One-third of Americans have just 30 minutes to prepare and
enjoy meals—less time than their average work commutes and TV
shows
#GirlDinner is for everyone in 2024
PLANO,
Texas, Dec. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The fifth
annual U.S. Snack Index confirms what many of us are feeling –
there are simply not enough hours in the day. A lack of time to
prepare, eat and enjoy meals – especially among parents and younger
generations – will blur the once-clear line between "snacks" and
"meals" in 2024.
Time is scarce. In 2024, Americans will say
goodbye to hours spent marinating, chopping, roasting or
baking.
"While Frito-Lay and Quaker's latest Snack Index confirms that
time is scarce, the data also reinforces the fierce passion that
consumers have for their food preferences," said
Denise Lefebvre, senior vice president of R&D for PepsiCo
Foods. "As we look to 2024, we have a tremendous opportunity
to continue meeting the evolving needs of our consumers. It has
never been more important for us to infuse that inspiration with
innovation, delivering on our promise of more smiles with every
bite."
In advance of 2024, Frito-Lay and Quaker are unveiling the three
food and snacking trends poised to shape the year ahead:
The Time Crunch Dilemma
While there might technically
always be 24 hours in a day, 80% of Americans feel
like their days actually have fewer hours. This burden is most
acutely felt by younger generations (85%) with no sign of letting
up, as 60% of consumers expect demands to increase in the new
year.
In 2024, Americans will say goodbye to hours spent marinating,
chopping, roasting or baking. A proliferation of the "no-prep
dinner," defined as a simple meal that requires little effort to
make, will continue to grow in popularity, alongside dinners rooted
in Americans' favorite snack products.
- A Dash to Dine: According to the Index, the average
American has only 52 total minutes per day to prepare, eat and
enjoy their meals. One-third of consumers note having even less
time, scraping together less than 30 minutes a day to prep and
enjoy meals.
- Snacks Move to Center Plate: More consumers are
integrating their favorite snack products into meals, up 35% over
previous years. Once a week, over half of consumers proudly use
snacks as a key ingredient in no-prep dinners, while more than
one-third seize this opportunity multiple times a week.
- Top Truths: When asked why snacks are an important part
of their no-prep repertoire, Americans report yearning for a
specific snack (51%) and being too busy to cook (44%) as the top
rationale.
- #GirlDinner Debunked: The internet might have dubbed
snack-focused meals as #GirlDinner, but in 2024, the trend is for
everyone. Men (92%) report being just as likely to use snack foods
in meals as women (93%), with 36% pushing snack and meal boundaries
more than in previous years.
Introducing the Snack Savant
The rise of the
self-proclaimed Snack Savant will undoubtedly make waves in 2024.
There is no shame in their snack game, as the Savants proudly
embrace all things food, adventure and community:
- Defining the Snack Savant: Millennials (83%) and
Gen Z (82%) are most likely to embrace this title, with the
majority of these Snack Savants also being city dwellers (77%).
They are resourceful – 55% report their favorite snack combinations
are inspired by what is already in the pantry – and lean on social
media for additional ideas (32%).
- Snacking as an Art, Not an Act: 80% agree that
combining multiple food products to create the perfect bite is an
art form. While 65% admit to having eccentric snack combos, they
are not the slightest bit embarrassed and will proudly "shout their
unique combos from the rooftops" anyway.
Snacking for Tasty Satisfaction
In 2024, snacking will
be centered on the importance of purpose, protein and packing a
punch:
- Protein Power: When eyeing snacks at the grocery
store, Americans cite protein as the most important nutritional
attribute (55%). Compared to previous years, an overwhelming 79% of
consumers admit it's more critical than ever for protein to take
center stage – especially true for those most crunched on time
(80%).
- Energy Boost: At least once a week, 60% of consumers
look to their favorite snack products to provide energy.
Millennials (72%) are by far the generation most in need of a
pick-me-up, compared to Gen Z (62%), Gen X (61%) and Baby Boomers
(46%). Parents have everyone beat, with 72% leveraging snacks for
energy.
- Taste Triumphs: Across generations, nearly
three-quarters of consumers (74%) refuse to sacrifice taste when
selecting their snacks. Baby Boomers are the most unwilling to
compromise on taste (84%), followed by Gen Xers at 75%.
No matter your snacking and food preferences, 2024 will be a
year bursting with flavor. For more information, visit
FritoLay.com/Snack-Index.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted
between December 6 and December 12,
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 snacks, 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
www.fritolay.com, on X (@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 X and
Instagram @Quaker.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/frito-lays-us-snack-index-predicts-2024-trends-amidst-an-increasing-time-crunch-302019073.html
SOURCE Frito-Lay North
America