Consumer Trends

A nation of nibblers: Snacks

Snacks have become a customer-driven demand in foodservice. New data from Mintel show that while consumers snack at almost every time of the day and night, snacking patterns do vary by gender and age. Convenience, pricing, portion size and portability drive snacking decisions.

  • Within one month this past Spring, 68% of people had a snack from a fast food restaurant, while 45% purchased a snack from a casual restaurant
  • 18 to 34 year-olds are generally more cash-strapped, making them more inclined to patronize quickservice restaurants for a snack. However, this group is also snacking at fast-casual concepts and coffeehouses, indicating that there’s room to grow more snack options in these segments
  • Males and females show similar snacking patterns. Yet, men are more likely to get a portable item and women prefer sweet snacks such as bakery items
  • Sides are the main source of snacks in restaurants, with 37% of respondents ordering from that part of the menu. Appetizers come in second at 28%
  • Casual restaurants and coffeehouses are offering appetizers and happy hours to help meet demands for social snacking
  • While the word ‘snack’ conjures up a treat, many diners seek satiety and wholesome ingredients that will keep them full until the next eating occasion

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

How Popeyes changed the chicken business

How did a once-struggling, regional bone-in chicken chain overtake KFC, the formerly dominant player in the U.S. market? With a fixation on sandwiches and many more new restaurants.

Financing

Get ready for a summertime value war

The Bottom Line: With more customers opting to eat at home, rather than at restaurants, more fast-food chains will start pushing value this summer.

Food

Inside Chili's quest to craft a value-priced burger that could take on McDonald's

Behind the Menu: How the casual-dining chain smashes expectations with a winning combination of familiarity and price with its new Big Smasher burger.

Trending

More from our partners