6 ways to sell more snacks

Americans’ penchant for noshing outside traditional meal periods has posed an opportunity some restaurants are missing because they don’t grasp the emerging market’s nuances, according to a new study from Technomic. 

The Chicago researcher discovered, for instance, that 83 percent of consumers snack at least once a day, yet very few indulge that hunger in a full-service restaurant.

That’s just one surprising dynamic of what some call the fifth daypart (though purists note there are actually four snacking occasions). Here are a few other currents that are shaping that market, according to Technomic’s survey of consumers.

Price is no more of a factor in meeting a customer’s snacking needs than portion size, according to the Technomic data. Indeed, the public apparently is taking a cue from Goldilocks: The ideal snack is neither too large nor too small, but just right. And that consideration is just as important as the cost, Technomic found.

As snack options proliferate, consumers can be expected to seek more novelty. Among the new options are likely to be what Technomic calls “elevated ethnic bites,” or items such as bao, pierogis and both Italian and Japanese rice balls.

Sampler-type snacks that enable customers to combine several different items into one order would be a hit among younger customers because of their preference to mix and match, Technomic observed.

Currently, most snacks are purchased without a beverage, Technomic found. Encouraging the sale of an accompanying beverage could deliver newfound sales, it advised.

Gone are the days when the term “snacks” was synonymous with greasy finger foods eaten from a ripped-open cellophane bag. Consumers have redefined snacks, viewing them today as potentially healthful components of a sound diet. Look for more restaurants and retailers to play to that perception with additional health-minded snacking choices, said Technomic.

Technomic discovered that snacks are not replacing breakfast, lunch or dinner, but serving as an add-on eating occasion. The researcher noted that breakfast items in particular are serving as an attractive between-meal option to consumers.

More of the report is available from Technomic.