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Crisps, Salty Snacks and Nuts - UK - January 2012

Crisps, Salty Snacks and Nuts - UK - January 2012

“Price remains the main choice factor in 2011, with consumers increasingly looking to stick to tried and trusted brands and flavours. Keeping crisps affordable in the face of rapidly rising raw material costs is one of the most difficult, but important, challenges facing manufacturers and retailers today.”

– Chris Wisson, Senior Food Analyst

Some questions answered in this report include:


  • How can the market arrest falling numbers of users?

  • How can over-55s be encouraged to try new types of crisps and salty snacks?
    ...
£1,750.00

“Price remains the main choice factor in 2011, with consumers increasingly looking to stick to tried and trusted brands and flavours. Keeping crisps affordable in the face of rapidly rising raw material costs is one of the most difficult, but important, challenges facing manufacturers and retailers today.”

– Chris Wisson, Senior Food Analyst

Some questions answered in this report include:


  • How can the market arrest falling numbers of users?

  • How can over-55s be encouraged to try new types of crisps and salty snacks?

  • How can the sharing bags market boost their market share further?

  • How can manufacturers draw more men into the salty snacks market?

Introduction


Definition


Abbreviations


Executive Summary


The market


Forecast

Figure 1: Forecast of UK retail sales of crisps, salty snacks and nuts, by value, 2006-16

Market factors


UK obesity levels steadily rising

Consumers look to enjoy indulgent treats more often

Low consumer confidence of benefit to snack-at-home categories…

…With price starting to prevail over loyalty

Rising raw material prices a threat to keeping salty snacks affordable

Population changes create both opportunities and threats

Figure 2: Projected trends in the UK population, by age group, 2011-16

Companies, brands and innovation


Pepsico remains the dominant market force

Potato crisps and supermarkets drive innovation in the market

Figure 3: Product launches within the UK crisps, salty snacks and nuts market, by top companies, 2007-11*

Healthy claims fall as NPD looks to keep its options open

Figure 4: Product launches within the UK crisps, salty snacks and nuts market, by claims, 2010 and 2011*

Adspend looks set to fall in 2011

The consumer


Falling numbers of snackers in the market

Standard potato crisps remain the most popular type…

Figure 5: Consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, by type, November 2011

…With snacking at home dominating

Price grows in importance as a choice factor when buying crisps

Figure 6: Most important factors when choosing crisps, salty snacks or nuts, November 2011

Consumers show keen interest in flavour and resealable packaging

Figure 7: Attitudes towards crisps and salty snacks, November 2011

Health considerations come to the fore for consumption of nuts

Figure 8: Attitudes towards nuts, November 2011

Overpricing a major barrier to popcorn usage

Figure 9: Attitudes towards popcorn, November 2011

What we think


Issues in the Market


How can the market arrest falling numbers of users?


How can over-55s be encouraged to try new types of crisps and salty snacks?


How can the sharing bags market boost their market share further?


How can manufacturers draw more men into the salty snacks market?


Future Opportunities


Extend my Brand


A Simple Balance for Health


Internal Market Environment


Key points


Fewer Brits claim to be snacking in 2011


Figure 10: Snacking between meals, 2009-11

Rising UK obesity levels put pressure on snack manufacturers


Figure 11: Body mass index segments, 2007-11

Increasing numbers of consumers are looking for indulgent treats


Figure 12: Agreement with health-related lifestyle statements, 2007-11

Consumers becoming more price-conscious and less brand-loyal


Figure 13: Agreement with cost-related lifestyle statements, 2007-11

Trend for staying at home benefiting affordable indulgences


Broader Market Environment


Key points


Consumers to remain conservative with limited value market growth


Figure 14: Consumer confidence index, monthly, January 2007-December 2011

The UK’s changing demographic profile presents challenges and opportunities


Figure 15: Projected trends in the UK population, by age group, 2011-16

An ageing population a threat to the crisps market, but a potential boon for nuts

