The Rise Of Snack-Based Meals And The Opportunity For Restaurants And Food Manufacturers

A shift has emerged in consumer eating habits: many are replacing traditional meals with snacks.

Mondelez International in its State of Snacking report says there is “a consistent trendline of consumers demonstrating a preference for snacks over meals.” They also emphasize that consumers are looking for snacks with less packaging and recyclable packaging.

Euromonitor International’s World Market for Snacks 2024 report indicates that 17% of adult Americans replaced meals with snacks, up from 14% in 2023. In the company’s report summary, they highlight how indulgent, clean-label, and multicultural snacks are getting noticed by consumers.

This trend presents an opportunity for food manufacturers, c-stores, food service, and restaurant brands to innovate and cater to evolving preferences.

Meal Convenience Isn’t A New Concept

Legend has it that sandwiches became popular so people could keep gambling. Protein shakes came on the scene in 1970s with waves of popularity since then. There are also smoothies, Lean Cuisine, and granola bars. You get the point.

The concept of substituting meals with convenient alternatives isn’t novel. The snack-based meal trend should be seen as an evolution of this idea, with a focus on a variety of finger foods.
Remember The ‘Girl Dinner’?

In the summer of 2023, the “girl dinner” trend was popularized online and on morning news shows. Pictures of charcuterie-style boards populated TikTok with many women boasting the benefits of an individual snack plate as the ideal meal.

This article on Bon Appetit sums it up well. Girl dinner is intuitive eating. It’s tapas. It’s cleaning out the fridge.

What does this tell food brands? Convenience, personalization, and a mix of flavors will appeal to a big chunk of the population.

But What About Nutritional Balance?

The downside to snack-filled meals? Nutritional gaps and a slippery slope into disordered eating to name two downsides, but perhaps this is another opportunity for food companies to provide filling, healthful meals. What snacks and/or combination of snacks could ensure a balanced mix of proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates?

Another Opportunity: Mix And Match Plates For Your Menu

How about your next limited time offer includes a mix-and-match snack plate with paired cocktails or mocktails? Sounds like an ideal happy hour on a sunny patio to us.

Providing mix-and-match snack options allows consumers to tailor their meals to their preferences and current mood. It could also present you an opportunity to tie in global flavors, something we know for certain is a trend that is here to stay. (Make sure to include some spreadable cheese in the mix, too.)

More Snack Ideas

FDR’s Vendor Partner Directory lists a number of snack providers for c-stores, food service, and restaurant brands. Here’s a few to consider:

• “Healthy Bites” from Kashi
• Fruit-based dips from Golden Cannoli Shell Co
• Guacamole from Gator Pears
• Sriracha meat sticks from Smoke House Jerky

Take a look at the entire directory here.

To Sum Up

Innovating snack options is a chance to explore new offerings and to attract adventurous eaters seeking new taste experiences and satisfy consumers looking for comfort in their favorite snacks.