Overview

The 500 snack food manufacturers in the US produce a variety of salty snacks, including nuts, chips, popcorn, pretzels, peanut butter, and other grain or seed-based snack foods. Related product categories include dried and dehydrated foods and confectionary products. The industry does not include crackers or cookies.

Large Firms Dominate

The snack food industry is highly concentrated; the 50 largest companies account for almost 90% of revenue, and the top four companies account for over 50%.

Health Concerns

The nutritional content of traditional salty snacks, such as chips and pretzels, has come under public scrutiny, due to the connections between processed foods and the rising incidence of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.