Cookie and Cracker Manufacturers

The 375 cookie and cracker manufacturers in the US produce crackers and biscuits, cookies, wafers, and ice cream cones. The industry is comprised of independent manufacturers that produce and sell their own brands, and contract manufacturers that produce and package products for customers under the customer’s brand(s).

Changing Consumer Diets

Demand for cookies and crackers can change with consumer diets and fads.

Food Safety Regulations

Like other food production operations, cookie and cracker manufacturers are subject to regulations regarding food handling, storage, contamination, allergens, and package labeling.

Sep 20, 2026 - New Girl Scout Cookies

• Girl Scouts of the USA is expanding its cookie lineup with its first allergy-friendly option along with its first treat for dogs, Yahoo!Life reports. Launching in 2027, Sparkables are crunchy oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips and sprinkles made in partnership with allergy-friendly food company Partake. The cookies, available online, are gluten-free and vegan and are produced in a facility that avoids the nine major food allergens, including wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy, sesame, and fish. Patch Pals, made in collaboration with the company behind BarkBox, are soft-baked and come stamped with one of four Girl Scout "patch" designs. The launch shows how cookie makers can reach consumers (human and canine) who have traditionally had fewer choices because of allergies or dietary preferences. However, serving the allergy-friendly market may require manufacturers to invest in specialized facilities, ingredient sourcing, and production controls designed to prevent allergen exposure.
• The rise of functional foods is creating both opportunities and competitive pressure for cookie manufacturers as consumers increasingly seek snacks that combine indulgence with health benefits. A new startup, Fields Good, founded by the daughter of Mrs. Fields' founder, is selling cookies fortified with protein, fiber, and functional ingredients aimed at supporting focus and sleep, reflecting a growing demand for "permissive indulgence," The New York Times reports, adding the company has raised nearly $2 million in venture funding. Moreover, the consulting firm McKinsey found two-thirds of global consumers are willing to pay about 10% more for healthier snack alternatives. The trend is encouraging manufacturers to reformulate products with added protein, fiber, and other functional ingredients to attract wellness-focused consumers, including those using GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, while maintaining the taste and familiarity of traditional cookies.
• Rising income inequality is reshaping grocery spending patterns, Grocery Dive reports citing findings by NielsenIQ. Higher-income consumers are driving overall grocery growth and tend to spend more on fresh foods, while lower-income shoppers are under financial pressure and shifting spending toward shelf-stable products. For makers of key shelf-stable categories, including cookies and crackers, this divergence creates a mixed outlook. Lower-income consumers’ reliance on shelf-stable goods supports baseline demand. But with these shoppers cutting back on spending overall, including on some pantry staples, volume growth may decline. Meanwhile, higher-income consumers are allocating more spending to fresh categories, potentially reducing demand for packaged snacks in that segment. The result is a bifurcated market, where growth depends on effectively targeting value-conscious consumers while finding ways to remain relevant to higher-income shoppers. Manufacturers may need to adjust pricing, packaging, and marketing strategies to maintain sales across diverging consumer groups.
• Producer prices for cookie and cracker manufacturers rose 0.6% in July compared to a year ago, after rising 3.5% in the previous July-to-July annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. In August, retail cookie prices rose 5% year over year, while cracker prices rose 4.5%, according to the August 2026 Consumer Price Index report from the Labor Department. Employment by cookie and cracker manufacturers shrank 3.6% YoY in June, while the average industry wage rose 2.8% over the same period to $23.74 per hour, easing from its peak in February, BLS data show. Wages and producer prices for cookie and cracker makers are currently at or near record high levels.

Industry size & Structure

A typical cookie and cracker manufacturer operates out of a single location, employs 93 workers, and generates about $31.7 million annually.

• The cookie and cracker manufacturing industry consists of about 375 companies which employ about 34,870 workers and generate around $11.9 billion annually.
• About 89% of firms have just one production facility. About 65 firms are large, employing 100 or more workers each.
• The industry is highly concentrated with the 8 largest firms representing 56% of revenue.
• Customer industries include food distributors, grocery stores, mass merchandisers, drug and discount stores, restaurants, caterers, and snack shops.
• Large companies include Mondelez International (Oreo, Ritz, Nabisco), Kellogg’s (Town House), Campbell Soup Co. (Pepperidge Farms, Snyder’s Lance, Archway) and Nestle (Toll House). Some large manufacturers are highly diversified and produce a wide variety of foods and beverages in addition to cookies and crackers.
• Contract manufacturers include Maker’s Pride (formerly Hearthside Foods), Oakhouse Bakery, and Richmond Baking.