Conversely, growing numbers of 25-34-year-olds may have the opposite effect

Changing social patterns are also likely to lead to fragmented growth


Figure 16: Projected trends in the UK population, by socio-economic group, 2011-16

C2s may hold the key for the crisps and nuts markets…

…With ABs also likely to play a central role

Declining numbers of D users a threat to crisps

Rising raw material prices put pressure on manufacturer margins


Competitive Context


Key points


Crisps, salty snacks and nuts face a wide variety of competition


Figure 17: Retail sales in selected markets competing with crisps, salty snacks and nuts, 2006-11

Healthy snacking being encouraged, but consumers still look for treats


Figure 18: Trends in attitudes towards selected healthy lifestyles, December 2008-October 2011

Confectionery benefits from strong on-the-go positioning


Growth of bag formats remains a threat to crisps and salty snacks


Strengths and Weaknesses


Strengths


Weaknesses


Who’s Innovating?


Key points


Crisps NPD outstrips the market


Figure 19: Product launches within the UK crisps, salty snacks and nuts market, by sub-category, 2007-11*

Supermarkets up the ante in NPD


Figure 20: Product launches within the UK crisps, salty snacks and nuts market, by top companies, 2011*

Figure 21: Product launches within the UK crisps, salty snacks and nuts market, by label, 2007-11*

Healthy claims fall in 2011


Figure 22: Product launches within the UK crisps, salty snacks and nuts market, by claims, 2010 and 2011*

NPD returns to the tried and tested


Figure 23: Product launches within the UK crisps, salty snacks and nuts market, by flavour, 2011*

Key themes


Supermarkets heat up competition in premium crisps segment


Crisp brands highlight their use of local produce


Smaller bags but big flavour


Popcorn NPD booms in 2011


Nuts tackle expensive image with economy launches


Market Size and Forecast


Key points


Market size for crisps and salty snacks


Figure 24: UK retail sales of crisps and salty snacks, 2006-11*

Market size for nuts


Figure 25: UK retail sales of nuts, 2006-11

Forecast


Forecast for crisps and salty snacks


Figure 26: UK retail sales of crisps and salty snacks, 2006-16*

Figure 27: Forecast of UK retail sales of crisps and salty snacks*, by value, 2006-16

Forecast for nuts


Figure 28: UK retail sales of nuts, 2006-16

Figure 29: Forecast of UK retail sales of nuts, by value, 2006-16

Forecast methodology


Segment Performance


Key points


Crisps remain the largest individual type of snack


Figure 30: UK retail value sales of crisps, salty snacks and nuts, by type, 2009-11

Nuts segment posts growth despite brand woes


Snacks represent just under half of the market


Child-friendly snacks remain a potentially lucrative market


Market Share


Key points


Walkers continues to dominate the crisps market


Figure 31: Leading brands’ value shares in crisps and salty snacks, 2009-11

Mixed fortunes for PepsiCo’s brands


New sub-brands add competition

Doritos driving the success of tortilla chips

Interest in retro brands remains strong

Pringles struggles as takeover talks appear to impact on sales


UB has success in growing value share of key brands


Seabrook consolidates its position in the market


Premium sales for premium crisps


New entrants help to drive popcorn sales


KP the only major brand to post growth in 2011


Figure 32: Leading brands’ value shares in nuts, 2009-11

Peperami and Mattessons drive sales of meat snacks


Figure 33: Leading brands’ value shares in meat snacks, 2009-11

Companies and Products


Diamond Foods


Procter & Gamble


PepsiCo


Seabrook


Tyrrells


United Biscuits (UB)


The Dormen Food Company


Brand Research


Brand map


Figure 34: Attitudes towards and usage of brands in the crisps and salty snacks sector, November 2011

Correspondence analysis

Brand attitudes


Figure 35: Attitudes, by crisp and salty snacks brand, November 2011

Brand personality


Figure 36: Crisps and salty snacks brand personality – macro image, November 2011

