Snack startups ditch potatoes, race to invent the next hit chip

"Snacks made from cassava, tempeh, mushrooms, chicken breast and whole eggs are now hitting the supermarket, reflecting Americans' eagerness to eat protein and fiber-rich whole foods - without giving up their convenient salty chips."

"Market data show there's an incentive to take risks and find the next hit snack as spending migrates away from the center aisles of the supermarket and toward fresher, less processed options. Potato chip sales dropped 1.2% in the 12 months running through late February from a year earlier, while sales of tortilla chips, which are the second-biggest category, were flat."

"Nutritional snacks and trail mix rose 2.1% over the same period, Circana data show, while pork rinds increased 1%. Apple chip sales jumped 4.1%."

The snack industry is experiencing a shift away from traditional potato chips toward alternative options made from cassava, tempeh, mushrooms, chicken breast, eggs, and vegetables like broccoli and zucchini. Companies like Veggie Vice are capitalizing on consumer demand for protein and fiber-rich snacks with fewer, more natural ingredients. While potato chips remain dominant with $12 billion in annual US sales, market data reveals declining potato chip sales and growth in nutritional snacks, trail mix, pork rinds, and apple chips. This trend reflects broader consumer migration toward fresher, less processed foods and is supported by health-focused movements promoting real food consumption.

Read at Los Angeles Times