September 24, 2024 – In Latin America, consumers enjoy snacking throughout the day for its convenience, quick energy boost, and ability to satisfy cravings between meals. Here, we dive into the consumer snacking trends, which include changing attitudes toward snacking, wellness and healthy snacking, and what may develop in the future attitude of Latin American consumers.
Snacking Habits
Healthy snacking trends research reveals that 18% of consumers in Latin America are snacking on-the-go, up from 14% the previous year. Gen Z and Millennials are driving this shift, with both groups snacking more than once a day away from home. While all generations still prioritize home as the top snacking location, younger consumers prefer more diverse locations away from home.
Gen Z and Millennials in Latin America show higher snack consumption at food outlets while traveling, and at the workplace, respectively. Both generations prefer snacking outside, such as in parks or open spaces, as compared to other generations in Latin America. This highlights the rising demand for convenient snack options that cater to their dynamic lifestyles.
Wellness Snacking Trends
Healthy snacking trends research shows that in Latin America, younger consumers are more likely to snack to relieve stress. 28% of Gen Z and 27% of Millennials are turning to snacks for tension relief as compared to other generations. Snacking usually amplifies positive emotions, although some consumers experience guilt after consuming snacks.
Snacking trends show that emotions like craving, happiness, comfort, anxiety, and relief drive snack consumption. Despite this, 65% of Latin American consumers have become more mindful of their snacking habits. Moreover, 56% believe snacking enhances their emotional well-being, with Millennials and Gen Z associating snacking with emotional well-being more than other generations. This reflects consumer attitudes toward mindful snacking that supports mental health.
Morning Snacking Trends
Consumers in Latin America prioritize healthy morning snacks. They are most likely to value healthy choices, convenience, and nutritious ingredients in morning snacks. Indulgent choices, functional ingredients, and satiety also add significance to morning snacking.
In Latin America, the popular choices of morning snacks include fruits and vegetables, bread snacks, sweet biscuits, dairy snacks, and cereal and energy bar options. Morning snacks often feature various flavors like fruity, sweet, savory, creamy, salty, and umami, catering to diverse tastes. The morning occasion presents a potential opportunity for a healthy future of snacking solutions as consumers want a guilt-free start to the day.
Healthy Indulgence Snacking Trends
In Latin America, 51% of Mexican consumers and 34% of Brazilian consumers indulge in a snack at least once a day. This is driven by a preference for rich taste, sweet or savory flavors, and natural origins. Brazilian consumers associate indulgence more with high-calorie snacks than Mexicans.
Healthy snacking trends research displays that consumers look for indulgence in sweet biscuits, bread snacks, cake, pastries and sweet goods categories, where enjoyment and comfort are key drivers. While 41% of Latin American consumers prefer snacking experience indulgent when it’s ‘tasty yet healthy,’ many still prioritize enjoyment over health.
The challenge for brands is to make indulgent snacks healthier without compromising the richness of flavor and naturalness of the product. Consumers prefer a reduction approach to make their indulgent snacks healthier. The ideal solution, according to consumers, is to use more natural ingredients and fewer artificial ingredients while maintaining an indulgent taste and comforting experience. Brands that strike this balance can meet the future of snacking demand for healthier indulgence in without compromising enjoyment.
What’s Next in Consumer Snacking Trends in Latin America?
Snacking trends reveal a 4% increase in Latin American consumers snacking while traveling compared to 2023. Gen Z consumers are more likely to snack away from home in settings like outdoors and food outlets. Brands can tap into this by offering snacks customized to dynamic lifestyles, adapted to specific occasions like traveling, outdoor activities, and the gym.
Healthy snacking trends research shows that over half of consumers in Latin America say snacking boosts their emotional well-being, with stress relief and comfort as key drivers, particularly for younger consumers. This creates opportunities for brands to innovate snacks that not only provide nutrition but also support mental and emotional health. As the demand for functional snacks rises, the future of snacking is likely to focus on holistic well-being solutions that resonate with the younger generation of consumers.
This article is based on Innova’s Now & Next in Consumer Attitudes Toward Snacking in Latin America report.
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