Figure 37: Crisps and salty snacks brand personality – micro image, November 2011

Brand experience


Figure 38: Crisps and salty snacks brand usage, November 2011

Figure 39: Satisfaction with various crisps and salty snacks brands, November 2011

Figure 40: Consideration of crisps and salty snacks brands, November 2011

Figure 41: Consumer perceptions of current crisps and salty snacks brand performance, November 2011

Figure 42: Crisps and salty snacks brand recommendation – net promoter score, November 2011

Brand index


Figure 43: Crisps and salty snacks brand index, November 2011

Figure 44: Crisps and salty snacks brand index vs. recommendation, November 2011

Target group analysis


Figure 45: Target groups, November 2011

Figure 46: Crisps and salty snacks brand usage, by target groups, November 2011

Group One – Conformists

Group Two – Simply the Best

Group Three – Shelf Stalkers

Group Four – Habitual Shoppers

Group Five – Individualists

Brand Communication and Promotion


Key points


Adspend looks set to decline in 2011


Figure 47: Main monitored media advertising expenditure on crisps, salty snacks and nuts, 2007-11*

Walkers ramps up its adspend and tightens its grip on the market


Figure 48: Main monitored media advertising expenditure on crisps, salty snacks and nuts, by top-spending companies in 2011, 2008-11

Figure 49: Main monitored media advertising expenditure on crisps, salty snacks and nuts, by top ten brands, 2011*

TV remains the dominant advertising medium despite a slight fall


Figure 50: Main monitored media advertising spend on crisps, salty snacks and nuts, by media type, 2008-11*

Channels to Market


Key points


Multiple grocers strengthen their dominance in the market


Figure 51: Retail distribution of crisps, salty snacks and nuts, by outlet type, 2009-11

Exclusivity still plays a small role in the market


Crisps and salty snacks remain a part of the pub experience


Consumer – Trends in Usage of Crisps, Salty Snacks and Nuts


Key points


Crisps and salty snacks suffer decline in user numbers


Figure 52: Usage of potato crisps, tortilla chips and corn snacks, 2007-11

Figure 53: Types of potato crisps, tortilla and corn snacks used most often, 2007-11

Nuts also see numbers of users fall


Figure 54: Usage of nuts and dried fruit, 2009-11

Figure 55: Types of nuts and dried fruits used most often, 2009-11

Nuts usage pattern almost the complete opposite of crisps


Consumer – Usage of Crisps, Salty Snacks and Nuts by Type


Key points


Standard crisps remains the most popular snack type


Figure 56: Consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, by type, November 2011

Figure 57: Most likely gender and age group to eat different types of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, November 2011

Standard crisps remain dominant in consumers’ preferences


Premium crisps continue moving into the mainstream


Usage of tortilla chips grows rapidly


Healthier crisps show signs of growth


Popcorn is the star performer in 2011


Roasted nuts are the second most widely eaten salty snack


Figure 58: Consumption of nuts in the last six months, by type, by age, November 2011

More consumers expanding their crisps and salty snacks repertoires


Figure 59: Repertoire of usage of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, November 2011

Consumer – Usage of Crisps, Salty Snacks and Nuts by Location and Occasion


Key points


Home use dominates consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts


Figure 60: Locations for eating crisps, salty snacks and nuts, November 2011

Figure 61: Percentage point change in what consumers spend extra money on, November 2009 against October 2011

Evening snacking dominates use of crisps, salty snacks and nuts


Figure 62: Occasions for eating crisps, salty snacks and nuts, November 2011

Consumer – Choice Factors


Key points


Price and flavour dominate as the main choice factors


Figure 63: Most important factors when choosing crisps, salty snacks and nuts, November 2011

Consumers increasingly considering price but not special offers


Consumers move towards their favourites and away from experimenting


Trust important for three in five consumers


Have sharing bags peaked?


