NAICS 311821 Quarterly Industry Report
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 311821Sector: 31Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 311821 provides valuation-focused intelligence for professionals assessing cookie and cracker manufacturing businesses. Data is sourced from FDA[6] food labeling regulations, U.S. Additional data is drawn from [Bureau of Labor Statistics[7].. Census Bureau](https://www.census.gov/) manufacturing statistics, and SBA size standards[8] to support business appraisals, acquisition due diligence, lending decisions, and investment analysis for cookie and cracker enterprises.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the cookie and cracker manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing (NAICS 311821) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing cookies, crackers, and related products such as ice cream cones, graham wafers, saltines, soda crackers, and filled cookies. These manufacturers combine flour, fats, sugars, and other ingredients into dough, form it through sheeting, rotary molding, or wire-cut processes, bake it on continuous oven bands, and package finished products for retail grocery, vending, foodservice, and export distribution. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies cookie and cracker manufacturing separately from commercial bakeries (NAICS 311812) and frozen bakery products (NAICS 311813).
The U.S. cookie and cracker market generates tens of billions in annual retail sales, with major branded manufacturers competing alongside private-label producers, premium artisan brands, and better-for-you specialty products. The FDA[6] regulates ingredient standards, nutritional labeling, allergen declarations, and health claims for packaged cookie and cracker products. Innovation focuses on clean-label ingredients, reduced sugar formulations, plant-based and gluten-free options, and premium flavor and texture combinations targeting health-conscious and indulgent consumer segments.
Business valuations for cookie and cracker manufacturers focus on brand portfolio strength and consumer loyalty, manufacturing line capability across multiple product formats, retail distribution breadth and shelf space commitments, and the balance between branded and private-label contract manufacturing revenue. Appraisers evaluate production line speeds, product changeover flexibility, ingredient cost management, packaging line automation, and the competitive dynamics between legacy national brands, emerging premium brands, and growing private-label market share.
What's Included in This Industry
- Sector-specific valuation multiples and financial benchmarks for cookie and cracker manufacturing operations
- Revenue and profitability analysis across cookies, crackers, sandwich cookies, filled crackers, premium varieties, and private-label product segments
- SBA size standard classification and lending threshold data for NAICS 311821
- Comparable transaction data from recent cookie and cracker company acquisitions, brand portfolio sales, and manufacturing facility purchases
- Market analysis covering snack consumption trends, premium cookie growth, health-conscious cracker innovation, and private-label competition dynamics
- Workforce and labor cost benchmarking for baking line operators, dough mixers, packaging technicians, quality control staff, and maintenance workers
- Industry risk assessment including flour and sugar cost volatility, consumer health trend shifts, retail shelf space competition, and private-label pricing pressure
- Regulatory compliance overview covering FDA labeling standards, allergen management, nutritional and health claim rules, and FSMA preventive controls
- Capital expenditure profiles for mixing systems, sheeting and forming equipment, continuous band ovens, packaging lines, and ingredient handling systems
- Production metrics including cases per line hour, product changeover efficiency, ingredient yield rates, packaging line speeds, and cost per case benchmarks
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Food Manufacturing | 311 |
| Industry Group | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 3118 |
| NAICS Industry | Cookie, Cracker, and Pasta Manufacturing | 31182 |
| National Industry | Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing | 311821 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 311812 | Commercial Bakeries | Commercial bakeries producing fresh bread and baked goods sharing baked product distribution channels and competing for consumer baked goods spending allocation |
| 311919 | Other Snack Food Manufacturing | Other snack food manufacturing operations producing competing shelf-stable snack products that share retail snack aisle placement with cookies and crackers |
| 311340 | Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing | Nonchocolate confectionery manufacturers sharing impulse snack retail placement, seasonal promotional calendars, and consumer treat spending with cookie products |
| 311811 | Retail Bakeries | Retail bakeries producing fresh cookies and baked treats sold directly to consumers, competing with packaged manufactured cookies for consumer purchases |
| 424410 | General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers | General line grocery merchant wholesalers distributing packaged cookies and crackers from manufacturers to retail grocery stores and convenience outlets |
| 445110 | Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) | Supermarkets and grocery retailers managing cookie and cracker shelf sections representing the primary distribution channel for manufactured baked snack products |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 15.2% | 63 |
| 2 | Texas | 12.3% | 51 |
| 3 | New York | 8.4% | 35 |
| 4 | Illinois | 6.3% | 26 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 5.3% | 22 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 5.3% | 22 |
| 7 | Florida | 3.9% | 16 |
| 8 | Ohio | 3.6% | 15 |
| 9 | Utah | 3.4% | 14 |
| 10 | Oregon | 3.1% | 13 |
% Of Establishments
0%
15%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
136
Total SBA Loans
$87.8M
Total Loan Volume
$645K
Average Loan Size
9 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.57%
Average Interest Rate
3,256
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[9] classifies Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing (NAICS 311821) with a size standard of 1,250 employees. Cookie and cracker producers within this threshold qualify for SBA-backed lending[10] and government contracting preferences, with specialty and regional manufacturers accessing capital for production line investment and brand development. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Bank | 16 | $40.0M | $2.5M |
| 2 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 24 | $20.4M | $850K |
| 3 | Byline Bank | 16 | $15.6M | $975K |
| 4 | Ives Bank | 8 | $4.0M | $500K |
| 5 | The Farmers Bank, Frankfort, Indiana | 16 | $2.3M | $145K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for cookie and cracker manufacturing?
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing is classified under NAICS code 311821, covering packaged cookies, crackers, and baked snack products per the U.S. Census Bureau[5] industry classification system.
What is the SBA size standard for cookie manufacturing?
The SBA[9] sets the size standard for NAICS 311821 at 1,250 employees, qualifying eligible cookie and cracker manufacturers for small business lending and government contracting programs.
How are cookie and cracker businesses valued?
Valuations focus on brand portfolio strength, manufacturing line capability, retail distribution breadth, and branded versus private-label revenue mix per U.S. Census Bureau[13] data.
What products does NAICS 311821 cover?
Products include cookies, crackers, sandwich cookies, graham crackers, saltines, filled crackers, and ice cream cones per U.S. Census Bureau[5] product classification definitions.
What trends are shaping cookie and cracker markets?
Clean-label ingredients, reduced sugar, gluten-free and plant-based options, premium artisan varieties, and health-conscious reformulations are driving product innovation across the category.
What risks affect cookie and cracker manufacturers?
Major risks include flour and sugar commodity cost volatility, consumer health trend shifts reducing sweet snack consumption, retail shelf space competition, and private-label market share growth.
What regulations apply to cookie and cracker products?
The FDA[6] regulates nutritional labeling, allergen declarations, ingredient standards, health claims, and FSMA preventive controls for cookie and cracker manufacturing facilities.
How large is the U.S. cookie and cracker market?
The U.S. cookie and cracker market generates tens of billions in annual retail sales, with major branded companies, private-label producers, and specialty brands competing across product segments.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]FDA fda.gov
- [7]U.S. Additional data is drawn from [Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [8]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [9]SBA sba.gov
- [10]SBA-backed lending sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
- [13]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
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