Snacking demand continues to grow, and as ideas of what counts as a snack shift, diners may be looking for different kinds of items when hunger or boredom strikes. Here are some statistics on what diners are seeking when it comes to snacks, culled from Technomic’s most recent Snacking Consumer Trend Report.
COVID-19 has had an impact on many aspects of foodservice, and snacking frequency is no exception. One-fifth of consumers say they are snacking more often than they did prior to the pandemic, according to Technomic. Just 11% say they’re snacking less.
While 58% of consumers say their definition of a snack has not changed over the last two years, others report that their concept of a snack has widened to include different sorts of food, beverages, mini-meals and more.
One-third (33%) of consumers say they snack when they want to treat themselves, while 26% do so when bored and 19% when feeling stressed, per Technomic.
The afternoon snack is still a staple, with 71% of consumers reporting that they generally have a snack between morning and evening. Almost one-fourth (23%) say that they have a mid-morning snack as they start work or school, which serves as a second breakfast of sorts.
Produce stands at Liberty University motivate students to put dining dollars toward healthy purchases
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Eye on health
Twenty-two percent of consumers say they expect to snack on healthier items in the six months ahead, with those under 35 showing the most interest in healthy snacks, per the report.
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The university has teamed up with its foodservice provider, Chartwells Higher Education, on a series of new initiatives aimed at making dining more sustainable.
