MOST Filipinos turn to snacks as a source of nutrition, according to the latest global survey conducted by Nielsen Philippines.
Nielsen said around 74 percent of Filipino respondents said they consume snacks as a source of nutrition, in contrast to their counterparts in other Southeast Asian countries.
Data showed that Indonesians, Malaysians, Singaporeans and Vietnamese rank enjoyment as the foremost reason for snacking, while eight out of 10 Thai consumers or 79-percent snack to satisfy a craving.
“Consistent with their demand for nutrition, Filipinos look for beneficial ingredients, rating fiber as the most important attribute in the snacks they eat [63 percent],” Nielsen said.
It added that this is the reason 56 percent of Filipinos surveyed said they prefer snacks that contain natural ingredients. Around 54 percent of those Filipinos surveyed said they also prefer snacks with natural flavors.
In addition, Nielsen said Filipinos are the most environmentally conscious snack consumers along with the Vietnamese. “More than half of Filipino respondents say that it is very important that snacks include ingredients that are organic and 40 percent prefer the uses local herbs. Close to half of Vietnamese consumers [45 percent] say sustainable sourcing is important,” Nielsen said.
The report added that global consumers spent $374 billion on snack foods annually between 2013 and 2014, a year-over-year increase of 2 percent, while Europe and North America make up the majority of worldwide snack sales with $167 billion and $124 billion respectively.
Developing nations in Southeast Asia also contributed significantly to the category’s growth at a rate of 3.6 percent year-on-year.
The Nielsen Global Survey of Snacking polled more than 30,000 online consumers in 60 countries to identify which snacks are most popular around the world and which health, taste and texture attributes are most important in the selection criteria.