Thinking about
customers differently will matter more in 2024.
It’s at the intersection of time starved consumers and the lack of
cooking skill-set that is driving increased demand for convenient meal
solutions according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA
based Foodservice Solutions®.
Johnson first revealed
the trend of mini-meal and snacking when speaking at Saint
Joseph’s University Food Summit. Since
then many food companies have done extensive research at the intersection of
the time starved consumers, mini meals and snacks” none much better than Friot-Lay. Here lets look at some of there recent
findings:
“Frito-Lay and Quaker revealed in its fifth annual U.S. Snack Index
that one-third of Americans have just 30 minutes to prepare and enjoy meals.
Frito-Lay and Quaker have joined forces to
unveil the fifth annual U.S. Snack Index, which confirms that many U.S.
consumers see time as a main factor when preparing meals. The report noted that
a lack of time to prepare, eat and enjoy meals — especially among parents
and younger generations — will blur the once-clear line between “snacks” and
“meals” in 2024.
“While
Frito-Lay and Quaker’s latest Snack
Index confirms that time is scarce, the data also reinforces the fierce passion
that consumers have for their food preferences,” said Denise Lefebvre, senior
vice president of R&D for PepsiCo Foods. “As we look to 2024, we have a
tremendous opportunity to continue meeting the evolving needs of our consumers.
It has never been more important for us to infuse that inspiration with
innovation, delivering on our promise of more smiles with every bite.”
Frito-Lay
and Quaker unveiled the three food and snacking trends poised to shape the year
ahead:
The
Time Crunch Dilemma
While
there might technically always be 24 hours in a day, 80% of Americans feel like
their days actually have fewer hours. This burden is most acutely felt by
younger generations (85%) with no sign of letting up, as 60% of consumers
expect demands to increase in the new year.
In
2024, Americans will say goodbye to hours spent marinating, chopping, roasting
or baking. A proliferation of the “no-prep dinner,” defined as a simple meal
that requires little effort to make, will continue to grow in popularity,
alongside dinners rooted in Americans’ favorite snack products.
·
A Dash to Dine: According to the Index, the
average American has only 52 total minutes per day to prepare, eat and enjoy
their meals. One-third of consumers note having even less time, scraping
together less than 30 minutes a day to prep and enjoy meals.
·
Snacks Move to Center Plate: More consumers are
integrating their favorite snack products into meals, up 35% over previous
years. Once a week, over half of consumers proudly use snacks as a key
ingredient in no-prep dinners, while more than one-third seize this opportunity
multiple times a week.
·
Top Truths: When asked why snacks are an
important part of their no-prep repertoire, Americans report yearning for a
specific snack (51%) and being too busy to cook (44%) as the top rationale.
·
#GirlDinner Debunked: The internet might have dubbed
snack-focused meals as #GirlDinner, but in 2024, the trend is for everyone. Men
(92%) report being just as likely to use snack foods in meals as women (93%),
with 36% pushing snack and meal boundaries more than in previous years.
Do You Want to Build a
Larger Share of Stomach?
Think Mini Meals and Snacks
Introducing
the Snack Savant
The
rise of the self-proclaimed Snack Savant will undoubtedly make waves in 2024.
There is no shame in their snack game, as the Savants proudly embrace all
things food, adventure and community:
·
Defining the Snack Savant: Millennials (83%) and
Gen Z (82%) are most likely to embrace this title, with the majority of these
Snack Savants also being city dwellers (77%). They are resourceful — 55% report
their favorite snack combinations are inspired by what is already in the pantry
— and lean on social media for additional ideas (32%).
·
Snacking as an Art, Not an Act: 80% agree that
combining multiple food products to create the perfect bite is an art form.
While 65% admit to having eccentric snack combos, they are not the slightest
bit embarrassed and will proudly “shout their unique combos from the rooftops”
anyway.
Snacking
for Tasty Satisfaction
In
2024, snacking will be centered on the importance of purpose, protein and
packing a punch:
·
Protein Power: When eyeing snacks at the
grocery store, Americans cite protein as the most important nutritional
attribute (55%). Compared to previous years, an overwhelming 79% of consumers
admit it’s more critical than ever for protein to take center stage — especially
true for those most crunched on time (80%).
·
Energy Boost: At least once a week, 60% of
consumers look to their favorite snack products to provide energy. Millennials
(72%) are by far the generation most in need of a pick-me-up, compared to Gen Z
(62%), Gen X (61%) and Baby Boomers (46%). Parents have everyone beat, with 72%
leveraging snacks for energy.
·
Taste Triumphs: Across generations, nearly
three-quarters of consumers (74%) refuse to sacrifice taste when selecting
their snacks. Baby Boomers are the most unwilling to compromise on taste (84%),
followed by Gen Xers at 75%.
This
survey was conducted between Dec. 6 and Dec. 12, 2023, among a national sample
of 2,000 nationally representative U.S. adults ages 18-plus. The interviews
were conducted using an email invitation and an online survey. The data has
been weighted to ensure an accurate representation of the U.S. adult population
ages 18-plus.
Foodservice Solutions® specializes in
outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify
additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and
brand and menu integration strategy. Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche
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