But food companies' major bets on snacking come as investors fear the looming danger of Big Pharma's blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic.
Younger generations snack more often than older consumers, said Kelsey Olsen, food and drink analyst for market research firm Mintel.
Millennials and Gen-Z consumers tend to eat smaller meals that are closer together, creating more occasions to grab a snack.
At the same time, Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy have taken off, fueled by prescriptions to help patients lose weight.
Some patients even report developing aversions to foods with higher sugar and fat content — a category that includes many big snack brands.
Persons:
Smucker, Big, Wegovy, snacking, Kelsey Olsen, Millennials, Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley's, General Mills
Organizations:
Hostess Brands, HSBC, Accenture, Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, Hershey, Mondelez, PepsiCo, General
Locations:
Seattle , Washington , U.S, U.S