Snack Food Giants Bet on Junk Despite Rise of Obesity Drugs
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Food companies like Kellogg's and Smucker's are betting big on snacks, spinning off or acquiring snack brands. This comes as prescriptions surge for obesity drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic.
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Snack sales are growing faster than other grocery categories, fueled by millennials and Gen Z who snack more frequently.
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Obesity drugs suppress appetite and some patients report losing interest in junk food. This could threaten sales growth for junk food makers.
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But the high cost of the drugs means uptake may be slow. And lower income consumers who eat the most junk food are unlikely to use the drugs.
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Food companies are also innovating with healthier snacks. While the drugs may pressure changes, shifts would likely happen gradually.