Children between the ages of 2 and 17 ate more yogurt as a snack-oriented food in 2009 than they did in 2008, but fresh fruit remained the top snack food consumed by this age group, according to market research company The NPD Group.
| The Top 10 snack-oriented foods among children 2-17 |
| 1. Yogurt (refrigerated) 2. Potato Chips 3. Fresh Fruit 4. Cheese: String, prepackaged, cubes/shapes 5. Hard Candy 6. Ice/Fudge/Cream Pops 7. Chewy Candy 8. Corn Chips 9. Donuts 10. Snack Pies/Pastries * Source: NPD group |
According to NPD's food and beverage market research, potato chips, fresh fruit, string cheese and prepackaged cheese cubes or shapes, and hard candy also experienced growth in 2009 vs. 2008 as snack foods eaten between, with or instead of meals.
NPD's SnackTrack, which continually monitors the consumption of snack foods both in-home and away, reports that also among the top growing snacks in 2009 over the previous year were ice/fudge or cream pops, chewy candy, corn chips, donuts, and snack pies and pastries.
SnackTrack defines snack foods as a group of foods generally perceived to be snack foods regardless of when consumed. Sixty percent of snacks are consumed at snack occasions, before, between, and after meals or throughout the day, and the remaining snacks are eaten with or instead of main meals. One out of every five meals consumed in the United States is a snack meal.
Snacking trend grows in restaurants
Mintel Menu Insights research also revealed a number of findings regarding snacking as an overall emerging ordering trend at restaurants. Menu items that contain the descriptors "snack," "snackable" or "snacker" have increased by a staggering 170 percent since 2007 and growth is expected to carry on as restaurants continue to explore this new trend.
"Snacks are providing a huge opportunity right now for restaurants ranging from quick service to fine dining," said Eric Giandelone, director of foodservice research at Mintel, in a news release. "By innovating menus with various snacking options, restaurants can boost sales throughout the day and drive guest traffic during non-peak hours."
Consumers are more likely to visit restaurants in the early and late afternoon for snacks, the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. time slot being most popular with 37 percent of Mintel's respondents. Spending, however, peaks in the early evening. Only 19 percent of respondents purchased snacks from a restaurant between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., but the average amount spent is $4.26 per person versus only $3.79 across all other time periods.
"Snack options need to be appropriate for the time frame," Giandelone said. "Heartier and pricier fare may have more appeal later in the day, while light options may work best in the morning or early afternoon."
The majority of snackers (64 percent) look for a beverage when snacking, whereas 61 percent opt for something portable. Meanwhile, just over half (52 percent) crave an indulgent snack and 50 percent want something salty to nibble on. Only 32 percent of snackers choose a healthy option, which counteracts the health conscious trend that is being seen in the restaurant industry.
