Frito-Lay announces the annual Super Bowl Snack index: how you will snack on game day - on your couch

The first-ever Super Bowl in Las Vegas will be among the year's most exciting cultural moments – but for a staggering 81% of Americans, watching it all from the couch is much better.

Frito-Lay's annual Super Bowl Snack Index today reveals an uptick in symptoms of #JOMO (Joy of Missing Out), as nearly half of Americans also admit they will prioritize watching the game surrounded by their favorite foods over large social gatherings with friends.

Denise Lefebvre, senior vice president of R&D for PepsiCo Foods:
 

"The Super Bowl is a cultural phenomenon that we look forward to being an integral part of each year. Whether Americans choose to enjoy it with a quiet evening or at a large social gathering, it's clear that culinary creations will rule the day. At Frito-Lay, we are dedicated to understanding our consumers' evolving food preferences and behaviors to ensure they have the options they want and every meal occasion is joyful."

From pregame party prep to the postgame pout, Frito-Lay's Super Bowl Snack Index is back with the most important Super Bowl party and food insights. 

The Pregame Party Playbook

As #JOMO takes hold, the stakes have never been higher for Super Bowl party hosts. Athletes will tell you that preparation is key and Frito-Lay recommends calling three game-winning plays to guarantee celebrations are a touchdown:

• Play #1 – Draft Your Dream Team:
  • As 3 in 5 guests admit the promise of top-notch food is the deciding factor in what Super Bowl party they attend, it's clear that the food and snack table will rule the day. This is particularly true among the under-40 crowd (77%) and parents (74%).
  • Potlucks prevail as the preferred party format at 67%, highlighting the popularity of collaborative celebrations over host-provided fare.
• Play #2 – Tackle Your Party Menu:
  • Take note that 70% of experienced hosts will gear up for the game by planning a menu for their guests. More than half (51%) will kick off their game day preparations at least a week in advance.
  • This is not the time to cut corners, especially when shopping for food essentials. Running out of food is considered the ultimate party foul by 1 in 3 guests, who cite it as worse than people blocking the TV, talking through the game and talking through the commercials.
• Play #3 – Execute in the End Zone:
  • The comfier the couch, the better. An overwhelming 81% would rather watch the Super Bowl from cozy confines than at a raucous party in Vegas. Parents (27%), however, are more likely than non-parents (15%) to want a night out on The Vegas Strip.
  • And here's the ultimate game-changer: nearly half of Americans (46%) would rather celebrate surrounded by delicious food than their friends, making this year's spread more important than ever for combatting guests' #JOMO.

Snacks at the Snap
 

• The Dip Dynasty: Dive into the timeless tradition of chips and dip, where Salsa (27%), French Onion (21%), and Queso (20%) reign supreme as the top three rival dips. While Salsa steals the spotlight among Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X dippers, Baby Boomers crown French Onion as their dip MVP.
• BBQ Wins the Battle: Fire up the grill and unleash the flavor with eccentric snack and food combos that showcase the art of culinary creativity! 80% of Americans consider combining multiple snacks and food "to create the perfect bite" as an "art form." Watch out for recipes that cross team lines – Kansas City's BBQ (63%) dominates San Francisco's fish tacos (37%) in a head-to-head matchup of famous foods from the teams' home states.
• Snacks Moving to Center Plate: With a 35% increase in consumers integrating their favorite snack products into meals, snacks are taking center stage in a new way. Whether it's yearning for a specific snack (51%) or simply being too busy to cook (44%), Frito-Lay's 2024 Snack Index predictions reveal that snacks are the essential ingredients for easy, no-prep meals – including those brought to Super Bowl parties.

The Postgame Pout
 

• Workday Woes: Whether their team clinches victory or suffers defeat, more than 1/3 of fans expect to call in sick the Monday after the big game. Men are leading the charge, with 40% inclined to skip work compared to 27% of women. Across generational lines, it's Gen Z (46%) and Millennials (40%) who are most likely to miss at least part of the workday.
• The Cost of Victory: Victory might taste sweet, but it seems it also comes with a side of postgame recovery. Fans of the winning team are 56% more likely to take a celebratory sick day than their counterparts.

From pregame party prep to the postgame pout, Frito-Lay’s Super Bowl Snack Index is back with the most important Super Bowl party and food insights.