Skip to Main Content
  • Beyond the Box
  • Industry Insights
  • Our Company
  • Investor Relations
  • News
  • Contact Us
PCA
PCA
  • Products
    • Corrugated Containers
      • Basic Designs
        • Regular Slotted Container (RSC)
        • Half Slotted Container (HSC)
        • Overlap Slotted Container (OSC)
        • Full Overlap Slotted Container (FOL)
        • Center Special Slotted Container (CSSC)
        • Snap or 1-2-3-Bottom Container (ALB)
        • Integral Divider Container
        • Telescopic Boxes (Design Style Trays, Infold Trays and Outfold Trays)
        • Double-Cover Container
        • Interlocking Double-Cover Container
        • Folders
        • Wraparound Blank
    • Retail Packaging and Displays
      • POP Displays
      • POS Packaging
      • Retail-Ready Packaging
    • E-Commerce Packaging Solutions
    • Heavy-Duty Packaging
      • BulkMaster™
      • ExportPack™
      • Grid-Lok™
    • Produce Packaging
      • Field-to-Retail (F2R)
      • BulkMaster™
    • Stock Packaging and Supplies
      • Packaging Supplies
      • Record Storage Boxes
      • Stock Agricultural Packaging
    • Hexacomb®
      • Protective Packaging
      • Pallets
      • Load Securement
    • Falconboard®
      • Falconboard® Print
      • Falconboard® All White
      • Falconboard Luminous™
      • Falconboard® All Black
      • Falconboard® Mount
      • Falconboard® Build
    • Interior Packaging
    • Freight Saver™ Dunnage Bags
    • Printing Capabilities
    • Containerboard
  • Services
    • Design Services
    • Technical Services
    • Brand and Marketing Services
    • Value Improvement Process
    • Electronic Transactions
    • Collaborative Project Management
    • Display and Graphics Sales
    • National Accounts Sales
  • Locations
    • United States
    • International
    • Garland Full-Line Plant
    • Franklin Sheet Plant
    • Fairfield Sheet Plant
    • El Paso Sheet Plant
    • Edmore Sheet Plant
    • Donna Sheet Plant
    • Conrad Sheet Plant
    • Chicago Full-Line Plant
    • Atlanta Full-Line Plant
    • Ashland Full-Line Plant
    • Arlington Full-Line Plant
    • Akron Sheet Plant
    • Gas City Full-Line Plant
    • Grandville Full-Line Plant
    • Hanover Sheet Plant
    • Harrisonburg Full-Line Plant
    • High Point Sheet Plant
    • Jackson Full-Line Plant
    • Jacksonville Full-Line Plant
    • Knoxville Sheet Plant
    • Lancaster Full-Line Plant
    • Los Angeles Full-Line Plant
    • Marshalltown Full-Line Plant
    • Miami Gardens Sheet Plant
    • Milwaukee Full-Line Plant
    • Minneapolis Full-Line Plant
    • Morganton Full-Line Plant
    • Newark Full-Line Plant
    • Northampton Full-Line Plant
    • Olive Branch Sheet Plant
    • Omaha Full-Line Plant
    • Opelika Sheet Plant
    • Pearl Full-Line Plant
    • Phoenix Full-Line Plant
    • Plano Full-Line Plant
    • Plymouth Full-Line Plant
    • Richmond Full-Line Plant
    • Roanoke Sheet Plant
    • Rutherfordton Sheet Plant
    • Salisbury Full-Line Plant
    • Salt Lake City Full-Line Plant
    • Salt Lake City Specialty Plant
    • South Gate Sheet Plant
    • Syracuse Full-Line Plant
    • Trexlertown Full-Line Plant
    • Vincennes Full-Line Plant
    • Waco Full-Line Plant
    • Winter Haven Full-Line Plant
    • Counce Containerboard Mill
    • Filer City Containerboard Mill
    • Tomahawk Containerboard Mill
    • Valdosta Containerboard Mill
    • Bentonville Creative Design Center
    • Liverpool Packaging and Supply Center
    • Elizabethtown Packaging and Supply Center
