America has become a country of snackers.
Between working long hours and eating on the run, it’s no wonder Americans spend more on snack foods than they do on actual meals. According to new Nielsen data, snacking is popular in every corner of the country, but gender, generation, income and geography can shape some of your preferences.
Salty snacks still reign supreme, with chips, popcorn and meat snacks generating more than $27 billion for retailers.
Candy comes in a close second with $20 billion in sales, followed by cheese snacks generating more than $17 billion in sales. Cookies sales top $7 billion.
Crackers ($6.65 billion), ice cream ($6.63 billion) and nuts ($6.17 billion) also rank among America’s favorites.
In a recent Harris Poll EquiTrend study, released by Nielsen, U.S. consumers identified the snacks they use to commonly curb cravings out of 275 common snacking brands. While candy and chocolate ranked high regardless of region, some snacks did better in particular regions.
Consumers in the East and West both listed Sargento cheeses in their top 15 favorites, while Midwest consumers ranked Ritz Crackers and Wonderful Pistachios among their favorites.
Nilla Wafers only scored for the South — presumably for all of that delicious banana cream pudding.
Some brands maintain loyal followings in the regions they were created. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, founded in Winston-Salem, N.C. were a top pick for southern snackers. Klondike Bars, created by the Islay’s Dairy Company of Mansfield, O.H., ranked high exclusively among the Midwest snackers. Turkey Hill Ice Cream, created in Lancaster County, P.A., is a favorite among easterners.
M&M’s and Hershey’s milk chocolate products were America’s snacking favorites regardless of region.
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Salty snack lover? Check out this delicious pink hummus for a protein punch to your daily snack habit, and dip away with chips, pitas, popcorns and more.
