5 Key Takeaways from Mondelez’s 2022 State of Snacking Report

With consumers spending more time at home since the beginning of the pandemic and the pain of inflation cutting into meal budgets, snacking has become an even more important part of consumers’ routines and one that increasingly serves as a meal replacement, according to Mondelez International’s latest State of Snacking report, released last week.

Consumers Are Replacing Meals with Snacks More Frequently

Just over half of households worldwide (55%) make a meal out of snacks at least once per week and 71% of consumers are snacking at least twice a day, according to the report, which surveyed 3,530 adults from 12 countries.

Snack consumption has risen considerably over the past decade; in 2021, 86% of consumers said they snack regularly, up from 78% in 2013. Meanwhile the average number of food snacks consumed per day per person rose to 3.3, up from 3.1 in 2013, a 6% increase.

The rise of snacking in lieu of meals is in large part being driven by Gen Z and younger millennials (aged 25 to 34), with women being the larger growth driver for snack brands. In 2021, 40% of survey respondents said they “skipped at least one main meal yesterday,” compared to 30% in 2013.

Between 2020 and 2022, snacking as a meal replacement rose across dayparts. In 2020, only 50% said they would eat a snack for breakfast, 49% for lunch and 46% for dinner. By 2022, 61% reported having a snack for breakfast, 61% for lunch and 60% for dinner.

Digital Discovery Shapes Shopping Behavior

As snacking increases, consumers are also seeking out new products to shake up their routines. Over half (56%) said they need more “snack inspiration” – i.e. new ideas and brands to try, with millennials (69%) and Gen Z (67%) proving to be the most adventurous.

This coincides with online discovery becoming more significant; 56% of consumers said they are now more likely to find a new snack brand through digital channels than through in-person retail experiences. About 78% said they either have or would buy a snack in-store after seeing the product online first, and 52% have already done so (compared to 50% of reported buying a snack as a result of in-store sampling).

Consumers Are Becoming More Mindful About Snacking

Sugar content and ingredient labels may still be chief concerns among consumers, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still enjoying indulgent treats.

However, globally 80% of consumers said they are now more selective about the indulgent snacks they eat and 68% check nutrition labels before purchasing (by country, about 65% of Americans and 70% of Canadians said they check labels). They’re also taking more time to enjoy these indulgences, as 78% said they are more likely to “take time to savor” their snacks and the same amount said they regularly snack “to pamper or reward themselves.” Around 61% said they take time to portion out snacks before eating.

Since the pandemic began, chocolate consumption has increased; in 2019, 56% of consumers reported eating chocolate, which rose to 61% in 2022. Roughly two-thirds, 65%, said that chocolate is a staple of their diets and 72% said they rely on “little luxuries like chocolate” to alleviate stress.

To Each Their Own Snacking

Personalization matters as 90% of consumers said they agree everyone has different nutritional needs and 84% feel that snacks should meet those unique requirements. Around 65% worldwide said they are on the lookout for snacks that meet their own nutritional needs.

Just over six in 10 (61%) said they are looking for snacks that offer a personalized experience, whether it’s recommendations based off of past snack purchases or specific flavor preferences. Just under half (49%) said they seek out personalized packaging, including 62% of millennials and 58% of Gen Z shoppers. As well, 61% said they would go out of their way to find their favorite snacks and 63% would pay extra for a nostalgic childhood favorite.

Sustainability Still Matters

In all ways, shapes and forms, consumers are looking for eco-conscious brands. Seven in 10 consumers said they prioritize snacks that have less plastic packaging and 69% feel sustainable packaging helps them to enjoy snacks more. Meanwhile 72% said they typically recycle plastic packaging that they do purchase. When asked, 82% said they wish more snacks had biodegradable packaging.

It likely comes as no surprise that younger consumers are leading the demand for sustainability, as 70% of millennials and 69% of Gen Z said they believe that snacks with a higher environmental impact should cost more, compared to 63% of consumers overall. Among consumers actively looking for snacks with less environmental impact, Gen Z and millennials also over-index at 72%, compared to 66% overall.

Snacks should also be subject to a carbon offset tax, according to 61% of consumers surveyed in the report. The idea is most popular in countries like India (82%), Indonesia (77%) and China (76%), while western markets such as the United States (53%), the U.K. (51%) and Canada (45%) were less enthusiastic about a new tariff.