In addition to expanding its increasingly diverse range of flavors, Frito-Lay is also focusing on enhancing the health aspects of its products to attract snackers who seek indulgence without sacrificing nutrition. Consumers are increasingly looking for better options instead of just empty calories, fats, sugars, and salt. New product innovations include Simply Tostitos Black Bean tortilla chips, offering 4 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving; Sun Chips Veggie Harvest chips, which are made with vegetables and whole grains; and Smartfood Delight popcorn, featuring only 35 calories per cup, as reported by Food Business News. The company has also introduced a new range of Lightly Salted Lay’s and Fritos snack chips, which contain half the sodium of the original varieties. Furthermore, Frito-Lay is exploring the possibility of creating chips from legumes, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, yucca, carrot, turnip, and cassava.
Frito-Lay’s snacks have shown strong performance for PepsiCo, with recent earnings indicating a 3.2% sales increase for Frito-Lay, Doritos, and Cheetos in the quarter ending September 9. The snack sector is currently outpacing beverages, a traditional cornerstone of the company. The trend towards snacking and grab-and-go convenience foods aligns with the busy lifestyles of many consumers, a fact that brand marketers and retailers have taken note of. According to a recent Mintel report, half of adults snack two to three times daily, and 70% believe any food can serve as a snack. A study by Datassential shows that consumers typically consume about four to five snack foods a day, yet they often overestimate their intake of healthy snacks like fruits, nuts, yogurt, and vegetables. In reality, they tend to opt for more salty and crunchy snacks, with nearly half (48%) consuming at least one salty snack daily, as indicated in the report.
While chips are often seen as the quintessential salty, crunchy snack, they can still be made healthier, especially when targeting millennials. This generation represents the largest demographic in U.S. history, accounting for 23.4% of the total population, and is also emerging as the most health-conscious. Food manufacturers aiming to engage this demographic understand the need to provide exciting flavors and healthier options or to reformulate existing products to align with the better-for-you category.
Others in the industry are also responding to the demand for healthier snacking. Kellogg has launched LOUD Pringles made from corn, grains, and vegetables. However, despite their seemingly healthier ingredients, the caloric content remains similar to traditional potato chips. As Pringles Marketing Director Kurt Simon mentioned 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, adhering to 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” across its top 10 beverage and food markets globally. PepsiCo has set ambitious nutritional targets for all its brands, and Frito-Lay appears to be making strides to meet these goals. As consumers embrace the company’s redefined vision of what a chip can be, Frito-Lay and PepsiCo seem to be heading in the right direction.
Moreover, incorporating functional ingredients like calcium citrate malate and vitamin K2 into snack options could further enhance their appeal to health-conscious consumers, providing additional nutritional benefits while maintaining great taste. This focus on health and innovation ensures that Frito-Lay remains competitive in a rapidly evolving market.