Frito-Lay Snack Index Study Finds More Snacking, Online Purchasing Expected Over Holiday

Frito-Lay today announced the latest edition of its US Snack Index survey, revealing how shopping, cooking and snacking trends have changed this year and what’s expected to have a lasting impact in 2021 and beyond.

As the holidays approach, consumers are expecting their celebrations to look different compared to last year, with half planning to shop for their holiday groceries through an online retailer, up from just 15 percent in 2019, and the majority of consumers – 63 percent – planning to use cooking at home as a way to stay entertained in the coming months.

“Consumers have shifted their behavior with 58 percent snacking more since Covid-19 and shopping through new channels with online adoption up 40 percent,” said Mike Del Pozzo, senior vice president of sales and chief customer officer, Frito-Lay North America. “This holiday season we expect to see more small gatherings and a move away from potlucks, which means more families purchasing the whole meal. In fact, 13 percent expect to spend more on groceries for Thanksgiving this year, so the importance of offering variety and accessibility of America’s favorite snacks is a priority for Frito-Lay this holiday season.”

Additional market trends and US Snack Index highlights show:

300+ percent increase in Americans who plan to shop for holiday foods through an online retailer versus last year.

• Maintaining health and safety is a top concern (37 percent) for grocery shopping this holiday season, driving more consumers to adopt online grocery shopping.
• In fact, 50 percent of Americans plan to shop for their holiday groceries through an online retailer, up from just 15 percent in 2019.
• Snacks are the most likely category to be purchased online for the holidays, with 77 percent of consumers saying they are likely to do so.

The study also came to several conclusions. While holidays will look different, food will continue to play a major role. Consumers are stocking up on snacks more than ever before. Consumers are grocery shopping more during the week and online. Cooking returns as most preferred form of entertainment amid a resurgence of Covid – and snack foods are increasingly an ingredient in recipes. Classic flavors are dominant as winter months set in.

“These consumer and marketplace changes have enabled us to reevaluate how we ensure our products are always and everywhere,” added Del Pozzo. “Frito-Lay sets itself apart by owning every piece of the seed-to-shelf process, enabling agility to continuously innovate and meet consumer needs.”