chips, and some meat snacks.
Southwesterners prefer tortilla chips, corn chips, extruded snacks, and pork rinds.
Southeasterners prefer nuts and pork rinds
East Centralites prefer potato chips and pretzels.
New Englanders prefer potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, snack nuts, and microwave popcorn.
Source: Snack Professional
Full Flavor, Full Fat
Packaged Facts reports that sales of organic chocolates was growing at 14 percent a year in 1997, and they predict that figure will grow to 18 percent by 2000. Bob Messenger, editor of Food Trends Newsletter comments: "Sorry folks, but where we are today is smack in the middle of a resurgence back to full-flavor foods. Which explains the continuing popularity of chocolate, ice cream, pizza, and a variety of other foods. ...Health and nutrition are not dead as dietary issues, but it's clear that the majority of Americans want it in measured doses and do not want to totally abandon the full-flavor foods that continue to excite the palate."
Snack Consumption
As reported in the July/August issue of Fiery Foods Magazine.
Americans are the biggest consumers of savory snacks such as crisps and nuts, having eating 2.7 million tons in 1996.
Chinese people consume the least, having eaten 6,000 tons in 1996.
Source: Euromonitor.
Cashing in the Chips
As reported in the July/August issue of Fiery Foods Magazine.
Almost 89 percent of U.S. households buy potato chips in a year, replenishing about every three weeks.
76 percent buy tortilla chips and replenish about every 32 days.
63 percent buy pretzels and replenish about every 37 days.
Source: ACNielsen, as reported in American Demographics, December, 1997
The following numbers have been compiled for those manufacturers and retailers who are thinking about diversifying their businesses to include ready-to-eat foods and candies.
Snacking in Style
As reported in the May/June 1998 issue of Fiery Foods Magazine.
The Snack Food Association says that meat snacks have been steadily gaining in popularity since 1991, and that new types of snack foods will include "fries-style" potato chips in flavors such as ketchup.
The Land of Snacks: Hong Kong
In 1996 U.S. snack exports to Hong Kong totaled $22 million dollars, making it the 6th largest market for U.S. snacks. The most popular products in this category were snack nuts (53%) and potato chips, corn chips and pretzels (25%). Currently, mostly low-fat and low-salt snacks are available there, so premium and specialty snacks imported from the U.S. are poised to do big business. In 1995 the snack food market in Hong Kong was worth $700-800 million, with chips comprising 52 percent. This is expected to increase 9 percent annually over the next two years. The target audience is children and young adults who prefer Western-style snacks.
Source: The Snack Food Association.
Snack Export Figures
According to the Snack Food Association's annual industry survey, 54.3 percent of all U.S. snack food players exported product to Canada and overseas in 1996. Canada is the number one importer of these products, with 70.4 percent of responding companies sending their product there.
#2 is Western Europe and the Asia/Pacific Rim 48.1 percent #3 is Mexico 33.3 percent #4 is Eastern Europe and the Middle East 25.9 percent #5 is Caribbean/South America/Latin America 22.2 percent #6 is Africa 3.7 percent
Most popular products, by percentage of companies who export them:
Potato chips.......................62.5 percent Tortilla chips.....................56.3 percent Other corn-based products..........50.0 percent Pretzels...........................42.1 percent Squeeze-out (extruded) snacks......36.8 percent Ready-to-eat popcorn...............25.0 percent Pork Rind..........................15.8 percent
Per Capita Confectionery Consumption Figures*
YEAR POUNDS PER PERSON
1983....17.9 1984....18.9 1985....19.1 1986....18.4 1987....18.3 1988....19.2 1989....20.4 1990....20.1 1991....20.3 1992....21.5 1993....21.9 1994....22.5 1995....23.4*Historical United States per Capita Consumption for Confectionary
Source: National Confectioners Association www.candyusa.org
Holiday Candy Sales
In Millions 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Halloween $784 $850 $900 $950 Christmas $824 $841 $859 $945 Easter $800 $837 $875 $940 Valentine's Day $655 $665 $687 $709 $725Source: Chocolate Manufacturers Association www.candyusa.org
The Percentage of People Who Snack Between Meals At Least Once A Day
United States......80% Germany............74% United Kingdom.....69% Brazil.............64% Italy..............62% Spain..............57% Japan..............66% France.............53%Source: 3/3/97 Food Institute Report http://www.facilitygroup.com
Canadians Becoming "Serious" Snackers
...Crest Canada says that Canadians are spending more and more on snacks consumed outside of the home. In 1995, snacks counted for just over 24 percent of the total food service market and this trend continues to grow...Canadians are eating out at least twice a week, and supermarkets are reporting the sales of quick, convenient meals have increased 123 percent over the past 5 years. While Canada's grazing trend is not growing at the same phenomenal rate as in the U.S., it is likely to continue its upward trend.
Source: Poultry Briefs, Ottawa, Ontario Canada http://www.facilitygroup.com
Hot Shopping Habits
Here we asked a small group of hot food aficionados, who contacted us through our Web site, about their hot shopping habits.
Specialty shopping habits:
71 percent regulary shop at gourmet shops or hot shops.
Typical frequency: gourmet shops -- once a month; hot shops -- once every two months.
What keeps them coming back?
Quality of merchandise........14 percent Looking for something new.....29 percent Availability and selection....29 percent No response...................29 percent(some did not answer this question because they do not have a local hot shop).
One respondant said that she goes to hot shops looking for "something new," and goes to specialty gourmet stores to find gifts.
Types of products bought:
Unusual ingredients for specialized dishes and meals that are prepared at home.
Party fare:
All participants have served hot and spicy food products in their homes to guests. Types of products mentioned: stuffed jalapeños, spicy dips, fried peppers, unique salsas.
Word of mouth:
71 percent would recommend their local hot shop to friends as a place to buy party ingredients. Some did not have hot shops in their areas, so could not recommend them, but said that they themselves drive long distances to find them.
Suggestions for increasing hot shop visits:
More variety......................43 percent Samples and serving suggestions...29 percent Easier accessibility to shops.....29 percent
Interest in hot and spicy meals "to go"from hot shops:
Very interested.......29 percent Somewhat interested...29 percent (price and quality are main concerns) Not interested........43 percent (they prefer to prepare their own meals at home)