Pre-pandemic, more than 2 in 5 UK employees spent £10-£15 per week on snacks for work, splurging up to £780 per year. Now, as we head back into the office a few times a week, demand is growing for healthy snacks, but research shows we’re still itching to enjoy the classics.
In 2020, 24% of Brits said they increased fresh fruit and vegetable intake, but 31% also admitted increasing their junk food intake. This trend can be attributed to working from home, Netflix binges, boredom and stress, but as more people head back to the office at least part of the time in 2021, demand for healthier options has surged.
Demand for healthy snacks in the UK is up:
- Quick lunch ideas for work: +130%
- Healthy filling snacks: +110%
- No carb snacks: +50%
- High protein snacks: +50%
- Vegan snacks UK: +40%
Source: Google Trends
Along with the rise in interest for healthier options this year, more people heading back to the office means searches for Britain’s office snack classics have skyrocketed.
Most popular office snacks in the UK
Unsurprisingly, the iconic Sausage Roll comes out on top as the ultimate snack, with a vast 17,500 searches a year. As an office snack staple and a British favourite, employees across the UK are set on enjoying meat or vegan sausage rolls in the office.
Other snacks and drinks coming out on top include American staple Oreos coming in second place with 16,550 searches per year. Battling it out in joint third place are Jaffa Cakes and Jammie Dodgers, with 13,550 annual searches.
Surprisingly for us Brits, what would usually be our daily office drink staple actually comes at the bottom of the whole list, with Tea only having 140 searches whilst Diet Coke reigns in the top 10 with 7,400 searches.
Sausage Rolls, Walkers Crisps and Diet Coke place in the top 10 office snacks of 2021
Snacks with the highest demand
- Sausage Roll: 17,500
- Oreos: 16,550
- Jaffa Cakes: 13,550
- Jammie Dodgers: 13,550
- Walkers Crisps: 13,450
- Tea Cakes: 9,050
- Custard Creams: 7,400
- Diet Coke: 7,400
- Digestives: 6,050
- Hob Nobs: 6,050
Numbers represent annual search volume
Tea, Pringles and Bourbons all fall in the top 10 least favourite office snacks of 2021
Coming in last places are some key British staples such as Tea and Bourbon biscuits and some iconic chocolate snacks such as Milky Bar, Smarties and Munchies.
Snacks with the least demand
- Bourbons: 125
- Tea: 140
- Donuts: 240
- Milky bar: 440
- Smarties: 440
- Doritos: 500
- Pringles: 800
- Wispa: 800
- Munchies: 1,200
- Revels: 1,400
Numbers represent annual search volume
When do we snack most?
Around 22% of employees admit to snacking at work for a mood boost or to sail through the mid-afternoon slump. 33% of Brits say they snack at their desks throughout the day.
Should offices provide snacks?
As more companies start hybrid working – a combination of working from home and in a coworking or office space – businesses are looking for ways to incentivise staff to feel enthusiastic about coming back.
One survey showed that job satisfaction jumps by 11% when work provides free food, especially among millennials, and that 66% would find a job offer more attractive if one of the perks was snacks. Around 61% of employees say free snacks save them money throughout the week, and 6 in 10 Brits say having food in the office makes them feel valued and appreciated.
As more of the country heads back to the office more often, companies are offering employees better wellness incentives, a healthier work-life balance, and perks like free lunch, ice cream, beer and more to leave the comfort of home.
Coworking spaces have been championing this move to turn the office into a more exciting and comfortable place for more than a decade. By prioritising the amenities that matter to employees, whether around mental health, productivity, wellness, exercise or food, companies can make the return to the office more enjoyable and attract and retain talent as we head into 2022.
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