Snacks for all occasions

Bagged snacks are worth £150m in the licensed sector, excluding leisure, and are still growing.Snacking may account for a relatively small, but...

Bagged snacks are worth £150m in the licensed sector, excluding leisure, and are still growing.

Snacking may account for a relatively small, but growing proportion of a publican's business, yet the importance of the offering should not be underestimated, particularly given that 20 per cent of people will purchase crisps and snacks in a pub in any one week.

That's one in five people visiting a pub - keep them eating and they'll drink more!

As alcohol sales come under increasing pressure from the rise in in-home entertaining and with consumers purchasing from Europe, the pub's offering must adapt to compensate for loss of sales and build value and profit from other areas.

The bagged snacks market is currently worth over £2.2bn and is still growing. Snacking of all kinds is in growth as lifestyles change, consumers are busier and have less time. They are looking for more convenient alternatives to main meals.

It is unlikely that more than a few lines of crisps, snacks and nuts will be stocked in any outlet, therefore range must very closely reflect the consumer profile and likely occasions.

In fact, Golden Wonder's internal research has shown that the optimum range for a typical traditional, community, family pub is about 12 to 14 lines. More details of this will be published in the next Category Management.

Having a balanced range of bagged snacks for all occasions is vitally important to capitalise on the flourishing snacking market. This is as important within the on-trade as it has been for some time in retail outlets.

Snacking is unlikely to be the prime motivator for a visit to a pub or bar, but the opportunity for a snack purchase can be maximised by identifying your main consumer and occasion and catering for them.

The type of snack an adult will choose will be driven by the usage occasion.

Does someone fancy a bite with a pint, in which case standard size bags of crisps and snacks are appropriate, or are they looking for a meal replacement?

In line with snacking growth the occasions of snacks replacing main meals are growing rapidly (source: TNS Family Food Panel).

The range should therefore include more substantial offerings such as Murphys, Quite Hot Crisps and Quite Strong Crisps, as well as bigger bags.

Did you know that 50 per cent of cold drinks and 40 per cent of sandwiches are consumed with a savoury snack (source: TNS Family Food Panel)?

Just think of the many reasons that people go to the pub. From a low energy "sharp one" on the way home, to the big night out with friends.

Each time someone comes into the pub there is an opportunity to increase their order size by offering a balanced range of snacks.

Golden Wonder is an ideal supplier to use within the on-trade when it comes to category management of the bagged snacks sector.

This is because via Golden Wonder Snack Services (GWSS) division, not only can our customers purchase the complete range of GW products but a whole host of other products. This is due to some strongly developed relationships with other business partners that enables GWSS to offer probably the largest range of products to the trade via a van sales delivery.

Licensed trade manager Gary White explains: "So as well as our own brands, you will also be able to purchase lines such as Twiglets, Kershaws Cockles and Pork Scratchings from Freshers and B&N.

"We even carry lines from our closest competitors such as Walkers Snack Foods, KP and P&G.

"We do this because we realise that the sector needs to satisfy its consumers' demands and to enable a balanced category to be purchased and delivered via one source. "Quality service is a key requirement from our customers and our van sales division enables that to be offered."

Maximising snack sales

Snacking is unlikely to be the prime motivator for a visit to a pub or bar, but the opportunity for a snack purchase can be maximised by ensuring the range is in line with the occasion: