Saudi Arabia Savory Snacks Market Overview, 2028

Saudi Arabians view savory snacks as a source of enjoyment and indulgence. Snacking is seen as a way to satisfy cravings, reward oneself, and enhance moments of relaxation or leisure. From the bustling souks to the modern city streets, savory snacks in Saudi Arabia captivate the senses and ignite a passion for flavorful indulgence. Saudi Arabian culture values traditional Arabic cuisine, and this extends to snacks as well. Snacks like falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, and various types of savory pastries are popular in Saudi Arabia. These traditional snacks often incorporate regional flavours and ingredients, reflecting the local culinary heritage. Saudi Arabian cuisine is known for its rich and aromatic flavours. Traditional spices like cardamom, cumin, saffron, and cinnamon are commonly used in both savoury dishes and snacks. Snacks with spicy or savoury profiles, such as spiced nuts or flavoured popcorn, can be well-received in the Saudi market. Saudi Arabia is a predominantly Muslim country, and the month of Ramadan holds great cultural and religious significance. During Ramadan, the evening meal called Iftar often includes a variety of snacks and appetisers. The savoury snack market experiences a surge in demand during this time, with consumers seeking snack options suitable for breaking their fast.

According to the research report “Saudi Arabia Savory Snacks Market Overview, 2028," published by Bonafide Research, The Saudi Arabia Savory Snacks market is projected to reach market size of more than USD 1.33 Billion by 2028. Saudi Arabian consumers have preferences for healthier snack options. This is part of a global trend where people are becoming more conscious of their health and wellness. Saudi Arabian consumers are increasingly seeking snack alternatives that align with their desire for nutritious choices. As a result, there has been a rise in demand for healthier snack options that offer nutritional benefits. Baked tortilla chips made from corn or whole grains are preferred by those seeking a healthier option for enjoying dips and salsas. These chips are lower in fat and calories compared to their fried counterparts. Baked crackers, such as whole-grain or multigrain crackers, are favoured by health-conscious consumers. These crackers are often made with natural ingredients and offer a lighter, crunchy snacking experience. In the Saudi Arabian snack market, several major brands dominate the industry, offering a wide range of savory snack products to cater to the diverse preferences of consumers. One prominent brand is Americana, a multinational food company known for its popular brands such as California Garden, Farm Frites, and Siniora. Another notable brand is Al-Ittihad, which specialises in a variety of savory snacks, including potato chips, corn snacks, and extruded snacks. Nabisco, a subsidiary of Mondelez International, is also a prominent player in the market, offering a range of biscuit and snack products under brands like Oreo, Ritz, and Chips Ahoy! Goody, a Saudi Arabian food company, is well-known for its snack offerings, including nuts, popcorn, and potato chips, which are renowned for their high-quality ingredients and flavours. Al Wazir, another Saudi Arabian brand, offers an extensive selection of savoury snacks such as chips, peanuts, and coated nuts, with a focus on unique flavours. Al-Kabeer is renowned for its frozen snack products like samosas and spring rolls, offering convenient and ready-to-cook options. Almarai, primarily recognised for its dairy products, also has a presence in the snack market, offering potato chips and cheese snacks. Other notable brands include Bahlsen, a German brand specialising in biscuits and cookies, and Baladna, a Saudi Arabian brand offering dairy products and flavoured yoghurt cups as snack options. These major snack brands in Saudi Arabia continually strive to meet the evolving demands and preferences of consumers, offering a wide array of choices to satisfy their snacking needs.

Foodex Saudi is an international exhibition dedicated to the food and beverage industry. It covers a wide range of food products, including savoury snacks. The event provides a platform for snack manufacturers to present their products to a diverse audience of industry professionals, buyers, and consumers. The Riyadh Food Expo is a prominent food exhibition held in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The expo features a wide variety of food products, including savory snacks, and provides a platform for manufacturers and suppliers to showcase their offerings to a targeted audience of industry professionals and consumers. The Saudi Arabian savoury snack market utilises various sales channels to distribute and sell its products. Supermarkets and hypermarkets, such as Tamimi Markets, Danube, Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, and Panda Supermarket, play a central role as primary sales channels, offering a wide range of snack brands and varieties. Convenience stores, including Al-Raya Supermarkets, Al Othaim Markets, Bin Dawood Superstores, Al Sadhan Supermarkets, and United Markets, cater to consumers seeking quick and on-the-go snack options. Online retail has gained popularity, with platforms like Noon, Tamimi Online, Danube Online, Carrefour Online, and Souq.com providing convenience and home delivery options. In the foodservice sector, popular chains like Al Baik, Shawarmer, Kudu, McDonald's, and Herfy incorporate savoury snacks into their menus.

All food products, including savory snacks, must comply with Islamic dietary laws and be certified as halal. This certification ensures that the snacks are prepared and processed according to Islamic principles. Food Safety and Quality Standards set and enforce strict food safety and quality standards to protect consumer health. This includes regulations on hygiene practises, ingredient sourcing, manufacturing processes, and storage conditions for savory snacks. Rising health concerns such as obesity and the increasing demand for low-calorie food have spurred demand for various snacking options. Increasing demand for convenient or ready-to-eat food due to a general change in lifestyle and tasty or indulgent food is anticipated to boost demand for healthy snacks. Factors such as increasing disposal incomes and a growing population are expected to favour market growth for savory snacks in the Kingdom. Furthermore, evolving consumer consciousness for certain key sub-segments, such as organic snacks, is slated to uplift market demand. Easy access to labour, approval of foreign suppliers, and an expedited process for licences and permits will allow for quicker localization of the industry. Saudi Arabia has an established F&B industry that benefits from state-of-the-art technologies and highly advanced packaging, cold chain facilities, and distribution networks to enable efficient distribution of manufactured products across the country. Continued efforts in innovation and initiatives to support the use of advanced manufacturing technology to enhance production efficiency Saudi Arabia is a geographically large country, which presents logistical challenges in terms of efficient distribution and reaching consumers across various regions. Establishing and maintaining a robust distribution network to ensure timely delivery of products can be a complex task. Economic fluctuations, changes in consumer purchasing power, and inflation rates can impact consumer spending on snacks. This can also affect the savoury snack market in the country.

Considered in this report
• Geography: Saudi Arabia
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028



Aspects covered in this report
• Saudi Arabia Savory Snacks Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product type
• Potato chips
• Extruded snacks
• Popcorn
• Nuts & seeds
• Puffed snacks
• Tortilla chips
• fruit & vegetable chips
• Pretzels
• Meat snacks

By Category
• Baked
• Fried

By Distribution Channel
• Supermarkets & Hypermarkets
• Retail
• Convenience stores
• Online stores
• Speciality Stores
• Others (Forecourt retailers, Discounters, Independent small grocers, etc.)

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analysing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us. we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to savory snacks industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.