Compared to the United States, the rest of the world has more of a sweet tooth when it comes to snacking.
So says "Snack Attack," a report released this week by market researcher Nielsen. The study looks at the $374 billion global snack business, one of the packaged food industry's hottest markets.
Snacks – particularly Nature Valley and Fiber One bars -- have been perhaps the brightest spot in recent years for Golden-Valley based General Mills, which is suffering from weak sales in several critical businesses.
The Nielsen report found that the European snack market is the world's biggest at $167 billion in sales. North America was second at $124 billion and Asia/Pacific third at $46 billion.
Confections were the top snack in Europe and the Middle East/Africa, while cookies and cakes topped the palate of Latin Americans. Refrigerated snacks, which include yogurt, pudding and cheese, ranked first in Asia/Pacific.
But in the United States, the nation that brought the world Cheetos, salty snacks rule.
Healthy snacks have plenty of fans, too. Nielsen asked consumers around the world, what one snack would they choose above all others? The answer: fresh fruit, with chocolate a close second.
