Hard and chewy candies were among the Top 10 snacks posting significant growth among children ages 2-17 in a NPD Group survey of kid snacking. Although fresh fruit remained the No. 1 snack consumed by this age group, the market research company’s findings indicate that hard and chewy candies ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, among snacks showing the most growth.

 

NPD’s SnackTrack, which continually monitors the consumption of snack foods both in-home and away, also revealed that ice/fudge or cream pops, corn chips, donuts and snack pies/pastries were among the top growing snacks in 2009.

 

SnackTrack defines snack foods as a group of foods generally perceived to be snack foods -- such as candy, chips and fruit -- regardless of when consumed. Sixty percent of snacks are consumed at snack occasions -- before, between and after meals or throughout the day -- and the remaining snacks are eaten with or instead of main meals. One out of every five meals consumed in the United States is a snack meal.

 

For more information, visit www.npd.com.