This will be a holiday season like no other. COVID has upended countless aspects of American life, and the fall and winter holidays will be no exception.
Snacking
Snack attack: Bakers go small as meal replacements gain ground
Forget three meals a day — many of today’s consumers (especially younger ones) turn to snacks for their nourishment.
Snacking on the rise
More and more Americans are turning to snacks instead of traditional meals to get their sustenance. Half of all consumer choose a snack over a meal four times a week, and more than a quarter go the snack route up to seven times a week.
The free-from movement is in full force
These days, what a product doesn’t have in it is often the key attribute for consumers. “Free-from” is taking up a higher percentage of new product launches every year, with sugar, carbs, red meat, gluten and dairy at the top of shoppers’ no-no lists.
Understanding today’s snackers
Snacks used to be something you ate between meals. For today’s consumers — especially younger ones — snacks often take the place of meals, and 94% of Americans say they snack at least once a day.