South Africa Savory Snacks Market Overview, 2028

In South African culture, sharing food is a significant aspect of hospitality and social bonding. Savory snacks are often shared among family members, friends, and guests, emphasising the spirit of generosity and community. South Africans have their own snacking rituals and traditions. For instance, during sports events like rugby or soccer matches, it is common to gather with friends or family and enjoy snacks while cheering for their favourite teams. South African savory snacks often showcase bold and flavorful profiles. A variety of spices and seasonings are used to enhance the taste, such as peri-peri (a hot chilli pepper), masala (a spice blend), curry powders, and braai spice mixes. These flavours add a unique and distinctive character to the snacks. South Africa's cultural diversity influences the savory snack landscape. The country is home to various ethnic groups, including Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Indian, and others, each with its own culinary traditions. This diversity is reflected in the range of savory snacks available, featuring flavours, ingredients, and cooking techniques influenced by different cultures. Savory snacks are an integral part of social gatherings and events in this country. Whether it's a braai (barbecue), picnic, birthday party, or sports gathering, a wide array of savory snacks are served to accompany the main meal or as standalone offerings.

According to the research report "South Africa Savory Snacks Market Overview, 2028," published by Bonafide Research, The South Africa Savory Snacks Market is expected to grow at above 6.91% CAGR from 2023 to 2028. Nuts and seed snacks have indeed experienced growth and are widely appreciated for their nutritional benefits and versatility. It has a market size of around 298 million. The potato chip market in South Africa registered a positive growth rate. The market features a variety of flavours to suit diverse taste preferences. Classic flavours like salted, cheese, and barbeque are popular, along with variations such as sour cream and onion, peri-peri, salt and vinegar, and sweet chilli. Local South African flavours, inspired by regional spices and seasonings, are also available. Both local South African brands and international brands have a presence in the potato chip market. Local brands like Simba, Lays (marketed as Walkers in South Africa), Willards, and Nola dominate the market. International brands such as Pringles, Doritos, and Kettle Chips are also popular among consumers. The potato chip market holds around 60.45 million dollars within the country. Additionally, each country has its own unique traditional snacks that hold cultural significance. Biltong, a type of dried and cured meat, is an iconic South African snack enjoyed by many. Other traditional snacks include drowors (dried sausage), boerewors rolls (sausage rolls), and vetkoek (deep-fried dough filled with savory fillings). Indigenous South African snacks have also gained popularity. These include roasted maize (corn) snacks like "pap and vleis" and "phutu," as well as fried dough snacks like "magwinya" or "vetkoek."

Africa's Big 7 is an annual food and beverage trade show held in Johannesburg. While it covers a wide range of food products, it includes a dedicated section for snacks and confectionery. The event attracts industry professionals, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers looking to network, source new products, and explore business opportunities. SIAL South Africa is part of the global SIAL network, which is one of the largest food exhibitions in the world. The event focuses on showcasing food and beverage products from various categories, including savory snacks. It attracts exhibitors from around the world and provides a platform for business networking, product launches, and industry insights. Furthermore, Snackex Africa is an event specifically dedicated to the snack industry. It brings together snack manufacturers, suppliers, and industry professionals to showcase their products, exchange knowledge, and explore business opportunities. The event includes exhibitions, conferences, and networking sessions focused on the snack sector. Foodservice outlets, including restaurants, cafes, fast-food chains, and cinemas, also contribute to the sales of savoury snacks. These establishments often offer snack options as part of their menus or as standalone items for immediate consumption. Examples include popcorn at movie theatres, fries at fast-food chains, and snack platters at restaurants. KFC, McDonald's, Nando's, Steers, Wimpy, and Cinemas are among the popular Foodservice outlets. The rise of e-commerce has opened up new opportunities in the South African snack market. Online retail platforms such as Takealot, Woolworths Online, and Yuppiechef offer a wide selection of savoury snacks that can be purchased and delivered directly to consumers' homes. Online shopping provides convenience, especially for busy consumers or those in remote areas.

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) establishes and maintains food safety standards for the industry. These standards cover aspects such as hygiene practises, food handling, storage conditions, and microbial limits to ensure the safety of savory snacks. The Department of Health has specific regulations governing the labelling and advertising of food products. These regulations ensure that accurate and clear information is provided to consumers regarding the contents, nutritional information, allergens, and other relevant details of savory snacks. Savory snacks often have a limited shelf life, and maintaining product freshness throughout the distribution and retail processes is crucial. Companies need to invest in proper packaging, storage, and logistics to ensure their products reach consumers in optimal condition. Fluctuating costs of raw materials, packaging, energy, and transportation can impact the profitability of snack manufacturers. Managing these input costs and optimising production processes becomes essential to maintaining competitiveness in the market. Despite the challenges, the growth of the foodservice sector, including restaurants, cafes, and quick-service outlets, provides opportunities for savoury snack manufacturers. Snacks are increasingly being incorporated into menus and offered as standalone items, further driving the demand for savory snacks in South Africa. Busy lifestyles and an increasing need for convenience are driving the demand for portable and on-the-go snack options. Savory snacks, such as single-serve packs, snack bars, and bite-sized treats, are well-suited to meet these needs. The convenience factor is expected to drive the growth of savoury snack consumption in South Africa.

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



Aspects covered in this report
• South Africa 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.