The cost of living crisis in Ireland has influenced snacking choices, with affordability prioritised. However, as situations improve, there are promising opportunities for the Irish snack market to improve, allowing consumers to reconnect with their favourite brands.
This report looks at the following areas:
- The lingering effects of the cost of living crisis on consumer snacking behaviour, focusing on its impact on snacking behaviour.
- The threat posed by Government legislation and the spotlight on HFSS and ultra-processed foods on the snack market.
- Examination of consumer behaviours towards snacking, looking at snack types, frequency, and common places for snacking.
- Consumer attitudes related to snacking, including reasons for snacking, and desired qualities for snacks.
- Trends in launch activity in the market, and opportunities for further innovation.
Though consumers become more intentional with their snacking choices, impulse purchases will persist despite legislative pressures and healthy eating trends.
Sam Fryers, Research Analyst – Ireland
Market Definitions
For the purposes of this Report, when discussing the snacking market, this includes: Fruit and vegetables, Crisps, Nuts and corn snacks, Chocolate confectionery, Cheese and yogurt, Cereal/breakfast biscuits, Meat snacks and snack mixes, Cakes, pastries and sweet goods.
Please note that due to the snacking category being so diverse and the difficulty defining what purchases are made for the purpose of snacking, this Report does not include market size data.
Collapse All
-
Executive Summary
- Opportunities for the snack market
- Embrace strategic snacking to compliment health objectives or to combat diet fatigue
- Nut snacks can be the best of both worlds
- Addressing irregular snacking habits in elderly consumers
- Market dynamics and outlook
- Market predictions
- A flattening price curve signals a more hopeful 2024
- Graph 1: consumer price index for all food items, 2019-24
- Consumer confidence hits a two-year peak
- Graph 2: financial confidence index, 2022-24
- Food and drink price issues improving, but still extremely high
- Graph 3: issues with increases in food and drink prices in the last two months trend data, 2022-24
- Adapting to ageing taste buds
- What consumers want and why
- Less than one in twenty have avoided snacking on sweet food in the last two weeks
- Flavour innovation needed to capture the evolving preferences of savoury snackers
- More look for vegetables as an ingredient than as a snack
- Graph 4: other types of foods eaten as a snack in the last 2 weeks, 2024
- Lifestyles and routine encourage more frequent snacking behaviour
- Graph 5: consumers snacking twice a day or more, by generation, 2024
- Remote working a new frontier for snack brands
- A holistic approach to Irish snacking motivations
- Meeting the demand for intentional eating
- Declutter nutritional messaging
- Launch activity and innovation
- Brands hold out against private labels in key snack categories
- Graph 6: product launches across snack and chocolate categories, private label vs branded, 2021-24
- Impulsive snacking drives brand collaboration
- Graph 7: number of cobranded launches in snack categories, private vs branded, 2020-24
- Innovation boosted by brand extensions
-
Market Dynamics
- Market drivers
- Easing inflation paves way for mortgage rate slash
- Graph 8: CPI inflation rate, 2019 -24
- Food prices are stagnating
- Graph 9: consumer price index for all food items, May 2019-24
- Consumer finances have held through 2024, but with minimal improvement
- Graph 10: current financial situation trend data, June 2022-24
- Snacking categories still marred by rampant price hikes
- Graph 11: Consumer Price Index for selected snack categories, 2022-24
- Consumer confidence at its highest in two years
- Graph 12: financial confidence index, 2022-24
- Issues with food and drink prices continue to fall…
- Graph 13: issues faced in the last two months trend data, June 2022-24
- …but food prices still top the list of concerns for consumers looking forward
- Graph 14: extent of worry about selected issues affecting household finances over the next two months, 2024
- Diet impacted by finances
- Public health trends force Government intervention
- RoI's HFSS legislation targets advertising…
- …while the UK's HFSS legislation faces scrutiny in the House of Lords
- Moderate interest in healthy eating
- Graph 15: how often people try to eat healthily, Mar 2021-24
- The changing picture of healthy food
- Graph 16: important factors when shopping for food, March 2022-24
- Consumers expect more in sustainable packaging and production
- Ireland's elderly population has almost doubled in 30 years
- Graph 17: total population, by age group, 1971-2023
- Graph 18: total population, by age group, 1972-2022
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) initiates phasing out of smoked food flavourings
-
What Consumers Want and Why
- Types of sweet snacks eaten
- Nineteen in twenty consumers have eaten a sweet-treat in the last two weeks