    • Orlando Packaging and Supply Center
    • Jacksonville Packaging and Supply Center
    • Vista Packaging and Supply Center
    • Mundelein Technical and Development Center
    • Westfield Packaging and Supply Center
    • Winchester Packaging and Supply Center
    • Miami Packaging and Supply Center
    • Middletown Full-Line Plant
    • Honea Path Full-Line Plant
    • Golden Valley Full-Line Plant
    • Burlington Full-Line Plant
    • Lake Forest Corporate Headquarters
    • Chicago Specialty Plant
    • Winter Haven Training and Resource Center
    • South Gate Creative Design Center
    • Fairfield Creative Design Center
    • Hong Kong Creative Design Center
    • Honea Path Rebuild Center
    • Chicago Sheet Plant
    • Huntsville Sheet Plant
    • City of Industry Sheet Plant
    • Reading Full-Line Plant
    • Cheswick Sheet Plant
    • Hackettstown Creative Design Center
    • Burley Full-Line Plant
    • Nampa Full-Line Plant
    • Salem Full-Line Plant
    • Salt Lake City North Full-Line Plant
    • Wallula Full-Line Plant
    • Denver Full-Line Plant
    • Atlanta Specialty Plant
    • Seattle Specialty Plant
    • DeRidder Containerboard Mill
    • Wallula Containerboard Mill
    • Trenton Hexacomb® Plant
    • Arlington Hexacomb® Plant
    • Auburn Hexacomb® Plant
    • Farmville Hexacomb® Plant
    • Kalamazoo Hexacomb® Plant
    • North Haven Hexacomb® Plant
    • Santa Fe Springs Hexacomb® Plant
    • Waco Sheet Feeder
    • Buffalo Grove Hexacomb Design Center
    • Boise Administrative Offices
    • Mooresville Creative Design Center
    • San Bernardino Sheet Plant
    • Miami Full-Line Plant
    • New Oxford Full-Line Plant
    • Valley Forge Sheet Plant
    • Gallatin Sheet Plant
    • Tampa Sheet Plant
    • Fair Lawn Creative Design Center
    • New Oxford Specialty Full-Line Plant
    • Providence Creative Design Center
    • Atlanta Fulfillment Center
    • Hanover Fulfillment Center
    • Columbus Full-Line Plant
    • Ashland Fulfillment Center
    • McClellan Full-Line Plant
    • Kingsburg Full-Line Plant
    • Waco Sheet Plant
    • Carrollton Sheet Plant
    • Hershey Creative Design Center
    • Marshfield Full-Line Plant
    • Richland Full-Line Plant
    • Harrisonburg Fulfillment Center
    • Jackson Containerboard Mill
    • Grand Rapids Full-Line Plant
  • Sustainability
    • Managed Forestry
    • Continuous Recycling
    • Renewable Resources
    • Responsible Business Practices
    • PCA Responsibility Report
  • Beyond the Box
    • Life Cycle of a Corrugated Box
    • The Myth of 100% Recycled Content
    • Profiles With a Purpose
    • What Goes in a Box?
    • What Impacts Box Performance?
    • Getting the Good Message Out
    • More Than Ink on Paper
    • Do You Speak Corrugated?
    • How Containerboard Is Made
    • How Corrugated Boxes Are Made
  • Industry Insights
    • Auto Parts
    • Snack Food Trends 2021
    • E-Commerce Pkg
    • New to E-Commerce
    • Sustainable Produce Packaging
    • Humidity and Temperature
    • New Shopping Behaviors Impact 2022 Retail Trends
    • 7 Retail Display Styles Companies Rely On
    • Retail Displays and Connected Experiences Meet Consumer Expectations
    • Corrugated Packaging’s Environmental Sustainability
    • Manufacturing Trends 2022: Technology and Managing Uncertainty
    • Auto Parts Testimonial
    • Lower Shipping Costs
    • Floral Packaging
    • Put PCA's Expertise to Work
    • Snaxpo 2019 Takeaways
    • Bakery Packaging
    • GFSI
    • Recycling
