Snacking remains well established, but stagnant. As an impulse-driven segment, snacks need to appease novelty demands for consumers seeking rewarding and mood boosting properties. Indeed, 53% of German snackers are…
Germany
Consumer Attitudes
Snacks
simple
Germany Attitudes towards Snacking Consumer Report 2025
"While indulgence still drives frequent snacking at home, Germans increasingly snack out-of-home. Brands can innovate with nutrient-dense options that rival traditional meals."
Snacking in Germany – Consumer Attitudes and Insights
Snacking remains well established, but stagnant. As an impulse-driven segment, snacks need to appease novelty demands for consumers seeking rewarding and mood boosting properties. Indeed, 53% of German snackers are always on the lookout to try new snacks.
Complex flavour combinations, such as swicy (sweet and spicy) flavours, can deliver both excitement and functionality. To satisfy multiple cravings simultaneously, brands can expand on base ingredients and collaborations.
Busy Germans increasingly rely on snacking on the go – particularly younger consumers. With lines blurring between snacks and meals, snacking needs to focus on functional benefits to meet energy and nutrient demands. Indeed, almost half of German snackers agree it is more important for snacks to be a good source of nutrients than minimally processed. With satisfying hunger being the main consumption driver, brands need to promote satiety and edge closer to meals.
Snacking also holds social value, with snacks commonly served at social gatherings and even inspiring new socialising trends. Consumer desire for premium snacks for socialising has yet to be matched.
Brands can turn to artisan ingredients to provide value for money and combat processing concerns. Exploring conversation-starting formats, like multipacks, will be key to integrating into social gatherings.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
Market drivers for snacking, including consumers’ fiscal confidence and attitudes towards healthy eating
Usage of snacks and frequency of snacking, exploring consumers’ strong and continued engagement with the category
Location of snacking, with at-home snacking dominating despite the growing trend of snacking on the go
Reasons for snacking, from satisfying hunger and indulgence to combating boredom
Attitudes and behaviours toward snacking, focusing on the demand for variety and nutritional value in snack products
Trends in launch activity and opportunities for further innovation in the snacking industry
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for snacks
Opportunities
Be unconventional with flavour pairings
Provide nutritional support
Make snacking sociable
THE MARKET
Rising prices are stalling confidence
Graph 1: financial confidence over the next year or so, 2023-25
Commutes are growing longer
Commuters need convenient meals
Viral snacking trends scale into cultural moments
Healthy eating goals relax for snacking
Childhood obesity calls for cautious parenting
CONSUMER
Types of snacks consumed
Snacks are a staple
Sweet snacks and other snacks, all about that balance
Graph 2: consumption of sweet and other snacks in the last two weeks, by age, 2025-25
Savoury snacks need a flavour revamp
Graph 3: consumption of any savoury snack in the last two weeks, 2024 vs 2025
Frequency of snacking
A snack a day keeps bad moods at bay
Snackers crave escapism
Snacking location
The comfort of home drives snacking occassions
Brands can target comfort at home
On-the-go snacking demands rise
Graph 4: location for snacking in the last two weeks, 2023 vs 2025
Reasons for snacking
Satisfying hunger outranks more indulgent reasons for snacking
Graph 5: reasons for snacking in the last two weeks, 2025
Snacks can become meals in their own right
Cravings don’t have to be guilty
Refuelling meets refreshment
Behaviours and attitudes towards snacking
Sustainability is a social tool
Multipacks offer safe exploration
Graph 6: behaviours related to snacking, 2025
Two bases one stone
Collaborate for two treats in one snack
Benefits beat processing
Sugar reduction can’t sacrifice sweetness
PRODUCTS, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
New varieties and new packaging lead the launch activity of most snacks
Graph 7: snack launches, by launch type, 2024-25
Time to mix up the crunch
Graph 8: snack food launches, by top ten textures, 2022-25
Pistachio power surge, matcha slacking
Convenience needs to offer control
Premium snacks remain niche
Treats can be premium
Ways brands can premiumise their snacks to stand out
Create halos with high protein and fibre
Graph 9: snack food launches, by high/added claims, 2022-25
APPENDIX
Report scope
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Generations
Abbreviations
A note on language
Market Intelligence Made Easier With Mintel
The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:
Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.
What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?
Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.
The Four Pillars of Our Research
We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:
Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.
Bringing It All Together
Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.
Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.
$ 2,995(Excl.Tax)
Download today with instant access
Pay via credit card or invoice (net 30 payment terms)
Multiple formats provided
We send a PDF, Powerpoint and Excel Databook straight to your inbox. An interactive version of the report is also available on our online platform
Interactive databook included
Focus on the data that matters most to you with a customisable databook available on our platform
Healthy eating and drinking intentions in Germany have strengthened in 2026. 68% of Germans try to eat or drink healthily all or most of the time (+4pp vs...
Germans' health and self-care prioritise act as protective factors for sports nutrition, keeping spend resilient and growth strong. Despite ongoing price pressure, sports nutrition usage is expanding faster...
74% of Germans say minimal processing matters more than the organic label, even as organic purchasing continues to rise. This signals that consumers increasingly evaluate organic through a...
Cooking fatigue is increasingly shaping home cooks' behaviour. 42% feel too exhausted to put much effort into cooking or preparing meals most days, driving up usage of prepared...
Easing inflation helped the German bread market stabilise in 2025. With German bakeries facing a continuous decline in numbers amidst labour shortages, retail has the opportunity to take...
Despite slowing food & drink inflation, economic pessimism persists in Germany. As people's finances and time become tighter, fortified and functional food & drink can focus on multifunctionality...
We have such a great working relationship with Mintel on lots of different levels. As an insight partner, they have helped us to develop our business planning in specific categories as well as supporting our creative process but they’ve also been super helpful with facilitating our events in their inspirational offices near St Paul’s.
They’re an innovative company, with a client-focused team that always delivers.
Abby Carvosso, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Group
One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.
We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.
We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.
Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch
We utilize Mintel Reports, Trends and Comperemedia to mine for insights across the numerous business verticals that Epsilon serves, such as CPG, automotive, telecom, healthcare/pharma, retail and financial services.
By integrating Mintel insight into new business opportunities, we have been able to gain the competitive edge necessary to advance partnerships with global brands and key business players.
For our organization, it’s about depth and breadth. Having one without the other doesn’t enable success in our business.
Virginia Harvey, Secondary Research Manager, Epsilon
When I’m investigating specific sectors I tend to use Mintel reports for their forecasting, which I’ve always found to be very accurate.
They also offer really broad and deep coverage in their reports. They are very, very detailed. For example, we were able to gain insight across a wide range of business areas from just one report, proving that Mintel is excellent value for money.
So overall, it’s the level of detail and the quality of forecasting that really stand out for me.
Rebecca Green, Market Insight Manager, Wincanton
Mintel is really good for getting a handle on a particular category quickly. If we are working on a new business pitch in an area we don’t have much experience in, it’s a brilliant way to get up to speed with what’s going on, what’s changing and what the key trends are in any category.
It’s very rare now that anyone will plough through a 200-page report – that’s why the summaries are really useful. We know they are backed up by a lot of detail, so if you need to go into something in more depth you know the information will be all there for you.
Pauline Robson, Managing Partner, Mediacom
Next Starts Here
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.