What you need to know
Snacking is almost universal. 95% of UK adults snacked in December 2015, down from 97% a year prior. Usage is down in all categories bar savoury biscuits. These have benefited from product innovation and an image as a healthier alternative to crisps and as healthier than sweet biscuits.
Healthier variants offer a route for operators to keep their snacks on the menu. Snackers seem open to brands acting on their behalf when it comes to health and snacking, with seven in 10 agreeing that snack manufacturers should do more to cut sugar content. That 54% of snackers are interested in healthier versions of their favourite snacks suggests permission even for indulgent products to explore this area without risk of a backlash.
New Product Development is currently failing to cater to this demand for healthier products, with low/no/reduced (L/N/R) calorie, fat or sugar claims each featuring on less than 10% of snacks launched in 2015. This suggests scope for innovation going forward as a way to appeal to health-conscious consumers.
Definition
This Report looks at consumers’ snacking habits, defined as eating between meals, for example fruit, biscuits or crisps, among others. The Report will look at snacking at home, elsewhere (eg at work) and on the go (eg when travelling), consumers’ snack choices and attitudes towards snacks.