    • Heavyweight Packaging
    • TFB Success Story
    • Find the Right Packaging Vendor
    • Package Design Testing
  • Our Company
    • The PCA Advantage
    • Senior Management Team
      • Mark W. Kowlzan
      • Thomas A. Hassfurther
      • Robert P. Mundy
      • Pamela A. Barnes
      • Charles J. Carter
      • Jeff S. Kaser
      • Darla J. Olivier
      • Kent A. Pflederer
      • Bruce A. Ridley
      • Robert A. Schneider
      • D. Ray Shirley
    • Community Outreach
    • History
      • History (1990-1999)
      • History (1867-1970)
  • Investor Relations
    • Senior Management Team
      • Mark W. Kowlzan
      • Thomas A. Hassfurther
      • Robert P. Mundy
      • Pamela A. Barnes
      • Charles J. Carter
      • Jeff S. Kaser
      • Darla J. Olivier
      • Kent A. Pflederer
      • Bruce A. Ridley
      • Robert A. Schneider
      • D. Ray Shirley
    • Board of Directors
    • Corporate Governance
    • Shareholder Information
    • Stock Information
    • Financial Reports
    • SEC Filings
    • Presentations
    • Calendar of Events
    • News Releases
  • News
    • 2018-3-29 PCA Celebrates Groundbreaking for its New Box Plant
    • 2018-04-20 PCA Supports ICPF Dinner and Teleconference
    • 2018-05-09 PCA Holds Blood Drive at Corporate Offices
    • 2018-06-25 PCA Raises Funds for Children's Hospital After Theft
    • 2018-06-08 PCA Participates in FAME Program
    • 2018-07-05 PCA Helps “Do Lunch” To Benefit Meals on Wheels
    • 2018-07-27 PCA Publishes Its 2017 Responsibility Report
    • 2018-09-10 PCA Corporate Employees Visit Local Grade Schools
    • 2018-10-09 PCA Richmond Supports Area Schools
    • 2018-3-23 PCA DeRidder Mill Announces Scholarships
    • 2018-1-19 PCA Huntsville Gives Back to Its Community
    • 2018-10-29 Mark Kowlzan Named Global Containerboard CEO of the Year
    • 2018-11-13 PCA Employee Coaches Special Olympics Sailors
    • 2018-12-21 PCA Vincennes Helps Families in Need Over Thanksgiving
    • 2020-7-31 PCA Morganton Donates Materials to Local Robotics Program
    • 2020-10-7 PCA Mill Supports Food Needs at Local Community Center
    • 2020-12-1 PCA Tomahawk Named an Educator of the Year by TEAPIE
    • 2021-2-8 PCA’s Benjamin Frank Earns TAPPI’s Gunner Nicholson Gold Medal Award
    • 2021-4-20 COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Building a Box to Help Save Lives
    • 2021-8-17 PCA Releases 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report
    • 2021-10-6 PCA Richland Supports Local Fund and Food Drive
    • 2021-12-21 International Falls Mill Provides Year-Long Community Support
    • 2022-01-03 PCA Named One of the Worlds Best Employers by Forbes Magazine
    • 2020-6-11 PCA Atlanta Partners With Hosea Helps
    • 2020-4-13 PCA Employee Helps Neighborhoods Hit by Tornado
    • 2019-01-29 PCA Supports the Arts
    • 2019-03-14 Six PCA Plants Raise Funds to Benefit Toys for Tots
    • 2019-04-05 PCA Employee Provides Assistance to Guatemalan Town
    • 2019-05-15 PCA Plant Hosts Local First Grade Class
    • 2019-07-09 PCA Continues Partnership with the Red Cross
    • 2019-09-19 PCA Ashland Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary
    • 2019-10-25 PCA Employees Participate in Haitian Orphanage Projects
    • 2019-12-12 PCA Participates in Recruiting Event at Community College
    • 2020-1-20 PCA Named One of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek
    • 2022-06-01 PCA Designers Collaborate with NC State to Design Award-Winning Exhibit
