Meat+Poultry - August 2021 - 79

the growing number of consumers who prefer
to snack multiple times a day rather than eat
three square meals.
" America is a nation of snackers and we're
no longer as averse to snacking as we once
were. Instead, snacking is viewed as a way
to have a quick bite in between meals or as
a convenient meal side, " said Darren Seifer,
food and beverage analyst, The NPD Group,
Chicago. " Snacking is woven into the fabric
of our daily lives, and this way of thinking
provides endless opportunities for food and
snack marketers. "
During the past five years, Americans
added 25 between-meal snacking occasions
per capita, from 505 between-meal snacking
occasions per capita in 2015 to 530 in 2020,
according to NPD's Eating Patterns in America,
an annual compilation of the company's daily
tracking of the who, what, when, where, why
and how of US consumers' eating behaviors.
Consumption of snack foods at meals
increased from 21% in 2010 to 26% in 2020.
All these snacking occasions have driven
consumers to be more aware of their choices.
Mindful snacking is all about choosing
better-for-you foods as mini meals, rather
than traditional snacks from years ago, which
tended to be high-carb, high-fat, nutrient-void
treats. Many mindful snackers are following
higher-protein diets, making meat and poultry
snacks attractive options.
" There's this pursuit of protein and nutrient
density in snacks, as well as global flavors, "
said David Wright, senior manager - marketing,
The Hartman Group, Bellevue, Wash. " This is
especially true of younger consumers, Gen Z
and millennials. They are really open to those
kinds of experiences in their food. "
Snacking insights published in July
2021 by Cincinnati-based data powerhouse
84.51°, a wholly owned subsidiary of The
Kroger Co., state that while popcorn was a
favorite snack early in the pandemic, showing
almost 50% growth year over year as families
turned to movie and game nights at home for
entertainment, sales have largely subsided.
Meat snacks are gaining momentum into 2021,
which is in line with consumer aspirations for
healthier lifestyles.
" Eating healthier is a long-term consumer
trend in America that is here to stay, yet most
of the snacks in America are highly processed
foods with little true nutritional value, " said
Jaxie Alt, co-chief executive officer and chief
marketing officer, Stryve Foods LLC, Plano,
Texas, manufacturers of zero-sugar meat
snacks. " Consumers are really gravitating
to this idea of super high protein and
no sugar. "
Joe Oblas, co-CEO and co-founder of
Stryve Foods, said, " We firmly believe that
Stryve is well-positioned to capitalize
on favorable better snacking trends as
well as the considerable whitespace for
health-driven innovation in what remains
a large, fragmented category with
underdeveloped channels. "
FRIDGE AND FREEZER
Even before the pandemic,
perishable meat snacks
were gaining momentum, as
consumers sought out highprotein,
low-carbohydrate
mini meals. Options in the
freezer remain sparce, with
most frozen meat snacks
being bite-sized portions of
breaded and seasoned chicken.
They may come in portion packs for individual
servings, sometimes even with a dipping
sauce side. However, the fact that they require
preparation - microwaving - limits their appeal
as a quick, on-the-go snack.
With perishable meat snacks, the action
is in the refrigerator, where meat cubes,
slices and strips often get paired with cheese,
maybe with some nuts, dried fruit or crackers.
Sometimes it's just meat.
John Soules Foods, Tyler, Texas, for
example, developed a line of refrigerated
seasoned all-natural chicken bites sold in 3-oz
portion packs. Varieties include agave citrus,
blackened, fajita, lemon herb and Thai-style
chili teriyaki. The blackened variety's ingredient
list is the simplest. It reads " boneless, skinless
chicken breast, water, contains less than
2% of the following: salt, dehydrated garlic,
dehydrated onion, spices, potato starch, vinegar,
yeast extract and citrus extract. "
Chicken cubes are getting vended, too.
Chicago-based Farmers Fridge provides betterfor-you
fresh food through company-owned
vending machines placed in airports, hospitals
and office buildings. Since the pandemic, many
Tyson Foods includes its
" any'tizers " and Air Fried
chicken bites in its onthe-go
snack offerings.
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