Snacks that are most – and least – favored across generations

Snacking habits offer a fascinating glimpse into the choices and preferences of different age groups. Today, we delve into the snacking preferences of shoppers ages 18 to 34 (Generation Z to younger millennials) and compare them with those of older shoppers ages 35 to 54 (older millennials to Generation X) and ages 55 to 74 (Generation X to baby boomers).

Snack preferences of shoppers ages 18-34

Top snacks:

• Fruits: 67%

• Crackers: 65%

• Popcorn: 63%

• Pretzels: 63%

• Potato chips: 61%

Snack preferences of shoppers ages 35-54

Top snacks:

• Cheeses: 71%

• Fruits: 71%

• Potato chips: 68%

• Crackers: 64%

• Tortilla chips: 60%

Snack preferences of shoppers ages 55-74

Top snacks:

• Cheeses: 71%

• Potato chips: 63%

• Crackers: 59%

• Cookies: 59%

• Chocolate: 59%

Insights

Crackers and potato chips are popular across all age groups while fruits are more popular with shoppers ages 18-34 (67%) and 35-54 (71%). Cheeses, on the other hand, are favored by both the 35-54 and 55-74 age groups at 71%. And pita chips were consistently the least-favored snack across all ages. For more insights, check out Consumer Digest: Snacking Trends May 2024.