UK Savory Snack Industry Worth GBP3.2bn
In a recent report by The Snack, Nut and Crisp Manufacturers Association (SNACMA), the total value of the savory snack industry in the UK is estimated at GBP3.2bn.
Comparatively, in 2019, the UK chips and savory snacks market was estimated at GBP2.5bn. Savory snack manufacturers make up a vital part of the food and drink manufacturing sector, the largest and most innovative manufacturing sector within the UK. They represent around 2.7% of the agri-food sector’s total value.
The report also shows that there are over 170 different businesses operating within the UK snacks sector, with savory snack manufacturers directly employing over 10,000 people. Over 75% of these sites are located outside London and the South East, the sector being a major employer in both the East Midlands and the North East of England.
This sector is one of the main supporters of UK farming jobs, with over 95% of all potato chips manufactured in the UK being made from home grown potatoes. In 2018/2019 SNACMA members, according to their report, purchased around 575,000 tons of fresh potatoes, equivalent to 12,800 hectares of land or 10% of UK’s potato volume. This is a significant amount and manufacturers who process potatoes are becoming increasingly important to UK farmers as industry players observe a long term decline in sales of fresh potatoes. Savory snack manufacturers provide stability by developing long-term relationships with UK farmers. This ensures fair prices for both farmers and for the sector in seasons of plenty, and in seasons of short supply.
In 2018 UK producers exported more than GBP145m worth of products, which represents a 5% year-on-year growth. According to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), men on average eat approximately 9g of chips and savory snacks per day, while women on average eat just 6g per day, the equivalent of between 2 to 3 packets of snacks a week. The small amount consumed may come as a surprise, but in fact most chips and savory snacks in the UK are actually purchased in multi-packs (78%), and the average weight of a pack within these multipacks is only 24g.