- Graph 19: sweet foods eaten as a snack in the last 2 weeks, 2024
- Chocolate is the most popular of all snacks
- Sweet snacks are particularly appealing to women
- Snacks eaten as a coping mechanism
- Breakfast biscuits/snack bars fall out of favour with Gen Z and Younger Millennials in RoI but not in NI
- Graph 20: consumers who have eaten cereal/snack/breakfast bars as a snack in the last 2 weeks, by generation, 2023-24
- Types of savoury snacks eaten
- Crisps are the favourite savoury snack
- Graph 21: savoury foods eaten as a snack in the last 2 weeks, 2024
- Universal love of crisps drives a competitive market with flavour and texture innovation
- Unrealised potential in RoI for cheese products targeting young men
- Other types of snacks eaten
- Fresh fruit tops the list for healthier snack options
- Graph 22: other types of foods eaten as a snack in the last 2 weeks, 2024
- Fruit and vegetables continue to epitomise healthy eating
- Graph 23: most important factors when shopping for food, 2024
- Minimal change over the last year, but vegetables and dried fruit have fallen slightly out of favour in RoI
- Frequency of snacking
- Daily snacking for four in every five
- Graph 24: how often consumers snack between meals, 2024
- Daily snacking poised to become more common
- Graph 25: snacking frequency, by generation, 2024
- Graph 26: snacking frequency, by generation, 2024
- Parents of young children fall into more frequent snacking behaviour
- Graph 27: consumers snacking once a day or more, by children in the household, 2024
- Mood-boosters and de-stressors for non-impulse purchases
- The routine of working life provides more frequent opportunities for snacking
- Graph 28: frequency of snacking between meals, by working status, 2024
- Graph 29: frequency of snacking between meals, by working status, 2024
- Location of snacking
- Fewer than one in ten have not snacked in their home
- Remote working drives at-home eating and undercuts workplace snacking
- A fresh take on snack innovation for home workers
- On-the-go snacking jumps among Millennials and Gen X
- Snacking on-the-go dips in youngest demographic
- Reasons for snacking
- Hunger and cravings outweigh energy and mood in snacking choices
- Graph 30: reasons for snacking in the last two weeks, 2024
- Educate consumers on how to effectively satisfy their hunger to avoid cravings…
- …but also recognising the right to occasional indulgence
- Graph 31: agreement with statements related to Wellbeing, 2024
- Balancing tradition with nutrition for older demographics
- Graph 32: reasons for snacking in the last two weeks, by generation, 2024
- Graph 33: reasons for snacking in the last two weeks, by generation, 2024
- Transforming a snack into a daily ritual
- Taking risks with novel flavours and textures to bust boredom
- Graph 34: snacking to overcome boredom in the last two weeks, by generation, 2024
- Keeping the customers guessing
- Behaviours towards snacking
- Seven in ten stock up on multipacks
- Graph 35: agreement with statements relating to snacks, 2024
- Multipacks can give more practical guidance on portion control
- Younger generations to usher in a new wave of planned snacking
- Graph 36: consumers who agree that snacking is a planned part of their diet, 2024
- The cost of living crisis is still felt
- Sustainability has limited impact on purchasing decisions, but businesses are still expected to play their part
- Important qualities for snacks
- Information overload too prevalent in nutritional messaging
- Graph 37: response to statements about snacks, 2024
- Graph 38: response to statements about snacks, 2024
- Simplifying health on packaging
- Digestion valued over immunity in light of holistic health trends
- Graph 39: agreement with statements relating to snacks, 2024
- Snacks are still a staple for an evening in
- Graph 40: agreement that snacks are a must-have for an evening in, 2024
- Boosting mood
-
Competitive landscape
- Launch activity and innovation
- Private label push for dominance in dairy and bakery categories…
- …whereas branding maintains a significant influence in cereal, snack, and chocolate categories
- Crisps are king
- Graph 41: UK and Ireland launches, by snack categories, 2021-2023
- Sweet tooth for chocolate
- Graph 42: Chocolate Confectionery launches, by type, 2023-24
- Push for protein
- Graph 43: meat snacks with high/added protein, 2021-2023
- New protein launches
- Holland & Barrett makes Calm Chocolate
- Whitworths prioritises health benefits
- Pip and Nut branch out into bars
- Budget snacks still hold an important place
- Graph 44: launches, by categories and positioning, 2021-24
- Brands collaborate for snacking synergy
- Graph 45: number of cobranded launches in snack categories, private vs branded, 2020-24
- The best of both worlds
- Snickers markets with AI José Mourinho
-
Appendix
- Report scope and definitions
- Market definition
- Abbreviations and terms
- Consumer research methodology
Why Choose Mintel?
