In addition to its growing selection of unique flavors, Frito-Lay is focused on making its products healthier to attract snackers who wish to indulge while still feeling that they are consuming nutritious options rather than just empty calories, fat, sugar, and salt. Notable innovations include Simply Tostitos Black Bean tortilla chips, which offer 4 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving; Sun Chips Veggie Harvest chips, crafted from vegetables and whole grains; and Smartfood Delight popcorn with only 35 calories per cup, as reported by Food Business News. The company has also launched a new line of Lightly Salted Lay’s and Fritos snack chips, containing half the sodium of the original varieties. Furthermore, Frito-Lay is exploring the possibility of creating chips using legumes, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, yucca, carrots, turnips, and/or cassava.
Snacks are performing well for PepsiCo, as its latest earnings report indicated a 3.2% increase in sales for Frito-Lay, Doritos, and Cheetos in the quarter ending September 9. The snack segment is currently outpacing the beverage sector, which has traditionally been a core focus for the soda giant. Snacking and grab-and-go convenience foods have become commonplace for many busy consumers, 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 a day, and 70% believe that any food can be considered a snack. A study by Datassential shows that consumers typically consume about four to five snack foods daily. However, many tend to overestimate their intake of healthy snacks—such as fruits, nuts, yogurt, and vegetables—while in reality, they tend to consume more salty and crunchy options. Nearly half (48%) of consumers eat at least one salty snack each day, as per Datassential’s findings.
While chips are often viewed as the quintessential salty and crunchy snack, this does not mean they have to be unhealthy, especially if manufacturers aim to attract millennials. This demographic is not only the largest in U.S. history, comprising 23.4% of the total population, but they are also becoming the most health-conscious generation. Food manufacturers eager to engage this group understand the need to provide exciting flavors and healthier products or reformulate existing ones to align with better-for-you standards.
Other companies are also responding to the trend toward healthier snacking. For example, Kellogg has launched a line of LOUD Pringles made from corn, grains, and vegetables. Although these may seem like a departure from traditionally unhealthy potato chips, they maintain the same caloric content. 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 committed to reducing saturated fat and salt in its products while aligning with PepsiCo’s 2025 sustainability agenda. In a progress report released in September, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi noted that the company had “reduced added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium in its beverage and snacks portfolio volume in 2016, compared to 2015 baselines” across its top 10 beverage and food markets globally. PepsiCo has set ambitious nutritional goals for all its brands, and Frito-Lay seems to be making every effort to meet these targets. As long as consumers embrace the company’s new interpretation of what a chip can be, PepsiCo and Frito-Lay appear to be on the right track toward healthier snacking options that could include ingredients akin to cvs calcium citrate d3 petites.