    • 2020-5-8 PCA Morganton Supports Local Food Drives
  • Contact Us
  • Products
    • Corrugated Containers
      • Basic Designs
        • Regular Slotted Container (RSC)
        • Half Slotted Container (HSC)
        • Overlap Slotted Container (OSC)
        • Full Overlap Slotted Container (FOL)
        • Center Special Slotted Container (CSSC)
        • Snap or 1-2-3-Bottom Container (ALB)
        • Integral Divider Container
        • Telescopic Boxes (Design Style Trays, Infold Trays and Outfold Trays)
        • Double-Cover Container
        • Interlocking Double-Cover Container
        • Folders
        • Wraparound Blank
    • Retail Packaging and Displays
      • POP Displays
      • POS Packaging
      • Retail-Ready Packaging
    • E-Commerce Packaging Solutions
    • Heavy-Duty Packaging
      • BulkMaster™
      • ExportPack™
      • Grid-Lok™
    • Produce Packaging
      • Field-to-Retail (F2R)
      • BulkMaster™
    • Stock Packaging and Supplies
      • Packaging Supplies
      • Record Storage Boxes
      • Stock Agricultural Packaging
    • Hexacomb®
      • Protective Packaging
      • Pallets
      • Load Securement
    • Falconboard®
      • Falconboard® Print
      • Falconboard® All White
      • Falconboard Luminous™
      • Falconboard® All Black
      • Falconboard® Mount
      • Falconboard® Build
    • Interior Packaging
    • Freight Saver™ Dunnage Bags
    • Printing Capabilities
    • Containerboard
  • Services
    • Design Services
    • Technical Services
    • Brand and Marketing Services
    • Value Improvement Process
    • Electronic Transactions
    • Collaborative Project Management
    • Display and Graphics Sales
    • National Accounts Sales
  • Locations
    • United States
    • International
    • Garland Full-Line Plant
    • Franklin Sheet Plant
    • Fairfield Sheet Plant
    • El Paso Sheet Plant
    • Edmore Sheet Plant
    • Donna Sheet Plant
    • Conrad Sheet Plant
    • Chicago Full-Line Plant
    • Atlanta Full-Line Plant
    • Ashland Full-Line Plant
    • Arlington Full-Line Plant
    • Akron Sheet Plant
    • Gas City Full-Line Plant
    • Grandville Full-Line Plant
    • Hanover Sheet Plant
    • Harrisonburg Full-Line Plant
    • High Point Sheet Plant
    • Jackson Full-Line Plant
    • Jacksonville Full-Line Plant
    • Knoxville Sheet Plant
    • Lancaster Full-Line Plant
    • Los Angeles Full-Line Plant
    • Marshalltown Full-Line Plant
    • Miami Gardens Sheet Plant
    • Milwaukee Full-Line Plant
    • Minneapolis Full-Line Plant
    • Morganton Full-Line Plant
    • Newark Full-Line Plant
    • Northampton Full-Line Plant
    • Olive Branch Sheet Plant
    • Omaha Full-Line Plant
    • Opelika Sheet Plant
    • Pearl Full-Line Plant
    • Phoenix Full-Line Plant
    • Plano Full-Line Plant
    • Plymouth Full-Line Plant
    • Richmond Full-Line Plant
    • Roanoke Sheet Plant
    • Rutherfordton Sheet Plant
    • Salisbury Full-Line Plant
    • Salt Lake City Full-Line Plant
    • Salt Lake City Specialty Plant
    • South Gate Sheet Plant
    • Syracuse Full-Line Plant
    • Trexlertown Full-Line Plant
    • Vincennes Full-Line Plant
    • Waco Full-Line Plant
    • Winter Haven Full-Line Plant
    • Counce Containerboard Mill
    • Filer City Containerboard Mill
    • Tomahawk Containerboard Mill
    • Valdosta Containerboard Mill
    • Bentonville Creative Design Center
    • Liverpool Packaging and Supply Center
    • Elizabethtown Packaging and Supply Center
    • Orlando Packaging and Supply Center
    • Jacksonville Packaging and Supply Center
