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Tailgaters Rejoice! Census Bureau Has Data on Snack Food Manufacturers, Sales of Popular Snacks

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When our thoughts turn to the “Big Game” or the championship game of the National Football League, we think food — especially of the snack variety.

Whether we gather around a big-screen TV at home or enjoy a pre-game tailgate party in the stadium’s parking lot, it’s all about the food: chips, popcorn, pretzels, dip, crackers and the like are “Big Game” staples.

How much do we love our snacks around this time of year? The U.S. Census Bureau serves up plenty of data providing a glimpse into our passion for snacks.

We Love Our Snacks

Snack food manufacturing consists of establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following:

  • Salting, roasting, drying, cooking or canning nuts.
  • Processing grains or seeds into snacks.
  • Manufacturing peanut butter.
  • Manufacturing potato chips, corn chips, popped popcorn, pretzels (except soft), pork rinds and similar snacks.

How much do we love our snacks around this time of year? The U.S. Census Bureau serves up plenty of data providing a glimpse into our passion for snacks.

According to the 2019 County Business Patterns (CBP), there were 717 Snack Food Manufacturing establishments in the United States that employed 62,758 paid workers during the pay period including March 12 in 2019.

The CBP shows that the state with the greatest number of snack food manufacturing establishments was California with 141, followed by Texas (59) and Pennsylvania (56).

Manufacturing Stats for the Big Game

There are other Census Bureau data sources for snack food manufacturing establishments, too. 

According to the 2017 Economic Census, there were 667 establishments in the United States, with 56,516 employees and sales of $38.8 billion in 2017.

More data available on the Manufacturing: Summary Statistics for the U.S., States, and Selected Geographies: 2017.

According to the 2020-2019 Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM), snack food manufacturing establishments had sales of $40.4 billion in 2020 and $39.6 billion in sales in 2019.

More data available on the Annual Survey of Manufactures: Summary Statistics for Industry Groups and Industries in the U.S.: 2018 - 2020.

Where Big Game Players Are From

NFL Metro Areas

Adam Grundy and Tonja White are supervisory statisticians in the Census Bureau’s Economic Management Division.

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Page Last Revised - December 27, 2023
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