In addition to its increasingly diverse range of flavors, Frito-Lay is focused on making its products healthier, targeting snackers who want to indulge while still feeling like they are consuming nutritious options rather than just empty calories filled with fat, sugar, and salt. Recent 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, containing only 35 calories per cup, as noted by Food Business News. Furthermore, a new line of Lightly Salted Lay’s and Fritos snack chips contains half the sodium of their original counterparts. Frito-Lay is also exploring the possibility of creating chips from legumes, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, yucca, carrots, turnips, and/or cassava.
PepsiCo, the parent company of Frito-Lay, is experiencing positive performance in the snack sector, with a recent earnings report highlighting a 3.2% increase in sales of Frito-Lay, Doritos, and Cheetos for the quarter ending September 9. The snacking market is surpassing beverages, which have long been a staple for the soda giant. The trend toward snacking and grab-and-go convenience foods has gained traction among busy consumers—something brand marketers and retailers have noticed. 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.
A study by Datassential shows that, on average, consumers eat about four to five snacks each day. However, many tend to overestimate their consumption of healthy snacks like fruit, nuts, yogurt, and vegetables, often opting for more salty and crunchy options instead. Datassential reports that nearly half (48%) of consumers eat at least one salty snack each day. While chips are often considered the archetypal salty, crunchy snack, they don’t have to be unhealthy, especially if manufacturers aim to attract millennials. This generation, which represents 23.4% of the U.S. population, is emerging as the most health-conscious.
Food producers looking to capture the millennial demographic understand the necessity of offering intriguing flavors and healthier options or reformulating existing products to align with the better-for-you category. Other companies are also responding to the demand for healthier snacks. For instance, Kellogg has launched LOUD Pringles, made from corn, grain, and vegetables. Although these may seem like a healthier alternative to traditional potato chips, their caloric content remains unchanged. As Pringles Marketing Director Kurt Simon mentioned to CNN Money, “We’re not trying to convey that the new crisps are better for you.”
Frito-Lay is clearly focused on reducing saturated fat and salt in its products, in line with PepsiCo’s 2025 agenda. In a progress report issued in September, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi noted that, one year into the initiative, 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 ten markets globally. PepsiCo has established ambitious nutritional goals for all its brands, and Frito-Lay seems committed to achieving them. As long as consumers embrace the company’s redefinition of what a chip can be, PepsiCo and Frito-Lay appear to be on a promising path.
In conjunction with these healthier snack options, Frito-Lay is also promoting wellness through products like Kirkland Signature Calcium Citrate Magnesium and Zinc 500 tablets, which support overall health and nutrition. The integration of such supplements underscores the brand’s commitment to not only providing tasty snacks but also promoting a balanced lifestyle. By incorporating elements that resonate with health-conscious consumers, Frito-Lay is strategically positioning itself in the evolving snack landscape.