    • Vista Packaging and Supply Center
    • Mundelein Technical and Development Center
    • Westfield Packaging and Supply Center
    • Winchester Packaging and Supply Center
    • Miami Packaging and Supply Center
    • Middletown Full-Line Plant
    • Honea Path Full-Line Plant
    • Golden Valley Full-Line Plant
    • Burlington Full-Line Plant
    • Lake Forest Corporate Headquarters
    • Chicago Specialty Plant
    • Winter Haven Training and Resource Center
    • South Gate Creative Design Center
    • Fairfield Creative Design Center
    • Hong Kong Creative Design Center
    • Honea Path Rebuild Center
    • Chicago Sheet Plant
    • Huntsville Sheet Plant
    • City of Industry Sheet Plant
    • Reading Full-Line Plant
    • Cheswick Sheet Plant
    • Hackettstown Creative Design Center
    • Burley Full-Line Plant
    • Nampa Full-Line Plant
    • Salem Full-Line Plant
    • Salt Lake City North Full-Line Plant
    • Wallula Full-Line Plant
    • Denver Full-Line Plant
    • Atlanta Specialty Plant
    • Seattle Specialty Plant
    • DeRidder Containerboard Mill
    • Wallula Containerboard Mill
    • Trenton Hexacomb® Plant
    • Arlington Hexacomb® Plant
    • Auburn Hexacomb® Plant
    • Farmville Hexacomb® Plant
    • Kalamazoo Hexacomb® Plant
    • North Haven Hexacomb® Plant
    • Santa Fe Springs Hexacomb® Plant
    • Waco Sheet Feeder
    • Buffalo Grove Hexacomb Design Center
    • Boise Administrative Offices
    • Mooresville Creative Design Center
    • San Bernardino Sheet Plant
    • Miami Full-Line Plant
    • New Oxford Full-Line Plant
    • Valley Forge Sheet Plant
    • Gallatin Sheet Plant
    • Tampa Sheet Plant
    • Fair Lawn Creative Design Center
    • New Oxford Specialty Full-Line Plant
    • Providence Creative Design Center
    • Atlanta Fulfillment Center
    • Hanover Fulfillment Center
    • Columbus Full-Line Plant
    • Ashland Fulfillment Center
    • McClellan Full-Line Plant
    • Kingsburg Full-Line Plant
    • Waco Sheet Plant
    • Carrollton Sheet Plant
    • Hershey Creative Design Center
    • Marshfield Full-Line Plant
    • Richland Full-Line Plant
    • Harrisonburg Fulfillment Center
    • Jackson Containerboard Mill
    • Grand Rapids Full-Line Plant
  • Sustainability
    • Managed Forestry
    • Continuous Recycling
    • Renewable Resources
    • Responsible Business Practices
    • PCA Responsibility Report
  • Beyond the Box
    • Life Cycle of a Corrugated Box
    • The Myth of 100% Recycled Content
    • Profiles With a Purpose
    • What Goes in a Box?
    • What Impacts Box Performance?
    • Getting the Good Message Out
    • More Than Ink on Paper
    • Do You Speak Corrugated?
    • How Containerboard Is Made
    • How Corrugated Boxes Are Made
  • Industry Insights
    • Auto Parts
    • Snack Food Trends 2021
    • E-Commerce Pkg
    • New to E-Commerce
    • Sustainable Produce Packaging
    • Humidity and Temperature
    • New Shopping Behaviors Impact 2022 Retail Trends
    • 7 Retail Display Styles Companies Rely On
    • Retail Displays and Connected Experiences Meet Consumer Expectations
    • Corrugated Packaging’s Environmental Sustainability
    • Manufacturing Trends 2022: Technology and Managing Uncertainty
    • Auto Parts Testimonial
    • Lower Shipping Costs
    • Floral Packaging
    • Put PCA's Expertise to Work
    • Snaxpo 2019 Takeaways
    • Bakery Packaging
    • GFSI
    • Recycling
    • Heavyweight Packaging
    • TFB Success Story
    • Find the Right Packaging Vendor
