Americans
Cannot Stop Snacking
Do
you want a snack? Consumer research suggests that yes, you do. Sales of snack
bars are up. Restaurant chains such as Starbucks (SBUX) have been changing
their menus to capture the midafternoon snacking crowd. Food companies are
delighted. “Clearly, snacking is a trend, a positive trend,” said General Mills
(GIS) Chief Executive Ken Powell during an earnings call in June. “We are very
focused on the snacking trend.”
Given
that a gazillion different kinds of snacks are already on the market (which may
be one reason we’re snacking more), such companies as General Mills (GIS) are
eager to understand and exploit our snacking behaviors. In a new survey of
1,139 people by Nielsen (NLSN), 91 percent of people said they snack daily,
including 25 percent who snack three to five times a day and 3 percent who are
“always snacking.” About 8 percent say they “always” binge snack, and another
31 percent do so occasionally.
Nielsen
broke down their findings further by gender. Women may find the results
depressingly predictable. Here’s how it reinforces every stereotype employed by
chocolate ads on TV:
•
Women prefer chocolate, candy, or cookies. Men prefer salty treats, such as
pretzels and chips.
•
Both men and women reported satisfying hunger and cravings as their top reason
for snacking, but a greater share of women report snacking for stress relief,
because of boredom, or as an indulgence.
•
Women also snack more often. Nearly one in four women surveyed said they snack
three to four times a day. A little less than one in five men do. Women are
also more likely to snack while using the phone or tablets during their
downtime.
Whatever
food companies are doing to encourage both men and women to eat between meals,
it’s working. About 17 percent of people said they are snacking more than they
were just one year ago. Please pass the cappuccino-flavored
potato chips.
(http://www.businessweek.com/ By Venessa Wong)
Q1) Do you want a snack? Is it good for our health or is it bad?
Q2).
When do you usually snacking? How often you do enjoy it?
Q3) According to the article, “Women prefer chocolate, candy, or cookies. Men
prefer salty treats, such as pretzels and chips.” Do you agree with the article?
What is your favorite snack? Share your favorite one with others.
Q4) Based on the article, snacking is the kind of habit or addiction, what should
we do for snacking less?