Vending

Frito-Lay, Quaker research unveils summer snacks' importance

Image: Adobe Stock.

May 24, 2023

With experts predicting a surge in summer travel comparable to pre-pandemic levels, Frito-Lay and Quaker unearthed insights to keep the good times rolling in the companies' first joint U.S. Summer Snack Index. Highlights, according to a press release on the survey, include:

• Planning snacks before hitting the road can "greatly reduce the stress" of a long road trip, according to 85% of Americans. Nearly three out of four people cited these trips as a chance to enjoy offerings they've never tried before.
• Snacks are a priority pitstop. Road trippers under 40 years old are twice as likely to prioritize finding the snacks they want over clean bathrooms on their stops.
• Americans note that snacks provide an important morale boost during road trips (43%) and are key to staying sane in traffic (39%). While 44% of people report hiding snacks to keep them from other passengers, nearly one-quarter say they have used snacks to break an awkward car silence.
• 41% said they would rather have control over road trip snacks than the music. Millennials (46%) show the greatest preference for snack control, as do parents (49%) when compared to non-parents (36%).
• Respondents said "something for everyone" (74%) and "easy to share" (63%) are the ideal attributes for food and snacks this summer. When compared to "easy-to-make" dishes, shareability still comes out on top (72% versus 28%).
• Barbecue party guests note overcooking the food (70%), waiting too long to serve food (62%), and not having enough snacks or appetizers (51%) among the worst hosting mistakes.