Toronto – July 12, 2016 – A snack is defined as a small portion of food or drink that is eaten between regular meals. However, a recently published study shows that – in today’s fast-paced society – four out of ten Canadians use snacks as a meal replacement. People are increasingly relying on snacks for energy and nutrition because they offer a quicker alternative to traditional meals. As a result, Canada’s snack food industry is growing. Here is a look at the numbers:

$4.9 billion

The amount of revenue generated from snack food sales in 2014 to 2015 – about 5 percent of all food sales in Canada.

$1.8 billion

The amount of revenue generated from potato chip and corn snack sales in 2014 to 2015.

4 out of 10

The ratio of Canadians who regularly use snacks as traditional meal replacements.

47%

The percentage of Canadians who eat three traditional meals a day and rarely snack.

16%

The percentage of Canadians who have five to six smaller meals throughout the day.

25%

The percentage of daily energy intake that snacking provides to children.

5

The top five traditional snack foods are fresh fruit, chocolate, cheese, potato chips, and yogurt.

93%

The percentage of Canadians who buy their snacks from grocery stores.

Sources: Alberta Agriculture and Forestry: Consumer Corner, Marketwired, Canadian Grocer