A snack is a small portion of food eaten between meals. This may be a snack food, such as potato chips or baby carrots, but can also simply be a small amount of any food.
A snack is a small service of food, and generally eaten between meals. Snacks come in a variety of forms including packaged snack foods and other processed foods, as well as items made from fresh ingredients at home. Traditionally, snacks are prepared from ingredients commonly available in the home without a great deal of preparation.
Most snack foods are intended for immediate consumption and have a shelf-life of only 1-2 days. Such food products may be sold loose without packaging, or in small polythene or paper packages which contain a portion for sale. If required, the shelf-life may be extended considerably through the use of adequate packaging.
Snack food has emerged as an alternative to full-fledged meals with the paradigm shift in consumer behavior patterns. The higher disposable incomes as a result of the growing urbanization and increasing preference for convenience food have triggered the growth of the snack food industry. The rising health consciousness among consumers and government regulations regarding procurement of raw materials like vegetables, meat, etc. are restraining the growth of snack food consumption to some extent. Innovative product offerings with regards to functional ingredients and organic foods may provide a future growth opportunity in the sector.
Snack food has emerged as an alternative to full-fledged meals with the paradigm shift in consumer behavior patterns. The higher disposable incomes as a result of the growing urbanization and increasing preference for convenience food have triggered the growth of the snack food industry.
The global snack food market is segmented by type into salted snacks, bakery snacks, confectionery, specialty & frozen snacks. The bakery snacks segment possesses the highest market coverage, while the salted snacks including potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, popcorn, pretzels, etc. are expected to have the highest market growth during the forecast period. The snack food industry also includes confectionery items like chocolates, candies and cookies, crackers, etc. The global snack food report discusses the market revenue in terms of distribution channels such as specialty stores, independent stores, online sales, convenience stores, supermarkets and hypermarket, etc.
Snack food packaging material has a tremendous demand with growth being fueled by a favorable outlook for disposable personal income and changes in food consumption patterns across the globe. The wide expanding array of products made in single-size servings for better convenience, portability and portion control has also led to fresh packaging opportunities.
Snack Food Packaging Market is segmented By Material Type into BOPP, Polypropylene, Polyethylene, LLDPE, and Polyester, Others, Paper, Metal, Others. The innovation in the global packaging industry such as sophisticated packaging products that are made from materials such as the biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP), Biaxally-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET), and cast polypropylene (CPP) has led manufacturers of the snack food packaging market to provide attractive and colorful packs to draw attention of the consumers.