From pancakes to waffles, the snack becomes international but remains on Italian tables

Snacks remain a staple in the afternoon snacks (but not only) and breakfasts of Italians, but at the same time they continue to change and evolve over time, just think that each year an average of 8-10 new products are launched on the market. The latest trend is the growth of consumption of a more international origin: recipes, however, reinterpreted, they emphasise by Unione italiana food, according to the Italian baking tradition.

It may seem strange to Italian consumers, now for 70 years accustomed to seeing them on their tables, but 'the snack,' Unionfood explains, 'is a typical food of the Italian confectionery industry that has no equal in the world: in no other country are there single-portion snack products with an average weight of just 35 grams.

Snacks originated as an industrial product that took its origin and inspiration from homemade cakes: given their Italian origins, initially from torta margherita or crostata, to then arrive at brioche and croissants (which are still the most purchased reference); but in recent years, in an increasingly globalised world also in terms of consumption, the most popular items in the trolley are the waffles of Belgian origin or the muffins and plumcakes of English tradition, up to pancakes, born in the United States.

According to a survey by AstraRicerche almost 8 out of 10 Italians (77%) consume snacks habitually, on average 2 times a week, which translated "on the shelf" means a total of 192 million kg of snacks sold fora market turnover of almost 1.4 billion euro, slightly down (-3.3% per year, NielsenIq data) 

"Snacks are a product," they conclude from Unione italiana food, "that has been able to evolve over time, also thanks to the improved nutritional balance, which has brought important results in the last 15 years. Smaller portions but also reduced intake of saturated fats (-20%), sugars (-30%) and calories (-21%)'.