Mondelez International presented the fifth annual State of Snacking™ report, a global consumer trend study examining annual perceptions of consumers’ decisions about snack consumption. This year’s report reveals that consumers continue to prioritize, purchase, and prefer snacks amid the current global economic uncertainty.
Developed in collaboration with The Harris Poll, this report was initially launched five years ago to support Mondelez International’s mission to lead the future of snacking consumption.
The last five years of tracking attitudes and behaviors among thousands of people from different countries have shown a consistent trend of consumers who prefer snacks over meals.
EVOLUTION OF MINDSET ABOUT SNACKS
- Snack consumption remains one of the preferred eating habits. 88% of consumers claim to eat them daily.
- Six out of ten agree they prefer many small meals throughout the day rather than a few large ones.
This year’s results reveal that snack-eating behaviors continue to grow, including a notable increase in mindful snacking, with the chocolate category in particular closely associated with joy.
“The trend lines of the past five years of our State of Snacking report reinforce that, despite ongoing dynamic environments and shifting preferences, snack consumption remains an integral pillar in the lives of global consumers,” said Dirk Van de Put, Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International.
“As a more intentional consumer evolves, adopting snack consumption consciously, we continue to empower their choices through our brands while aspiring to become a global snack leader,” Van de Put added.
Related Article: What is The Future of Healthy Snacks?
The survey demonstrates consumers’ growing desire for snacks that offer satisfaction and alignment with personal and environmental values.
Consumers rely on snacks for perceived benefits such as increasing energy (75%), improving mood (74%), and aligning with fitness goals (70%).
Additionally, 63% of surveyed consumers seek snacks that contribute to minimizing their environmental impact.
CONSUMERS CONSISTENTLY EAT SNACKS:
Despite being more price-conscious, 66% of consumers agree they have not significantly changed their snack spending.
ATTENTIVELY:
85% of consumers claim to regularly enjoy a snack’s flavor, aroma, and texture while eating it; 78% claim to appreciate snacks more when consumed mindfully.
VENTURING:
Surveyed consumers leverage social media (62%) and seek novelty, with six out of ten considering themselves “snack adventurers” who enjoy trying new snacks.
PURPOSEFULLY:
More than two-thirds of global consumers agree they usually choose brands that align with their values, fueling a growing appetite for sustainably beneficial snacks.
MINDFUL SNACK CONSUMPTION
- Portion control is increasingly important. 67% of consumers claim to seek portion control in snacks.
- Seven out of ten agree that they would prefer a smaller serving of a rewarding snack than a larger serving of a low-fat/sugar alternative.
- 72% of respondents fear “a world without chocolate would be a joyless world,” a sentiment consistent across all generations and regions.
SNACK SELECTION
- Social media plays a crucial role in snack discovery. Over half of surveyed consumers expressed interest in an “instant purchase” option for snacks found online.
- 74% state that the novelty of flavor and texture combination is important to them when choosing a snack.
- 56% discover new snacks on social media, with even higher figures among younger generations.
SNACKING WITH PURPOSE
- 63% of surveyed consumers seek snacks that aim to minimize their environmental impact through actions such as carbon offsetting, prioritizing local ingredients, and optimizing supply chains to promote sustainability.
- 74% claim to usually recycle their snack packaging, representing a statistically significant increase of three percentage points compared to last year.
- Millennials are the most likely to say that they prioritize snacks with fewer plastic wrappers (71%).