The puffed and extruded snack segment combines the best elements of tradition and forward-thinking better-for-you innovation. On the traditional side, a product like Cheetos continues to dominate. Meanwhile, snack producers across the industry continue to ramp-up puffed snacks positioned as better-for-you alternatives. Together, these product categories combine to position the puffed and extruded snack segment as a leader in salty snacks today.
“The extruded snack market still shows strong growth,” says Tom Barber, vice president of process engineering, Buhler Aeroglide, a division of Buhler Group, Cary, NC. “Several factors likely account for this trend.” Among those factors, he says, is the overall desire among consumers of all ages for convenience, as well as the fact that snacking frequency has increased significantly in recent years, a trend driven mostly by millennials.