In addition to its growing selection of unique flavors, Frito-Lay is focused on enhancing the healthiness of its products to attract snackers who wish to indulge while still feeling they are consuming nutritious, better-for-you options rather than just empty calories, fat, sugar, and salt. Innovations include Simply Tostitos Black Bean tortilla chips, which offer 4 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving; Sun Chips Veggie Harvest, made from vegetables and whole grains; and Smartfood Delight popcorn, featuring only 35 calories per cup, as noted by Food Business News. There is also a new range of Lightly Salted Lay’s and Fritos snack chips, which contain half the sodium of the original versions. Furthermore, Frito-Lay is exploring the possibility of creating chips from legumes, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, yucca, carrots, turnips, and/or cassava.
Snacks have proven to be a strong performer for PepsiCo, with its latest earnings report indicating a 3.2% increase in sales for Frito-Lay, Doritos, and Cheetos in the quarter ending September 9. The snack segment is outpacing beverage sales, traditionally a core business for the soda giant. The trend of snacking and grab-and-go convenience foods is increasingly common among busy consumers—a shift that has caught the attention of brand marketers and retailers. A recent Mintel report reveals that half of adults snack two to three times daily, and 70% believe any food can serve as a snack. According to a study by Datassential, consumers typically consume about four to five snacks each day, although they often overestimate their intake of healthy options like fruit, nuts, yogurt, and vegetables. In reality, many tend to enjoy more salty and crunchy snacks, with nearly half (48%) admitting to eating at least one salty snack daily, as per Datassential’s findings.
Chips are often considered the archetype of salty, crunchy snacks, but they don’t have to be unhealthy, especially for manufacturers targeting millennials. This demographic is not only the largest in U.S. history—comprising 23.4% of the total population—but is also becoming the most health-conscious generation. Food brands aiming to capture the attention of this group recognize the need to provide intriguing flavors and healthier products or to reformulate existing options to align with the better-for-you category.
Other companies have also embraced the trend towards healthier snacking. Kellogg has launched a line of LOUD Pringles made from corn, grain, and vegetables. While these may seem like a healthier alternative to traditional potato chips, their caloric content remains unchanged. As Pringles Marketing Director Kurt Simon stated to CNN Money, “We’re not trying to convey that the new crisps are better for you.”
Frito-Lay is clearly eager to reduce saturated fat and sodium in its products, aligning with PepsiCo’s 2025 agenda. In a progress report released in September, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi announced that the company had “reduced added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium in its beverage and snacks portfolio volume in 2016, compared to 2015 baselines,” which reflects a commitment across the company’s top 10 beverage and food markets globally.
PepsiCo has set ambitious nutrition goals for all its brands, and Frito-Lay seems to be making strides to meet them. As long as consumers resonate with the company’s new interpretation of what constitutes a chip, both PepsiCo and Frito-Lay appear to be on the right path. Additionally, for those seeking nutritional support, products like Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate can be found on platforms like Amazon, further blending the concepts of health and snacking in the modern marketplace.