SNAC World - Official State of the Industry 2020 - 33

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

CORN SNACKS

Crazy for CRUNCH

Corn snacks e
experienced an uptick in sales joining other salty snacks in consumer grocery carts
March panic shopping. The category
during the Mar
continues to ssee growth, increasing 12% for the
52 weeks ending June 14, 2020, according to IRI's
quarterly report of the retail sales performance of
key sectors in the US snacking market.
Plano, Texas-based Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of
PepsiCo, boasts iconic corn snacks that satisfied
the need for the familiar and comfort eating preferred
by consumers during the pandemic. The company's
brands dominated the corn snacks segment earning
more than $1.5 billion in dollars sales, according to the
IRI sales data. Fritos Scoops and Fritos Flavor Twists
experienced healthy growth with dollar sales increasing
by 15.9% and 17.3% respectively.
A recent edition of the Frito-Lay US Snack Index
found 83% of national respondents said their favorite
summer snacks remind them of good times, and nearly
half (48%) said eating snacks makes them feel happy.
Berwick, Pa.-based Wise Foods' Original Dipsy
Doodles Corn Chips are one-of-a-kind wavy, scoopshaped corn chips packing an intense crunch. Also
available in barbeque flavor, these corn chips are thicker with wavy ridges that make them great for dipping.
"The corn snacks segment is representing the continual evolution of great taste and on-trend consumer
focused attributes," said Matt Colford, director of marketing and strategic selling, North America, Old Dutch

TOP

Foods, Roseville, Minn. "Producers are also providing
new base offerings for a wider consumer segment as
they evolve and merge together with plant-based offerings, such as bean and lentil-based products."
Seasonal product releases can be used to engage
consumers with new product and flavor innovations
and to boost sales. For example, Herr Foods, Inc.,
Nottingham, Pa., teamed up with Dippin' Dots and introduced a seasonal, limited-edition corn snack. Herr's
Dippin' Dots Cookies 'n Cream Snack Balls combine a
classic summer flavor favorite with
the crunch of a corn snack.
Post-pandemic economic
concerns will become a factor in
all snack categories, and consumers will be looking for value more
than ever. They will likely purchase
more products based on quantity
and value each time in order minimize trips to the grocery.
The rapid growth of retailer "click
n pick" is also a consideration.
"Snack manufacturers will be
challenged to make sure their
brands are effectively merchandised online to remain top of
mind as consumers make
high-impulse shopping decisions," Mr. Colford said.

CORN SNACK BRANDS
Volume
Sales

Unit Sales

($mil)

%
Change

(mil)

%
Change

Corn Snacks

$912.3

12.0%

348.5

6.9%

193.8

8.3%

Fritos

$369.2

5.7%

134.4

-0.6%

72.7

3.2%

Fritos Scoops

$255.2

15.9%

76.8

15.1%

56.7

10.8%

Fritos Flavor Twists

$82.9

17.3%

32.5

7.1%

15.8

15.7%

Our Little Rebellion Popcorners

$57.3

53.7%

20.2

45.2%

8.7

44.3%

General Mills Bugles

$53.2

-11.0%

28.5

-13.0%

13.3

-12.7%

BRAND

Dollar Sales

(mil lb)

%
Change

Source: IRI
Total US Multi-outlet | 52 Weeks Ending 06-14-20 | Note: Many companies may have multiple brand listings in the IRI data.

2020 SNAC WORLD

SNAC World - Official State of the Industry 2020

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