Over-55s look for health and quality ingredients


Summary of choice factors by types of crisp and salty snacks


Figure 64: Choice factors, by top three types of snack, November 2011

Consumer – Attitudes towards Crisps and Salty Snacks


Key points


Resealable packaging and flavour dominate consumer attitudes


Figure 65: Attitudes towards crisps and salty snacks, November 2011

Resealable packaging may help refresh sharing bags


Flavour more important than health for the majority of consumers…


…But healthy crisps may be on the rise


Brands still lead the way on taste


Consumer – Attitudes towards Nuts and Popcorn


Key points


Health considerations come to the fore for consumption of nuts


Figure 66: Attitudes towards nuts, November 2011

Roasted nuts benefits from a healthy image...


…Although consumers are limiting their usage of nuts on health grounds


Strong interest in newness, fair trade nuts and sharing bags


Price represents a notable challenge for nuts


Perceived overpricing a major barrier to popcorn usage


Figure 67: Attitudes towards popcorn, November 2011

Consumer – Target Groups


Key points


Five target groups


Figure 68: Target groups for crisps, salty snacks and nuts, November 2011

Budgeters (23%)


Health-conscious (20%)


Enthusiasts (19%)


Indulgents (12%)


Undriven (26%)


Appendix – Internal Market Environment


Figure 69: Reasons for snacking 2009-11

Figure 70: Trends in current financial situation compared to a year ago, July-October 2011

Figure 71: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements, 2007-11

Figure 72: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements, by demographics, 2011

Figure 73: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements, by demographics, 2011 (continued)

Figure 74: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements, by demographics, 2011 (continued)

Appendix – Competitive Context


Figure 75: Trends in attitudes towards selected healthy lifestyles, December 2008-October 2011

Appendix – Market Size and Forecast


Figure 76: Best and worst case forecasts for crisps, salty snacks and nuts, by value, 2011-16

Figure 77: Best and worst case forecasts for crisps, salty snacks and nuts, by value, 2011-16

Figure 78: Best and worst case forecasts for nuts, by value, 2011-16

Appendix – Brand Research


Figure 79: Brand usage, November 2011

Figure 80: Brand commitment, November 2011

Figure 81: Brand momentum, November 2011

Figure 82: Brand diversity, November 2011

Figure 83: Brand satisfaction, November 2011

Figure 84: Brand recommendation, November 2011

Figure 85: Brand attitude, November 2011

Figure 86: Brand image – macro image, November 2011

Figure 87: Brand image – micro image, November 2011

Figure 88: Profile of target groups by demographics, November 2011

Figure 89: Psychographic segmentation by target groups, November 2011

Figure 90: Brand usage by target groups, November 2011

Figure 91: Brand index, November 2011

Appendix – Consumer – Trends in Usage of Crisps, Salty Snacks and Nuts


Figure 92: Reasons for snacking, 2009-11

Figure 93: Usage of potato crisps, tortilla and corn snacks, by demographics, 2011

Figure 94: Types of potato crisps, tortilla and corn snacks used most often, 2007-11

Figure 95: Usage of nuts and dried fruit, by demographics, 2011

Appendix – Consumer – Usage of Crisps, Salty Snacks and Nuts by Type


Figure 96: Consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, by type, by demographics, November 2011

Figure 97: Consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, by type, by demographics, November 2011 (continued)

Figure 98: Consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, by type, by demographics, November 2011 (continued)

Figure 99: Consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months by type, by repertoire, November 2011

Figure 100: Consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, by type, by demographics, November 2011

Appendix – Consumer – Usage of Crisps, Salty Snacks and Nuts by Location and Occasion


Figure 101: Locations for eating crisps, nuts and salty snacks: by demographics, November 2011

Figure 102: Occasions for eating crisps, nuts and salty snacks; by demographics, November 2011

Appendix – Consumer – Choice Factors


Figure 103: Most important factors when choosing crisps, salty snacks and nuts; by demographics, November 2011

