Mintel's UK Snacking Research

New research on the UK snacks market from Mintel, 'Snacking on the go', has been released this week. The new study finds that the value of the sector will reach over £9 billion by the end of 2002, representing an increase of £67 million over 2001.

Despite the evidence that chocolate still ranks as the most popular item, fruit has become a serious contender for pole position. Of 984 adults questioned by Mintel for the report, half (51 percent) stated that they had snacked on chocolate in the preceding month. Exactly 50 percent had also snacked on fruit. Mintel suggests that, as consumers in Britain become more aware of health issues, healthier snacks will become increasingly popular, challenging the dominant £3.2 billion chocolate confectionery market.

The research found that, demographically speaking, the Scots are the most likely to say they rarely snack at almost 40%, compared to just over three in ten Londoners. The Scots emerged as most likely to never eat on the street at 26%, compared to the national average of just over one in five. Just 6% of Scots were found to actually snack to or from work school or college. In fact the Scots are the least likely region to be classified as 'Couch Potatoes' at 17% compared to a national average of 22%. By contrast, they are most likely to be classified as 'Traditionalists' with one in five falling in to this category, compared to an average of just 12%.

Couch Potatoes display some distinct characteristics. They are most likely to eat in front of the television and least likely to have a traditional diet of meat and two vegetables. They do not feel that it is important to have at least one family meal together a day and tend not to make a point of eating at regular times. A quarter of this group rarely cook, so they are the least likely to cook a meal from scratch. By contrast, the Traditionalists tend to opt for proper meals. They are most likely to try to eat at regular times and follow a traditional diet of meat and two vegetables.

The influence of breakfast, believed by many to be the most important meal of the day, on the levels of snacking has proved to be quite significant. Amongst those who never eat breakfast only 28% snack rarely, whilst a third of breakfast eaters snack rarely. In addition to this, nearly a fifth of those who never eat breakfast also tend to substitute a proper lunch with several snacks. Those that never eat breakfast are far more likely to snack on impulse, if they see something they fancy.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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