In addition to its growing selection of unique flavors, Frito-Lay is focused on enhancing the healthiness of its products to attract snack lovers who wish to indulge while still feeling they are consuming nutritious and better-for-you options rather than just empty calories, fats, sugars, and salts. Notable innovations include Simply Tostitos Black Bean tortilla chips, which offer 4 grams of protein and 5 grams of iron per serving, as well as the same amount of fiber; Sun Chips Veggie Harvest chips made with vegetables and whole grains; and Smartfood Delight popcorn, which contains only 35 calories per cup, as highlighted by Food Business News. The company has also introduced a new range of Lightly Salted Lay’s and Fritos snack chips, featuring half the sodium of their original counterparts. Furthermore, Frito-Lay is exploring the possibility of creating chips from legumes, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, yucca, carrots, turnips, and/or cassava.
Snacks have been performing well for PepsiCo, with the latest earnings report indicating that sales of Frito-Lay, Doritos, and Cheetos increased by 3.2% in the quarter ending on September 9. The snack sector is outpacing the beverage division, which has traditionally been a core business for the soda giant. For many busy consumers, snacking and grab-and-go convenience foods have become standard, a trend that has not gone unnoticed by brand marketers and retailers. According to a recent Mintel report, half of adults snack two to three times daily, and 70% believe that any food can serve as a snack.
Research by Datassential shows that consumers typically eat around four to five snack foods each day, yet many tend to overestimate their intake of healthy snacks such as fruits, nuts, yogurt, and vegetables. In reality, they consume more salty and crunchy snacks, with nearly half (48%) reporting that they eat at least one salty snack daily, as per Datassential’s findings. While chips are often seen as the quintessential salty, crunchy snack, they don’t have to be unhealthy, especially if manufacturers aim to attract millennials. This demographic not only represents the largest segment in U.S. history—accounting for 23.4% of the total population—but they are also emerging as the most health-conscious generation. Food producers aiming to capture this audience’s attention must provide interesting flavors and healthier products or reformulate existing ones to align with the better-for-you category.
Other companies are also reacting to the trend toward healthier snacks. Kellogg has launched a line of LOUD Pringles made from corn, grains, and vegetables. Although these might seem like a shift away from conventional unhealthy potato chips, their caloric content remains unchanged. As Pringles Marketing Director Kurt Simon stated to CNN Money, “We’re not trying to convey that the new crisps are better for you.” Frito-Lay is clearly keen on reducing saturated fats and salt in its products to align with PepsiCo’s 2025 agenda. In a progress report issued in September, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi noted that in the first year, the company had “reduced added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium in its beverage and snacks portfolio volume in 2016, compared to 2015 baselines,” across the company’s top 10 beverage and food markets globally.
PepsiCo has established ambitious nutritional goals for all its brands, and Frito-Lay seems to be taking steps to meet those objectives. As long as consumers embrace the company’s redefinition of what a chip can be, PepsiCo and Frito-Lay appear to be moving in the right direction. Additionally, with the rising calcium citrate price, consumers are increasingly aware of the nutritional value in their snack choices, making it imperative for brands to adapt accordingly. This focus on health is crucial, especially as Frito-Lay continues to innovate and respond to the evolving market demands.