Figure 104: Most important factors when choosing crisps, salty snacks and nuts; by demographics, November 2011 (continued)

Figure 105: Most important factors when choosing crisps, salty snacks and nuts; by demographics, November 2011 (continued)

Figure 106: Most important factors when choosing crisps, salty snacks and nuts; by consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, by type, November 2011

Figure 107: Most important factors when choosing crisps, salty snacks and nuts; by consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, by type, November 2011 (continued)

Figure 108: Most important factors when choosing crisps, salty snacks and nuts; by consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, by type, November 2011 (continued)

Appendix – Consumer – Attitudes towards Crisps and Salty Snacks


Figure 109: Attitudes towards crisps, salty snacks and nuts, November 2011

Figure 110: Agreement with the statements ‘I prefer the taste of branded crisps/salty snacks to own-label ones’ and ‘I only buy premium crisps / salty snacks when they are on offer’, by demographics, November 2011

Figure 111: Agreement with the statements ‘I am prepared to pay more for branded crisps/salty snacks’ and ‘I prefer crisps made from UK-sourced potatoes’, by demographics, November 2011

Figure 112: Agreement with the statements ‘Healthy crisps are tastier than they used to be’ and ‘I buy more sharing bags than I used to’, by demographics, November 2011

Figure 113: Agreement with the statements ‘Flavour is more important to me than calorie content’ and ‘I always try to buy healthy crisps/salty snacks’, by demographics, November 2011

Figure 114: Agreement with the statements “I would like to see resealable packaging for large sharing packs of crisps/salty snacks” and “I like to buy retro crisps / salty snacks”, by demographics, November 2011

Appendix – Consumer – Attitudes towards Nuts and Popcorn


Figure 115: Attitudes towards nuts and popcorn, November 2011

Figure 116: Agreement with the statements ‘Roasted nuts are a good source of protein and vitamins’ and ‘I limit the amount of roasted nuts I eat because they are unhealthy’, by demographics, November 2011

Figure 117: Agreement with the statements ‘Roasted nuts are healthier than crisps/other salty snacks’ and ‘I would prefer to buy nuts in a large sharing bag’, by demographics, November 2011

Figure 118: Agreement with the statements ‘I like trying new brands and flavours of nuts’ and ‘Nuts are cheap when compared to other snacks’, by demographics, November 2011

Figure 119: Agreement with the statements ‘I only buy nuts when they are on special offer’ and ‘I would buy more nuts if the salt content was lower’, by demographics, November 2011

Figure 120: Agreement with the statements ‘I would be more likely to buy healthier nut options’ and ‘I would like to buy more fair trade nuts’, by demographics, November 2011

Figure 121: Agreement with the statements ‘Popcorn is healthier than other snacks’ and ‘Popcorn is overpriced’, by demographics, November 2011

Appendix – Consumer – Target Groups


Figure 122: Target groups, by demographics, November 2011

Figure 123: Consumption of crisps, salty snacks and nuts in the last six months, by type; by target groups, November 2011

Figure 124: Locations for eating crisps, nuts and salty snacks; by target groups, November 2011

Figure 125: Occasions for eating crisps, nuts and salty snacks; by target groups, November 2011

Figure 126: Most important factors when choosing crisps, salty snacks and nuts; by target groups, November 2011

Figure 127: Attitudes towards eating crisps and salty snacks, by target groups, November 2011

Figure 128: Attitudes towards eating nuts and popcorn, by target groups, November 2011

Figure 129: Healthy lifestyles, by target groups, November 2011

  • Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., The
  • Kettle Foods Ltd
  • Marks & Spencer
  • Pepsi-Cola UK
  • PepsiCo Inc
  • Procter & Gamble UK & Ireland
  • The Dormen Food Company
  • United Biscuits
  • Walkers Snack Foods Limited
  • Wm Morrison Supermarkets
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