Protein Trend Driving Sales of Meat Snacks

It's no secret that consumers are continuously looking to add more protein to their diets, and sales of dehydrated, salted meat snacks have responded in kind, with an 18 percent increase over the last five years, according to The NPD Group.

“Meat snacks are an example of not all snacks being equal in terms of meeting different consumer needs,” said Annie Roberts, VP, SupplyTrack. “Knowing the needs products address is important in making sure you’re getting the right products in the right places for the right people.”

Beef continues to lead the category as the most popular meat snack, but turkey jerky is the fastest-growing, according to the research, with cases of turkey jerky shipped from foodservice distributors to restaurants and other foodservice outlets increasing by triple-digits in the year ending April 2015, compared to the year-ago period.

The most popular times to eat meat snacks, according to NPD, is between lunch and dinner and as a late night snack. Meanwhile, young adults ages 18-24, are more likely than any other age group to consume meat snacks throughout the day. And although men eat far more meat snacks than women, women are steadily increasing their consumption.