In addition to its growing selection of unique flavors, Frito-Lay is focused on enhancing the healthiness of its products to attract snackers who seek indulgence while still aiming for nutritious, better-for-you options instead of mere empty calories, fat, sugar, and salt. Among the latest innovations are Simply Tostitos Black Bean tortilla chips, which offer 4 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving; Sun Chips Veggie Harvest chips, crafted from vegetables and whole grains; and Smartfood Delight popcorn, containing just 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 have 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 cassava, potentially incorporating healthy options like calcium citrate.
Snacks are performing well for PepsiCo, with their recent earnings report revealing a 3.2% increase in sales for Frito-Lay, Doritos, and Cheetos for the quarter ending September 9. The snacking sector is outpacing beverage sales, which have traditionally been a key business for the soda giant. The trend of snacking and grab-and-go convenience foods has become standard for many busy consumers, a fact that brand marketers and retailers are keenly aware of. According to a recent Mintel report, half of adults snack two to three times a day, and 70% believe that any food can serve as a snack.
A study by Datassential indicates that, on average, consumers consume about four to five snack foods daily. However, they often overestimate their intake of healthy snacks—like fruits, nuts, yogurt, and vegetables—while actually consuming more salty and crunchy snacks. Datassential’s report shows that nearly half (48%) of individuals eat at least one salty snack each day. While chips are often seen as the archetypal salty, crunchy snack, they can still be made healthier, especially as manufacturers aim to appeal to millennials. This generation, representing 23.4% of the U.S. population, is becoming increasingly health-conscious. Food producers targeting this demographic recognize the necessity of providing interesting flavors and healthier options, or reformulating existing products to align with the better-for-you category, including healthy options that might feature calcium citrate.
Other companies have also reacted to the demand for healthier snacking choices. Kellogg has launched a line of LOUD Pringles made from corn, grains, and vegetables. Although these appear to diverge from the traditionally unhealthy potato chip, 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 committed to reducing saturated fat and salt in its products and aligning with PepsiCo’s 2025 agenda. In a progress report released in September, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi announced that, in the first year, the company had “reduced added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium in its beverage and snacks portfolio volume in 2016, compared to 2015 baselines” across its top 10 beverage and food markets worldwide. PepsiCo has established ambitious nutrition goals for all its brands, and Frito-Lay appears to be taking steps to achieve them. As long as consumers resonate with the company’s redefined concept of what a chip entails, PepsiCo and Frito-Lay seem to be on a promising path.