Snack Foods Manufacturing

The US snack foods manufacturing industry includes about 400 companies with combined annual revenue of $23 billion. Major companies include PepsiCo's Frito-Lay, Kraft's Nabisco subsidiary, and Kellogg's Retail Snacks business. The industry is concentrated: the top 50 companies account for 75 percent of industry revenue.

The snack food manufacturing industry includes companies that make roasted nuts and nut mixes; potato, tortilla, and corn chips; popped popcorn; and peanut butter. This industry doesn't include companies that make cookies, candy, saltines, pies, or chocolate-covered snacks.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by consumer tastes and health considerations. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations, effective marketing, and a strong sales force. Large companies have advantages in raw material purchasing, manufacturing efficiencies, distribution, and marketing budgets. Small operations can compete effectively by self-distributing products, selling online, or marketing snacks as gift items. The industry is capital-intensive: average annual revenue per employee is $500,000.

Snack food manufacturing competes against other "impulse" food items, including cookies and crackers, baked goods, fruits and vegetables, and fast food items.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major products are potato chips (30 percent of industry revenue); tortilla chips (20 percent); and bulk nuts (10 percent). Other products include canned nuts, corn chips, peanut butter, popcorn, and hard pretzels.

Salty snack foods are found in 99 percent of all American households. Research from the USDA and the Snack Food Association (SFA) finds that the average American household spends around ...