In addition to expanding its range of increasingly unique flavors, Frito-Lay is focused on enhancing the healthiness of its products to attract snackers who wish to indulge without sacrificing nutrition. Consumers are seeking better-for-you options rather than just empty calories, fat, sugar, and salt. Some of the innovations include Simply Tostitos Black Bean tortilla chips, which provide 4 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving; Sun Chips Veggie Harvest chips made with vegetables and whole grains; and Smartfood Delight popcorn, which contains only 35 calories per cup, as noted by Food Business News. Furthermore, a new line of Lightly Salted Lay’s and Fritos snack chips features half the sodium of their original counterparts. Frito-Lay is also exploring the possibility of creating chips from legumes, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, yucca, carrot, turnip, and/or cassava.
PepsiCo is experiencing strong performance in the snack sector, with its latest earnings report indicating a 3.2% increase in sales for Frito-Lay, Doritos, and Cheetos for the quarter ending September 9. This snacking trend is outpacing the beverage sector, which has historically been a core business for the soda giant. Busy consumers have increasingly turned to snacking and grab-and-go convenience foods, a trend that marketers and retailers cannot ignore. According to a recent Mintel report, half of adults snack two to three times daily, and 70% believe that any food can serve as a snack. A study by Datassential reveals that, on average, consumers eat about four to five snack foods each day, yet they often overestimate their intake of healthy snacks like fruits, nuts, yogurt, and vegetables. In reality, many people consume more salty and crunchy snacks, with nearly 48% admitting to eating at least one salty snack daily.
While chips may be the archetypal salty, crunchy snack, they don’t necessarily have to be unhealthy, especially if manufacturers aim to attract millennials. This generation not only represents the largest demographic in U.S. history, accounting for 23.4% of the total population, but they are also becoming increasingly health-conscious. Food producers eager to capture the attention of this group must offer intriguing flavors and healthier options or reformulate existing products to fit the better-for-you paradigm. Other companies are also responding to the healthier snacking trend. Kellogg has launched a line of LOUD Pringles made from corn, grains, and vegetables. However, despite the shift away from traditionally unhealthy potato chips, the caloric content remains unchanged. As Pringles Marketing Director Kurt Simon explained to CNN Money, “We’re not trying to convey that the new crisps are better for you.”
Frito-Lay is evidently committed to reducing saturated fat and salt in its products, aligning with PepsiCo’s 2025 agenda. In a progress report released in September, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi stated that the company had “reduced added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium in its beverage and snacks portfolio volume in 2016, compared to 2015 baselines,” referencing the company’s top 10 beverage and food markets globally. PepsiCo has set ambitious nutrition goals across all its brands, and Frito-Lay appears to be doing its part to meet these objectives. As long as consumers resonate with the company’s new interpretation of what a chip can be, PepsiCo and Frito-Lay seem to be on the right path. To complement a balanced diet, many health-conscious consumers are also turning to supplements like Genestra Cal Mag Raspberry Liquid, which provide essential nutrients. This growing awareness of health and nutrition among snackers reinforces the trend toward healthier options in the snack industry, including innovations like Genestra Cal Mag Raspberry Liquid that support overall wellness.