Almost all parents bought snacks for their child in the six months to March 2015. Also reflective of the ingrained nature of kids’ snacking is that three quarters of children snack at least once a day.

The predicted growth in the number of children aged 10-14 between 2014 and 2019 is good news for the kids’ snacking market and should support demand for these products. While parents’ health concerns put pressure on the market, they also create opportunities with half of parents interested in healthier versions of their child’s favourite snack.

The introduction of UIFSM (Universal Infant Free School Meals) in September 2014 - which saw an extra 1.3 million children opt for a hot school meal – posed a threat to the market. The shift away from packed lunches has diminished an important usage occasion for operators in the market.

This report examines the UK retail market for kids’ snacks between the ages of 7 and 15, although reference will also be made where relevant to snacks in general, due to the blurring of lines between child- and adult-oriented snacks. Mintel’s definition includes products sold through the grocery retail channel, including:

• Chocolate, sugar and gum confectionery

• Breakfast cereals (includes hot and cold)

• Fruit and vegetables (includes all formats – fresh, dried, fruit snacks, canned, frozen, prepared, purées)

• Crisps, nuts and other salty snacks

• Cheese and cheese snacks

• Sweet and savoury biscuits/cookies/crackers

• Sweet baked goods, cakes and pastries

• Flavoured milk and smoothies

• Spoonable yogurt/drinking yogurt/fromage frais

• Dairy and non-dairy ice cream, including lollies

• Cereal, snack and cake bars

• Bread and non-sweet baked goods

• Desserts (eg custard pots, Müller rice, jelly, canned fruit in pots).

It excludes sales via catering or foodservice establishments, however, references and comparisons to these sectors may be made where relevant.

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