America’s Changing Snack Landscape: Efforts to Avoid Slowing Sales
Anyone who has been following the snack and beverage industry in the last few months, and last year, has noticed that certain markets have started to show a small decline in sales. One of the main causes of this decline in sales was last year’s severe economic recession, which many American workers felt in different ways. The economic depression ranged from layoffs at large companies to small businesses, rising food prices, and many additional financial concerns.
Another reason for declining sales in some beverage and snack markets is the growing focus on obesity in the United States. In particular, initiatives that have been initiated by the federal government, First Lady Michelle Obama, and other popular American leaders, figures, and celebrities.
This particular focus on America’s obesity problem has changed the snacking landscape for the American snack consumer. Like many consumers they are now focusing their efforts on diets with healthier attitudes towards snacking. While the demand for the traditional chocolate bar is still great, so is the demand for interesting snacks or drinks with an added health benefit.
Consumers in the United States are presented with all kinds of information regarding healthy eating in general. From television media to internet videos that have gone viral, the regular consumer is more aware of what is happening in the consumer environment around him.
As the economy still recovers this year, big-name beverage and snack companies are focusing on improving their product lines and working to warn of any possible future declines in sales. Recently, it was announced that the big names in the snack industry pledged to support Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative. His campaign focuses on improving the promotion of childhood obesity and also fighting it.
The companies announced that by 2012 they expect to reduce a total of 1 trillion calories in their products. Overall, these big-name snack companies plan to lower the calorie count in snacks, rework recipes, and devise new ways to deliver great-tasting snacks, without all the sugar, fat, and calories.
For example, PepsiCo recently announced the introduction of a “designer salt.” They worked on creating a salt crystal that was specially designed to reduce the amount of sodium a consumer ingests when snacking. Also, other companies have refined some recipes to include less sodium, fat, and calories.
Snack companies realize the need to adapt to a changing landscape like this. With efforts on both sides of the fence to improve image and overall product lines, sales can improve. What does the near future look like? The shift from sugary sodas and high-fat snacks to healthier options should continue, as more companies look to improve their product lines.
What can we expect from this change? One need not worry about traditional snack sales. Everyone will always enjoy a candy bar from time to time. What a healthier attitude speaks effectively to is the fact that as businesses and advocacy groups alike advocate for healthy snacks, the healthy snack market will improve and balance other potentially declining markets.
