UK savoury snacks category recession proof

The UK market for savoury snacks, nuts and crisps has proved to be recession proof, according to the latest data from Nielsen.

Growth for the category in 2010 showed a hike of 5.6 per cent on 2009, reports the Financial Times, citing the figures from the consumer trends specialist.

The latest market data puts the value of the sector at £2.4bn

A key driver for the buoyancy in the savoury snacks segment is the large sharing pack category, which saw a hike of 12.5 per cent on the previous year, with the category valued at £608m.

Analysts argue that this good sales peformance can be explained by the increase in home-based entertainment – a long-term trend augmented by the recession.