Customers come in and out of convenience stores looking for a variety of products and, more often than not, they come in for a salty snack. Salty snacks such as potato chips, pretzels and ready-to-eat popcorn are the No. 1 in-store category growth driver for c-stores, according to the NACS State of the Industry report. But consumer tastes have changed, and they are looking for new and different options to satisfy their salty-snack cravings.
Beyond the Traditional Potato Chip
It’s no secret that consumers often seek out crunchy snacks, but they’re now looking for something beyond the usual potato chip—a product seen as an indulgence to the 50% of global consumers actively trying to reduce their weight.
Crackers and snack mixes, in contrast to potato chips, have shown great promise as an alternative choice with untapped growth potential. Cheez-It brand crackers are hands down the people’s favorite; in fact, Cheez-It crackers are the No. 1 cracker brand in c-stores, according to Nielsen data. Consumers also want tastes that are new and different, with bold and extreme flavors growing faster than other salty-snack flavors. These types of flavors have grown more than 28% in the past two years compared to just more than 14% for traditional cheese flavors in the c-store channel, according to Nielsen.
The Cheez-It product line is expanding to meet consumers' increasing demand for bolder flavors. Flavors such as Sriracha, which is the No. 1 fastest-growing flavor, according to Nielsen, can be found in the new Cheez-It Snack Mix, a zesty snack mix devoted to the spicy flavor of Sriracha. You can find more unique flavors with Cheez-It Duoz Cheddar Jack and Baby Swiss crackers and Cheez-It Grooves crispy cracker chips in Zesty Cheddar Ranch, or Hot & Spicy Cheddar. With these new options, consumers can satisfy their craving for crunchy, salty and boldly flavored-snacks with the Cheez-It full line of products.
Riding the Immediate-Consumption Wave
C-store consumers are also frequently coming in and out looking for a snack they can consume immediately—typically within three hours of purchase. Surveys show that just over half of monthly snack consumption is of the immediate kind, and 68% of total shoppers consume something immediately after purchase on a weekly basis, with the c-store being their location of choice, according to GfK Global’s Immediate Consumption Big Bet Study.
This is a large segment of consumers, and one Kellogg’s can leverage into sales for your c-store. Of all purchases made for immediate consumption, a Kellogg’s product is in the customer’s basket for 61% of them, according to GfK. With consumers overwhelmingly coming in and out for something salty, savory and satisfying, having a product such as Cheez-It crackers on your shelves will help you meet consumers’ needs and drive sales.
This post is sponsored by W.K. Kelloggs Co.