As retailers build out their autumn planograms, several key trends are emerging in the snacks space that are changing how they approach the segment. The rise of GLP-1s are shifting how many consumers view snacks, while inflation and economic pressures are changing how they spend their money.
As a result, operators are leaning into value-focused promotions, loyalty innovation and pack size experimentation, among other merchandising strategies, to account for these shifts.
CStore Decisions sat down with Haley Guthrie, category manager at Fremont, Ohio-based Beck Suppliers, which does business under the FriendShip Kitchen banner, to learn more about what the chain is seeing this fall.
CStore Decisions (CSD): How important are seasonal and limited-time snack products to your fall merchandising strategy?
Haley Guthrie (HG): Seasonal and limited-time snack products play an important role in our merchandising strategy throughout the year. Providing these offerings helps differentiate us from the competition, create excitement in our stores and give customers a reason to come back and see what’s new. They also allow us to keep our assortment fresh and relevant while capitalizing on seasonal flavors and emerging trends that appeal to our shoppers.
CSD: What snack trends are you seeing emerge in your stores this fall? Are there any products or flavors that are generating more interest than they did a year ago?
HG: We are seeing overall snack sales increase year-over-year (YOY). At the individual product level, we are seeing particularly strong YOY growth in SunChips, Dots and Wonderful Pistachios. We are also continuing to look for unique products that add variety to our assortment and give customers more options.
CSD: Which snack categories are performing particularly well for you right now — salty, meat snacks, sweet snacks or another segment?
HG: Sweet snacks are seeing particularly strong YOY growth. We have made a push to keep our sets full and in stock while also offering attractive, value-driven deals for our customers. We also look for unique products to add variety to our assortment, which has helped drive consistent YOY growth in the category.
CSD: What role do price and pack size play in snack purchases right now?
HG: Price and pack size are important considerations in our purchasing decisions. We try to maintain consistent pricing relative to pack size, especially across products within the same category, so customers see a clear value comparison. When evaluating products and making purchasing decisions, we look at the price point, pack size and how the product compares with similar items in the category. This helps us maintain competitive pricing while offering the right variety of sizes and price points for our customers.
CSD: If you had to identify one snack trend that retailers should be watching closely this fall, what would it be and why?
HG: I have been seeing lots of people make their own version of a fall trail mix. It is similar to a sweet and sour candy salad. It includes the consumers’ favorite sweet and salty snacks all combined to create a unique trail mix. I think the combination of sweet and salty is going to be big this year.