    • Package Design Testing
  • Our Company
    • The PCA Advantage
    • Senior Management Team
      • Mark W. Kowlzan
      • Thomas A. Hassfurther
      • Robert P. Mundy
      • Pamela A. Barnes
      • Charles J. Carter
      • Jeff S. Kaser
      • Darla J. Olivier
      • Kent A. Pflederer
      • Bruce A. Ridley
      • Robert A. Schneider
      • D. Ray Shirley
    • Community Outreach
    • History
      • History (1990-1999)
      • History (1867-1970)
  • Investor Relations
    • Senior Management Team
      • Mark W. Kowlzan
      • Thomas A. Hassfurther
      • Robert P. Mundy
      • Pamela A. Barnes
      • Charles J. Carter
      • Jeff S. Kaser
      • Darla J. Olivier
      • Kent A. Pflederer
      • Bruce A. Ridley
      • Robert A. Schneider
      • D. Ray Shirley
    • Board of Directors
    • Corporate Governance
    • Shareholder Information
    • Stock Information
    • Financial Reports
    • SEC Filings
    • Presentations
    • Calendar of Events
    • News Releases
  • News
    • 2018-3-29 PCA Celebrates Groundbreaking for its New Box Plant
    • 2018-04-20 PCA Supports ICPF Dinner and Teleconference
    • 2018-05-09 PCA Holds Blood Drive at Corporate Offices
    • 2018-06-25 PCA Raises Funds for Children's Hospital After Theft
    • 2018-06-08 PCA Participates in FAME Program
    • 2018-07-05 PCA Helps “Do Lunch” To Benefit Meals on Wheels
    • 2018-07-27 PCA Publishes Its 2017 Responsibility Report
    • 2018-09-10 PCA Corporate Employees Visit Local Grade Schools
    • 2018-10-09 PCA Richmond Supports Area Schools
    • 2018-3-23 PCA DeRidder Mill Announces Scholarships
    • 2018-1-19 PCA Huntsville Gives Back to Its Community
    • 2018-10-29 Mark Kowlzan Named Global Containerboard CEO of the Year
    • 2018-11-13 PCA Employee Coaches Special Olympics Sailors
    • 2018-12-21 PCA Vincennes Helps Families in Need Over Thanksgiving
    • 2020-7-31 PCA Morganton Donates Materials to Local Robotics Program
    • 2020-10-7 PCA Mill Supports Food Needs at Local Community Center
    • 2020-12-1 PCA Tomahawk Named an Educator of the Year by TEAPIE
    • 2021-2-8 PCA’s Benjamin Frank Earns TAPPI’s Gunner Nicholson Gold Medal Award
    • 2021-4-20 COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Building a Box to Help Save Lives
    • 2021-8-17 PCA Releases 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report
    • 2021-10-6 PCA Richland Supports Local Fund and Food Drive
    • 2021-12-21 International Falls Mill Provides Year-Long Community Support
    • 2022-01-03 PCA Named One of the Worlds Best Employers by Forbes Magazine
    • 2020-6-11 PCA Atlanta Partners With Hosea Helps
    • 2020-4-13 PCA Employee Helps Neighborhoods Hit by Tornado
    • 2019-01-29 PCA Supports the Arts
    • 2019-03-14 Six PCA Plants Raise Funds to Benefit Toys for Tots
    • 2019-04-05 PCA Employee Provides Assistance to Guatemalan Town
    • 2019-05-15 PCA Plant Hosts Local First Grade Class
    • 2019-07-09 PCA Continues Partnership with the Red Cross
    • 2019-09-19 PCA Ashland Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary
    • 2019-10-25 PCA Employees Participate in Haitian Orphanage Projects
    • 2019-12-12 PCA Participates in Recruiting Event at Community College
    • 2020-1-20 PCA Named One of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek
    • 2022-06-01 PCA Designers Collaborate with NC State to Design Award-Winning Exhibit
    • 2020-5-8 PCA Morganton Supports Local Food Drives
  • Contact Us
Back to All Industry Insights Articles

