Consumer Snacking Habits Shift as Unprecedented Summer Approaches

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[{"type":"text","content":"More than Eight out of 10 Consumers Plan to Stay Home for Memorial Day and Snacks Will Be Central to Their 'New Normal' According to Latest U.S. Snack Index\n\n\nPLANO, Texas, May 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As Memorial Day – the unofficial kickoff to summer – approaches, the majority of Americans – 86 percent – anticipate their summers will be different compared to last year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \nGiven that, Frito-Lay, maker of many of America's favorite snack foods, issued the latest edition of its U.S. Snack Index, finding snacks remain essential to summer, but with consumers increasingly buying through new channels and eating snacks differently than ever before. From minimal travel and socially distanced gatherings, to when, where and how consumers shop for snacks – consumer behavior is likely to have a lasting impact on the months ahead. \n\"Since the onset of the pandemic – what we eat, where we buy, and how we engage with one another has shifted dramatically – and we've had to reorient our business to address this,\" said Steven Williams, CEO, PepsiCo Foods North America. \"Our ability to remain agile at the most critical time has enabled us to successfully meet consumer demand.\"\nAdditional market trends and U.S. Snack Index highlights show:\nSummer gatherings evolve, but snacks are still a welcome guest.\nRecent IRI data shows more than three-quarters (77 percent) of Americans expect to make changes to their Memorial Day plans in 2020 – including 82 percent noting they'll stay at home. As such, people are adapting how they snack to fit their changing plans, with 86 percent saying they will probably bring snacks to a small group gathering and more than one in three (34 percent) expecting to do more virtual hangouts with friends over the next few months. As people continue looking for some level of normalcy, many are turning to snacking. \nThe Frito-Lay Snack Index found 85 percent of respondents say eating their favorite snack makes them feel normal. While the overwhelming majority (83 percent) said their favorite summer snacks remind them of good times and nearly half (48 percent) said eating their favorite snack makes them feel happy. Although there are many differences this year – favorite snacks are a mainstay and are seeing more demand. \nIRI retail sales data also shows salty s...

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