PLANO, Texas (July 20, 2026) - As summer travel, outdoor activities and social gatherings hit their peak, PepsiCo Foods is spotlighting a robust lineup of iconic summer snacks, limited-time flavors and added protein options that align with the biggest snacking trends in 2026 - including bold flavor innovation, pickle-forward varieties, recipes inspired by peak tomato season and convenient on-the-go formats.
Summer Snacking Insights2
- Peak timing: Late July - August is the highest snacking period
- Key daypart: Afternoon over-indexes (midday through evening)
- Top occasions: TV/streaming, device usage and social gatherings lead
- Social behavior: Group snacking over-indexes vs. solo
- Purchase behavior: Primarily planned, with a lift in same-day consumption
These insights reinforce that late summer is defined by social, entertainment-driven snacking moments, increasing demand for bold flavors and convenient formats.
Quick Facts: PepsiCo Foods 2026 Summer Lineup
- Sweet-and-Spicy Innovation: Doritos® Late Night Hot Honey Pizza flavored tortilla chips captures the booming sweet and spicy food trend.
- Pickle-Forward Profiles: Cheetos® Flamin’ Hot® Dill Pickle and Fritos® Spicy Dill Pickle flavored snacks meet high summer demand for tangy, adventurous flavors.
- Elevated Protein Bars: Quaker® Protein Granola Bars released a new flavor, Chocolate Pretzel, in late June with 10g of protein. In addition, Quaker® Chewy Protein Granola Bars debuted this summer in two flavors (Maple & Brown Sugar Flavor, Caramel Chocolate Chip Flavor) with 5g of protein per serving.
- High-Protein Oats: Quaker® High Protein Instant Oatmeal arrives late July packed with 22g of protein. And, the brand is releasing a new format, Quaker® Oat Shake & Go, this summer - a sippable on-the-go shake made with whole grain oats, a good source of fiber and an excellent source of protein.
- Bites with Functional Ingredients: PopCorners® Protein Zesty Cheddar flavored popped-corn snacks (9g protein), Smartfood® FiberPop™ popcorn (6g fiber) and Good Warrior Beef Sticks™ (10g protein) offer balanced seasonal snacking options.
- Limited-Time Offers: Doritos® Ultimate Garlic Parm flavored tortilla chip and Ruffles® Buffalo Wings flavored potato chips remain nationally available through July only.
- Peak Tomato Season: Alvalle® Gazpacho is a ready-to-serve, chilled vegetable soup made with fresh Spanish tomatoes, red peppers, cucumbers, onions and extra virgin olive oil. A good source of fiber, it's a refreshing way to enjoy peak tomato season all summer long.
From savory and spicy, to protein and fiber-centric snacks, the portfolio is designed to meet the demand for easy snacks to grab this summer while traveling, during family activities, sporting events, and entertaining.
Sweet Heat Gains Momentum: Hot Honey Emerges as a Summer Snacking Standout
PepsiCo Foods is capitalizing on the momentum of “swicy” (sweet + spicy) flavor trend with offerings that bring contrast-driven flavors to life, including Doritos® Late Night Hot Honey Pizza flavored tortilla chips, which elevates the trend through a culturally relevant pizza-inspired mashup. Together, these innovations reflect a broader consumer appetite for unexpected flavor combinations and position hot honey as a key driver of experimentation and growth across the snacking category.
Pickle-Flavored Snacks Continue to Trend in 2026
Dill pickle flavor continues to be one of the fastest growing and most searched flavor profiles during the summer months as consumers seek bold, tangy, and unconventional taste experiences. PepsiCo Foods is meeting this demand with a range of offerings that bring the trend to life, including:
- Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle Crunchy & Puffs: one of the brands fastest-selling Cheetos limited-edition product in history has returned as a permanent flavor in the portfolio and combines signature heat with a punchy pickle flavor for a layered, spicy bite.
- Fritos Spicy Dill Pickle: a spicy, crunchy option that resonates with outdoor summer occasions such as road trips, picnics, and festivals.
Together, these products reflect a broader consumer shift toward adventurous flavors, spicy profiles and culturally trending taste combinations that continue to shape the snacking landscape.