Tracking 2021 Consumer Snack Trends

4/29/2021

The numbers tell the story — the United States’ appetite for snacking has grown considerably since the COVID-19 pandemic began more than a year ago.

A recent Harris Poll conducted in conjunction with Mondelez International, maker of more than 150 global snack brands, revealed a change in eating habits, and snacking plays a key role. Nearly half of adults (46%) say they are snacking more during the pandemic. Plus, remote work at home has changed the way we eat, with 70% of millennials preferring snacking to meals. Foodprocessing.com adds that the COVID crisis has impacted snack food trends in two specific ways — more time at home means more snacking, but a healthier lifestyle is also top of mind.

Here are some other major snack category trends that have emerged:

Start-Ups Grow, Legacy Companies Consolidate

In addition to the shift in consumer eating habits, the industry has also seen these macro trends emerge:

  • The number of snack manufacturers has shrunk as larger, established companies have gobbled up some of the smaller, niche businesses.
  • Similar to the craft beer industry, there’s been an explosion of start-up companies, many focused on producing healthier snack options.

“There’s a big arena for new, successful start-ups,” says PCA’s Charlie Kennedy, who is also a past board member of SNAC International. “Some have grown very quickly over the past year and have consolidated with the industry’s major players.”

David Walsh, Vice President of Membership and Communications for SNAC International, believes there is room for growth in the category, even post-pandemic. “We expect emerging brands to establish multi-category and multi-flavor options.There’s a great growth opportunity, and we expect to see more entrants into the category.”

Snack options will grow as new start-ups enter the category to meet consumer demand. Sally Lyons Wyatt, Executive Vice President and Practice Leader for Client Insights with IRI, confirmed this during an appearance on the SNAC Cast podcast. “Snacks are where it’s at — consumers are eating either smaller portions throughout the day or eating three meals and snacking. And in some cases, they’re blurring their occasions where a snack is a meal and a meal is a snack,” she says.

“Better-for-You” Choices Expand

In the past, snacking was associated with indulgence, but not as much anymore. One of the key consumer snack trends is making better choices.

Meat and Cheese“When it comes to better-for-you, there are a lot of perishable items, like snap peas and dip,” notes Jessica Cristadoro, Chief Science Officer of Food Business Consulting LLC on bakeryandsnacks.com. “There also are a lot of meat and cheese combinations. Sargento and others are combining cheese, nuts and fruit to get into the everyday snacking category.”

According to ingredients provider ADM, 31% of people are buying snacks focused on health, with 50% preferring snacks featuring beneficial ingredients. Walsh confirms those findings, pointing out that consumer demand is high for snacks that are:

  • high in fiber and protein
  • low in carbs
  • made from whole grains
  • calcium fortified
  • gluten free
  • rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, probiotics or collagen
  • and most of all, great in taste

Walsh says the biggest driver of healthier snacks in 2020 was baked apple chips with all fruit-based chips growing well. Other top sellers included non-traditional vegetable-based savory snacks (including those with cheese), protein meat snacks, pork rinds, popcorn and pretzels.

“There is a delicate balance between consumers’ overall quest for healthier living and the need for enjoyment,” Lyons Wyatt says. “Manufacturers must understand where consumers are willing to indulge and focus on developing products that don’t completely derail dietary improvement efforts.”

