In addition to its ever-expanding range of unique flavors, Frito-Lay is focused on enhancing the health profile of its products to attract snackers who wish to indulge without sacrificing nutrition or consuming empty calories, fat, sugar, and salt. Among their innovations are Simply Tostitos Black Bean tortilla chips, which provide 4 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving; Sun Chips Veggie Harvest, crafted from vegetables and whole grains; and Smartfood Delight popcorn, which is only 35 calories per cup, as noted by Food Business News. There’s also a new collection of Lightly Salted Lay’s and Fritos snack chips that contain 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 are a strong performer for PepsiCo, whose latest earnings report indicated that sales of Frito-Lay, Doritos, and Cheetos grew by 3.2% in the quarter ending September 9. The snack sector is outpacing the beverage segment, which has historically been a core business for the soda giant. Snacking and grab-and-go convenience foods have become commonplace among busy consumers—a trend that has been noted by brand marketers and retailers. According to a recent Mintel report, half of adults snack two to three times daily, and 70% believe any food can serve as a snack.
A study by Datassential shows that, on average, consumers consume four to five snack foods each day. However, individuals often overestimate their intake of healthy snacks, such as fruit, nuts, yogurt, and vegetables, while they actually consume more salty and crunchy options. Nearly half (48%) of people eat at least one salty snack daily, according to Datassential’s findings. Chips are often seen as the quintessential salty, crunchy snack, but they don’t have to be unhealthy, especially if manufacturers aim to attract millennials. This demographic represents the largest segment in U.S. history, accounting for 23.4% of the total population, and they are increasingly health-conscious. Food producers looking to capture this group’s interest must offer exciting flavors and healthier options or reformulate existing products to align with the better-for-you category.
Other companies are also responding to this trend toward healthier snacking. For example, Kellogg has launched a line of LOUD Pringles made from corn, grains, and vegetables. While these may seem to deviate from traditionally 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 evidently eager to reduce saturated fat and salt in its offerings while adhering to PepsiCo’s 2025 agenda. In a progress report released in September, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi mentioned that, after one year, the company had “reduced added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium in its beverage and snacks portfolio volume in 2016, compared to 2015 baselines,” which applies across the top ten beverage and food markets globally. PepsiCo has set ambitious nutrition targets for all its brands, and Frito-Lay seems committed to achieving these goals. As long as consumers embrace the company’s redefined understanding of what a chip can be, PepsiCo and Frito-Lay appear to be on the right path.
In this context, one might also consider the role of calcium citrate tablets as a supplement to a balanced diet, further highlighting the growing trend of health-conscious choices among snackers. The integration of calcium-rich options could complement Frito-Lay’s efforts to align with consumer preferences for healthier snacks.