U.S. Consumers Want Snacks with a “Broader Consciousness,” Survey Finds

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This article originally appeared in Presence Marketing’s February 2022 Industry Newsletter

By Steve Hoffman

A majority of consumers are incorporating their environmental and social values into what snacks they choose to buy, and these trends are likely to intensify, according to the Third Annual State of Snacking, published by The Harris Poll, Mondelez and NextAtlas.

A poll of 3,055 people globally found that 85% of consumers said they either purchase or would like to buy snacks from companies that are working to offset their environmental impact and 87% or those surveyed say they preferred products that are produced in a way that is fair and lawful to all the workers involved.

Data from the poll also revealed that between 75% and 78% of consumers say low-waste packaging, fair labor practices, animal welfare and environmental concerns are currently impacting their food choices, and these same consumers expect those issues to affect 92% or more of their food choices in the next 10 years.

"We now see data emerging that demonstrate how consumers are evolving their snacking behaviors and purchasing decisions to more fully align with their values," Mondelez CEO Dirk Van de Put said in a statement.