It’s All About Sustainable Packaging

Last year, consumers demanded more than just great products. They also pushed for companies to be responsible corporate citizens in everything from social responsibility to sustainability. And companies are responding.

For example, General Mills is introducing Nature Valley Crunchy granola bars with completely recyclable wrappers that consumers actually bring to How2Recyle centers located in grocery stores.

Additionally, pre-filled displays made with recyclable materials help reduce retail labor needed for setup and dismantle. They are often designed to remain on the pallet (full, half or quarter) and placed on the retail floor.

Snack Purchases Grow Offline and Online

Online sales of snacks jumped dramatically during the pandemic (39% vs. 20%). It is expected that more people will buy online, even after the pandemic (28% vs. 20%). However, the reality is that more people still shop in stores for snacks.

PistachiosWhile the pandemic brought a huge rise in home-delivered e-commerce, the snack industry continues to thrive on impulse in-store purchases, where products are less susceptible to damage. Consumers continue to make quick trips to nearby stores, often picking up their groceries (including snacks) curbside.

“Most folks still are buying products locally,” says Judson Gibbs, a PCA packaging designer. “Consumer behavior has shifted toward delivery-oriented options or store pickup, and some of these things will stick.”

For those consumers, the buying decision isn’t based on what they see in front of them on the shelf. During the pandemic, it was based on availability. That’s one reason club membership retailers such as Costco and Sam’s Club have seen tremendous growth in both larger packages and variety snack packs.

“Many consumers are buying in bulk because they are reducing the number of trips to the store,” Gibbs says. “The club store industry stands to benefit the most from this. Maybe you didn’t have a club membership before the pandemic, but if that was the only place you could get toilet paper, you begin to realize there are some great values in all categories, including snacks.”

While e-commerce food purchases will continue to grow, the snack category will grow both in-store and online.“Omnichannel marketing (which provides a seamless consumer experience across all marketing channels) is probably going to be more important for snack companies,” Walsh says. “It’s unifying some of the in-store practices with the online advantages of e-commerce and social media.”

The Lines Between Mealtime and Snack Time Have Blurred

For many, snacking on the go has been replaced by snacking at home. Interestingly, multiple studies indicate younger Americans — especially Gen Z and Millennials — have taken it a step further. Snacks have actually replaced meals. Walsh cites these facts:

  • 90% of people snack multiple times daily
  • 7% eat no meals
  • 92% replace one weekly meal with snacks

“A lot of these younger people aren’t eating three square meals a day,” Walsh says. “They are eating five or six smaller meals, and many are snacks.”

These trends are likely to grow as people return to a more mobile lifestyle.

Beyond the Pandemic

Consumers have been seeking normalcy with familiar comfort foods, and snacks have filled this role. It was the second largest growth category (behind personal care) during the pandemic.

The Harris-Mondelez poll expects snacking to be part of the “new normal.” Ultimately, 65% surveyed believe “the current pandemic will have a long-term impact on how we consume snacks as a society.”

Walsh predicts the snack category will continue to grow, benefiting from pent-up demand. “It will be interesting to see which of these mini-trends that have come out of the COVID era stick and which ones will go back to the way things were,” he says. “As consumers gradually get back out there with more mobile lifestyles, some of the convenience-sized, single-serve packaging will take off.”

With snack cravings here to stay, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is prepared with snack packaging options that make it easier to put products into consumers’ hands — no matter if they buy it in-store or online.

Feed the Snack Need

PCA offers a full line of products to meet you e-commerce and in-store needs. Learn more about other topics in food packaging.

Share:
NextPrevious
Industry Insights - Snack Trends 2021
Pullquote - Social Media | Snack Trends 2021
Share:
NextPrevious
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Doing Business with PCA
  • News
linkedin twitter instagram
© Copyright 2022 Packaging Corporation of America | 1 North Field Court, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | 800.456.4725
Sitemap Privacy Statement Terms of Use