Vending

Time constraints to drive snacking for 2024

Photo: Adobe Stock.

December 19, 2023

The line between snacking and main meals continues to blur as consumers are increasingly crunched for time. That's according to the fifth annual U.S. Snack Index from Frito-Lay North America and The Quaker Oats Co, both of which are part of PepsiCo Inc.

In 2024, Americans will say goodbye to hours spent marinating, chopping, roasting or baking, according to a press release on the suvey. 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.

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. Other survey findings include:

• More consumers are integrating their favorite snack products into meals, up 35% over previous years.
• 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.
• The rise of the self-proclaimed "snack savant" will undoubtedly make waves in 2024. 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%).
• Eighty-percent agree that combining multiple food products to create the perfect bite is an art form.
• 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%).
• 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%).