Data from Frito-Lay and Quaker Show Snacking is
Critical in Reducing the Stress of Long Summer Trips – And More
Important Than Winning or Clean Bathrooms
PLANO,
Texas, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As
temperatures rise and Americans eagerly anticipate the pleasures of
summertime, Frito-Lay and Quaker today released the first-ever
joint U.S. Summer Snack Index, shedding light on consumer
preferences and habits to ensure unforgettable memories this
season.
"Food is an important centerpiece for the
joy that summertime brings," said Denise
Lefebvre, SVP, PepsiCo Foods R&D.
"Food is an important centerpiece for the joy that summertime
brings," said Denise Lefebvre,
senior vice president, PepsiCo Foods R&D. "At Frito-Lay and
Quaker, we are deeply invested in understanding what our consumers
want so they can have the right flavors, variety, snack styles, and
even packaging options all season."
Frito-Lay and Quaker's Summer Snack Index marks more than four
years since Frito-Lay first issued its inaugural trend report. As
snacking continues to play a large role in the lives of Americans –
49% of which note enjoying three or more snacks per day1
– the recurring report is an important yardstick for the evolution
of food preferences and purchasing decisions through the lens of
evolving consumer behavior.
"Americans snack more in the summer, whether they're inside,
outdoors, or on the move. From boosting road trip morale to
complementing an outdoor potluck, today's data confirms the
integral role that snacks will play in many of this season's shared
moments and activities."
Get Road Trip Ready
With experts predicting a surge in
summer travel comparable to pre-pandemic levels, Frito-Lay and
Quaker unearthed key insights to keep the good times rolling:
- Planning snacks before hitting the road can "greatly reduce the
stress" of a long road trip, according to 85% of Americans. That's
good news for those looking to embark on new snacking adventures,
with nearly three out of four people declaring these trips as a
chance to enjoy offerings they've never tried before.
- Snacks are a priority pitstop. Road trippers under 40 years old
are twice as likely to prioritize finding the snacks they want over
clean bathrooms on their stops.
- Are you there yet? Probably not, but snacks can help. Americans
note that snacks provide an important morale boost during road
trips (43%) and are key to staying sane in traffic (39%). While 44%
of people report hiding snacks to keep them from other passengers,
nearly one-quarter say they have used snacks to break an awkward
car silence.
- Tunes or Treat? 41% of people note they would rather have
control over road trip snacks than the music. Millennials (46%)
show the greatest preference for snack control, as do parents (49%)
when compared to non-parents (36%).
The Ultimate Summer Soiree
- Sharing is caring – in fact, Americans note "something for
everyone" (74%) and "easy to share" (63%) are the ideal attributes
for food and snacks this summer. When compared to "easy-to-make"
dishes, shareability still comes out on top (72% vs. 28%). Check
out MoreSmilesWithEveryBite.com for hundreds of summertime recipes
inspired by Frito-Lay and Quaker favorites!
- Avoid barbecue blunders. Party guests note overcooking the food
(70%), waiting too long to serve food (62%), and not having enough
snacks or appetizers (51%) among the worst hosting mistakes.
- Bringing uninvited guests to a party is considered this
summer's worst party foul (63%), with baby boomers (70%) and
Gen-Zers (55%) showing the biggest spread of opinion on the faux
pas.
Outdoor Escapes
- Winning isn't everything, at least next to snacks. When it
comes to outdoor sports, more than half of people (53%) say
post-game snacks are more important than winning the game. Women
(59%) are more likely to be excited for the post-game snacks than
men (46%).
- Parents note being in charge of their children's after-game
snacks is more stressful than getting their kids to the game on
time (42%). Dads feel the most anxiety over the post-game ritual
(46%), compared to Moms (38%).
- Nearly 60% of people say that snacks can make or break beach
days, citing dropped snacks in the sand (42%) and running out of
snacks (34%) as critical beach bummers.
- Convenience is key – especially in the great outdoors. The
survey found that consumers are more likely to purchase snacks that
are conveniently packaged (79%), with individually wrapped snacks
also preferred (52%). When selecting snacks for their children,
parents noted variety (70%) was their top choice, with flavor and
convenience tied for the second-most important attributes
(64%).
Frito-Lay and Quaker have a wide array of offerings that are
sure to deliver for consumers this season:
- When planning for adventures, Frito-Lay Minis – bite-sized
versions of America's favorite snacks – are conveniently packaged
in an easy-to-pour canister, making it simpler than ever to snack
no matter the destination.
- Quaker® Rice Snacks are a great choice for parents looking to
achieve "cool status," while capitalizing on the importance of
variety, flavor and shareability. Enjoy savory summer flavors like
Tangy Barbecue, Buffalo Ranch, Sea Salt & Lime and sweet
varieties like Quaker® Rice Thins Salted Caramel and Cocoa
Crunch.
- Ignite tastebuds with Jack
Link's® Doritos® Spicy Sweet Chili flavored or Flamin' Hot®
flavored Original beef jerky and meat sticks. The bold, epic mashup
combines Jack Link's high-quality
meat snacks and Frito-Lay's fan-favorite flavors to offer snackers
the perfect road trip offering.
- Customize a Frito-Lay Variety Pack to ensure there's something
on-hand for everyone. From sweet and salty, to crunchy and chewy,
there's a snack combination for every occasion — all in one
box!
For more information, visit FritoLay.com/Snack-Index.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted
between May 9 and May 15, 2023, among
a national sample of 2,000 nationally representative US adults ages
18+. The interviews were conducted using an email invitation and an
online survey. The data has been weighted to ensure an accurate
representation of the U.S. adult population ages 18+.
About Frito-Lay North America
Frito-Lay North America is the $23 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo,
Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Frito-Lay snacks include Lay's
and Ruffles potato chips, Doritos and Tostitos tortilla chips and
branded dips, Cheetos snacks, Stacy's pita chips, PopCorners
popped-corn snack, SunChips multigrain snacks and Fritos corn
chips. The company operates 30+ manufacturing facilities across the
U.S. and Canada, more than 200
distribution centers and services 315,000 retail customers per week
through its direct-store-delivery model. Learn more about Frito-Lay
at the corporate website, www.fritolay.com, on Twitter (@fritolay),
on Instagram (@fritolay) and on Facebook (Frito-Lay).
About The Quaker Oats Company
The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., one of
the world's largest consumer packaged goods companies. For more
than 140 years, Quaker's brands have served as symbols of quality,
great taste and nutrition. Quaker® Oats, Quaker® Rice Cakes and
Quaker Chewy® Granola Bars are consumer favorites. For more
information, please visit www.QuakerOats.com,
www.Facebook.com/Quaker or follow us on Twitter and Instagram
@Quaker.
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1 Wyatt,
Sally L. The Snacking Supernova. Circana, Inc.,
https://www.iriworldwide.com/IRI/media/Library/the-snacking-supernova-pdf.pdf
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SOURCE Frito-Lay North
America