As people across the U.S. began stockpiling groceries in March as stay-at-home orders went into effect, many consumers turned to familiar comfort foods like peanuts and peanut butter to stock their pantries. Independent data analyzed by NPB show a sizeable uptick in both peanut snack nut and peanut butter sales. March peanut butter sales were up 75 percent over 2019. And March peanut snack nut sales were up 24 percent over 2019. April proved another strong month for peanut butter with sales up 19.5 percent over 2019.

For peanut snack nuts perhaps salt and comfort helped drive sales. In the latest edition of the Frito-Lay U.S. Snack Index survey, released just before Memorial Day weekend, the company said that salty snacks have been the number one food item that has contributed to sales growth at retailers since early March when shoppers were shifting their purchasing priorities.

The survey also notes that during the most recent stages of the crisis, shoppers have not been shy about trying out new snacks. According to the survey, “many consumers are still trying new snacks (with 92 percent saying they plan to continue to eat them once the pandemic is over) and about one-fifth of respondents are developing new rituals around food.”

Frito-Lay, whose portfolio includes peanut snack nuts and in-shell peanuts, predicts that summer gatherings will evolve, but snacks will still be welcomed guests. “The Frito-Lay Snack Index found 85 percent of respondents say eating their favorite snack makes them feel normal,” the brand said. “The overwhelming majority (83 percent) said their favorite summer snacks remind them of good times and nearly half (48 percent) said eating their favorite snack makes them feel happy.”