In addition to expanding its range of increasingly unique flavors, Frito-Lay is striving to create healthier options to attract snack lovers who desire indulgence while still feeling they are consuming nutritious and better-for-you products rather than just empty calories, sugar, salt, and fat. Among the notable 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 highlighted by Food Business News. Furthermore, there’s a new line of Lightly Salted Lay’s and Fritos snack chips that have half the sodium of the original varieties. Frito-Lay is also exploring the possibility of creating chips from legumes, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, yucca, carrots, turnips, and/or cassava.
Snacks have been a strong performer for PepsiCo, with their latest earnings report indicating that sales of Frito-Lay, Doritos, and Cheetos increased by 3.2% in the quarter ending September 9. The snack sector is outpacing beverages, which have traditionally been a core business for the soda giant. The trend of snacking and grab-and-go convenience foods has become the norm for many busy consumers, a shift that hasn’t gone unnoticed by brand marketers and retailers. 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 reveals that consumers, on average, consume about four to five snack foods daily. However, people tend to overestimate their intake of healthy snacks—such as fruit, nuts, yogurt, and vegetables—while in reality, they consume more salty and crunchy snacks. Nearly half (48%) of respondents eat at least one salty snack per day, as reported by Datassential.
Chips are often seen as the quintessential salty, crunchy snack, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be healthier, especially if manufacturers aim to attract millennials. This generation, which represents 23.4% of the U.S. population, is becoming increasingly health-conscious. Food producers looking to engage this demographic understand the need to provide exciting flavors and healthier products or reformulate existing ones to fit the better-for-you category.
Other companies have also responded to the trend of healthier snacking. Kellogg has introduced a line of LOUD Pringles made from corn, grains, and vegetables. Although this may seem like a shift from the traditionally unhealthy potato chip, the caloric content remains unchanged. 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 focused on reducing saturated fat and salt in its products to align with PepsiCo’s 2025 agenda. In a progress report released in September, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi stated 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,” covering its top 10 beverage and food markets worldwide.
PepsiCo has established ambitious nutrition goals across all its brands, and Frito-Lay is making efforts to meet them. As long as consumers resonate with the company’s redefinition of what a chip can be, PepsiCo and Frito-Lay seem to be on the right path. For those looking for nutritional supplements, products like Citracal Slow Release 1200 are available on Amazon, showcasing a growing awareness of health among consumers, which could influence their snack choices too.