A Guide to Snacking: Salty Snacks

Americans really love their snack foods, and the salty snacks category continues to be a tasty draw for convenience store customers.

Sales and unit volume for these products both saw a healthy rise during the 52-week period ended Feb. 14, 2015 compared to the prior year, according to Nielsen data. Sales rose by more than 7 percent, while unit volume “chipped in” a year-over-year gain of 5 percent.

Potato chips are the dominant player at c-stores in terms of segment share. One in every four dollar sales during the 52 weeks ended Feb. 14, 2015 came from the venerable potato chip, a slight gain vs. the prior year.

The following trends are driving the salty snack category’s continued popularity:

• Nuts for nuts and popcorn
• Chips anyone?
• Salty & sweet
• Main meal accompaniment

Click here to continue reading the “Top Trends in Salty Snacks” special feature, published in the May Convenience Store News Guide to Snacking.