Protein-forward Snacks and Convenient Nutrition for Active Lifestyles
Demand for high-protein snacks, portable breakfast options and foods with functional ingredients continues to grow, particularly during busy summer months. More than half (62%) of Americans are looking to increase their protein intake for 2026, and 63% of Americans said they would choose snacks with added protein over regular ones, with 65% wanting sweet snacks to have protein.1
Quaker’s summer launches provide convenience, taste, and nutrition:
- Quaker Protein Granola Bars: Chocolate Pretzel Flavor (available late June) combines Quaker’s iconic oats with a pretzel crunch and a thin layer of chocolatey coating for a sweet-and-salty snack with 10g of protein per serving (a good source of protein), making it a great choice for on-the-go midday snacking.
- Quaker High Protein Instant Oatmeal (available late July) in two flavors: Blueberries & Cream and Banana Chocolate with 22g of protein per serving. Made with whey & milk proteins, each delicious bowl provides an excellent source of protein in every serving as well as whole grain oats, a good source of fiber (contains 4.5g total fat per serving), and no artificial flavors, preservatives, or added colors.
- Quaker Chewy Protein Granola Bars (Maple & Brown Sugar Flavor, Caramel Chocolate Chip Flavor): deliver 5g of protein, 10g of whole grains per serving, no artificial flavors or colors per bar and are well-suited for family snacking, after-school activities, and summer game days.
- Quaker Oat Shake & Go (Cinnamon Vanilla, Strawberry & Banana): is a convenient dry powder format that makes it easy to breeze through TSA—no liquid limits, no spills. Just pack it in your carry-on and mix with milk or water once you’re through security for a quick, satisfying part of breakfast or a snack. It’s a simple, mess-free way to stay fueled wherever your summer takes you.
Snacks with Functional Ingredients
For consumers looking for snacking options with bold flavor and airy-textured formats, several products deliver versatility across summer occasions:
- PopCorners Protein Zesty Cheddar Flavor: offers a kick of zesty cheddar flavor, satisfying crunch with 9 grams of protein per serving. Makes a great beach snack, or enjoy them during hiking breaks, poolside and on-the-go.
- Quaker Protein Rice Crisps Tangy Barbecue Flavor: provide a crispy, savory snack option with 6 grams of protein per serving, also available in Chocolate Caramel Flavor for sweet snack preferences.
- Smartfood FiberPop™: available in Sweet & Salty and Toffee & Sea Salt flavors, delivers a nostalgic, sweet and salty flavor combo, often associated with summer fairs, festivals, and outdoor events, with an excellent source of fiber at 6 grams of fiber per serving.
- Good Warrior Beef Sticks: available in Original and Jalapeño Pepper flavors, the grass-fed and finished beef sticks deliver 10g of protein, 0g sugar and 100 calories per serving, with no artificial colors or flavors and a gluten-free recipe. Designed for the everyday warrior powering through busy schedules and daily demands, Good Warrior offers a convenient, protein-packed snack that doesn't compromise on taste.
Limited-Time Summer Snack Flavors Driving Seasonal Demand
As consumers seek both new and nostalgic taste experiences, these nationally available offerings through July are designed to encourage trial and immediate engagement.
- Doritos Ultimate Garlic Parm: delivers a rich, savory blend of roasted garlic and creamy parmesan.
- Ruffles Buffalo Wings: brings a familiar, game-day favorite to summer occasions with tangy heat and a shareable chip.
Together, these limited-time offerings highlight a broader consumer shift toward satisfying, adventurous flavors and seasonal exclusivity that drive urgency and engagement in the snacking aisle.
Peak Tomato Season Brings Fresh Inspiration
Summer is peak tomato season, making it the perfect time to enjoy fresh, tomato-forward flavors beyond salads and sandwiches. Alvalle Gazpacho offers a refreshing, ready-to-enjoy way to savor ripe tomatoes in a chilled, Mediterranean-inspired recipe that's ideal for warm-weather lunches, light appetizers or paired with grilled favorites during backyard gatherings.
Meeting Every Summer Snacking Occasion
From chips for barbecues and parties and protein snacks for busy schedules to fresh seasonal offerings like gazpacho during peak tomato season, this lineup reflects how consumers are searching for and choosing snacks in 2026. With options spanning incredible taste, convenient, and nostalgic, PepsiCo Foods continues to deliver a variety of flavors across every summer moment.
1Online survey of 1,000 nationally representative Americans fielded by RepData on behalf of PepsiCo Foods US. Margin of error is +/-3%. Fielded from January 5-21, 2026.
2 Source: Circana, ICP, Salty Snacks, 2023–2025
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $94 billion in net revenue in 2025, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and drinks, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that places sustainability at the center of our business strategy, seeking to drive growth and build a stronger, more resilient future for PepsiCo and the communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
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