Mintel is the world’s leading market intelligence agency. We show you how consumers think today and tomorrow. As a trusted partner to industry leaders, we deliver game-changing insights to businesses across the globe, fuelling their marketing and innovation strategies that will shape the future.
Access high-quality market research with every purchase of Mintel’s consumer reports. Here’s what else is included in your report purchase:
- Multiple Report Formats: Mintel’s reports are available in PDF and PPT formats, and are delivered straight to your inbox, so you can easily share Mintel’s market intelligence.
- Access to Mintel’s Clients Portal: After your purchase is completed, you’ll receive an invitation to join Mintel’s Clients Portal, providing instant access to supplementary insights from Mintel’s industry experts.
- Interactive Databook: Mintel’s bespoke consumer data is presented as an interactive website, so you can deep dive into your chosen topic, explore demographics and download specific statistics.
- Custom Presentation Tool: Easily incorporate selected research data and analysis into a tailor-made presentation to win over clients and stakeholders.
Take a look at a sample PDF report below:
Please Note: All of the figures, graphs, and tables in this sample report have been redacted.
€ 1,800 (Excl.Tax)
- Instant access when you pay by credit card
- Save up to 20% when you purchase multiple reports
Is this report right for you?
From consumer reports to customised growth strategies. We have an option to suit your business requirements.
Find out morePopular Related Reports
Global Outlook on Sustainability: A Consumer Study 2024-25
€ 5,900 – € 24,200
Mintel’s 2024-25 Global Outlook on Sustainability: A Consumer Study is designed to help you understand what brands and companies should prioritise in order to educate consumers and ensure...
Find out moreIreland Attitudes towards Plant-based Food and Drink Consumer Report 2024
€ 1,800
Irish interest in plant-based items continues to grow, but cost of living concerns and a lingering love for meat present challenges to the market.Brian O'Connor, Category Director -...
Find out moreIreland Yogurt and Drinking Yogurt Market Report 2024
€ 1,800
As the cost-of-living crisis forces consumers to seek affordable healthy eating options, simplicity and better-for-you claims are poised to flourish.Sam Fryers, Research Analyst - Ireland ...
Find out moreIreland Artisan Food and Drink Market Report 2023
€ 1,800
Despite cost pressures on consumer food and drink spend, many value the qualities of artisanal products, but brands will need to work harder to justify price tags.Brian...
Find out moreIrish Attitudes Towards Food Waste Consumer Report 2024
€ 1,800
This report provides an analysis of the current state of attitudes to food waste in RoI and NI. It focuses on the financial, social and legislative drivers behind...
Find out moreIreland Cheese Market Report 2024
€ 1,800
This report looks at the following areas: The impact of the cost of living crisis on the cheese market The growth of the Irish cheese industry Opportunities for...
Find out moreTrusted by global industry leaders
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
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
Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.
When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.
The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.
Ben Zeidler, Director - Research and Analytics, Tenth Wave
We use Mintel Reports, mostly for financial services and ecommerce markets, plus a few retail and technology ones.
As a leading payments provider, we value additional insights into consumer behaviour, opinions and trends that are shaping the many different markets we operate in. Mintel is a very good and very quick way for us to obtain those insights.
We use Mintel to get a view on where a particular market is going, which can support us in product development and help us identify opportunities or indeed risks, it is a very useful barometer of a market’s potential.
Andrew Neeson, Market Intelligence Manager, VocaLink
At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.
Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman
Is this report right for you?
From consumer reports to customised growth strategies. We have an option to suit your business requirements.
Find out more
