Crisps, Snacks & Nuts remain a crucial part of the convenience offer, with more than eight in 10 retailers rating the category as extremely or very important to their business, new Asian Trader research has found.
The findings come from Snacking in Convenience, a new retailer research report produced by Asian Trader in partnership with Zebra Stripes, which explores how the category is performing and where retailers see opportunities for growth.
The research found that 81.8 per cent of retailers consider Crisps, Snacks & Nuts extremely or very important to their stores, while 77.8 per cent say sales are either stable or improving compared with last year.
But the findings also point to changing shopper priorities – and a category balancing the demand for value with growing interest in premium products.
Value was identified as the biggest shopper trend by 36.3 per cent of retailers, while 29.7 per cent reported increased demand for premium snacks.
The report also explores what this means for the fixture, including the segments and formats retailers say are performing best, the price points generating sales and the challenges facing the category.
Key findings include:
- 81.8% of retailers rate CSN as extremely or very important
- 77.8% report stable or improving sales
- 66.3% identify single crisps & snacks as their best-performing CSN segment
- 59.6% say single-serve packs sell best
- 57.3% identify £1–£1.50 as the strongest price band
- 66% identify value and premiumisation as the key forces shaping the category
Where are the opportunities?
The research also looks at retailers' appetite for range expansion, the biggest challenges affecting CSN sales and the brands that are currently performing strongest across different parts of the category.
Supermarket competition emerged as the biggest individual challenge, cited by 30.2% of retailers.Photo: Asian Trader
The full Snacking in Convenience report explores these findings in detail, providing an exclusive snapshot of retailer sentiment and the trends shaping Crisps, Snacks & Nuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How important is the Crisps, Snacks & Nuts category to convenience retailers?
81.8% of UK convenience retailers say Crisps, Snacks & Nuts is extremely or very important to their store's sales, making it one of the most dependable categories in the shop.
Are Crisps, Snacks & Nuts sales growing in convenience stores?
77.8% of retailers report that CSN sales have stayed stable or grown compared with the previous year, with no retailers reporting a significant decline.
What is the best-selling pack format for crisps and snacks?
59.6% of retailers say single-serve packs are their best-selling format, ahead of sharing bags, grab bags and multipacks.
What price point performs best for crisps, snacks and nuts?
57.3% of retailers identify £1–£1.50 as their strongest-performing price band for CSN products.
Are shoppers prioritising value or premium snacks?
Retailers are seeing both trends at once: 36.3% report value as the biggest shopper trend, while 29.7% report growing demand for premium snacks. Together, value and premiumisation are cited by 66% of retailers as the key forces shaping the category.
Which brands perform strongest in the CSN category?
Walkers leads in crisps and savoury snacks (56.6%), KP Nuts dominates nuts and nut mixes (87.9%), and Peperami leads the meat snacks segment (77.9%), according to the survey.
What is the biggest challenge retailers face with this category?
Supermarket competition is the most cited challenge, named by 30.2% of retailers, though 40.6% say they face no major challenges managing the category.
Who conducted this survey?
The research was conducted by Zebra Stripes in partnership with Asian Trader, surveying 100 UK convenience retailers as part of the "Snacking in Convenience" report.
Download the full report below to discover the complete findings.