Fall and winter are when consumers snack the most. The combination of cooler weather, the increase in sporting events and outdoor activities, school and work ramping up, and of course the crush of holidays all conspire to boost cravings for an easy, on-the-go bite to eat. And with the higher energy expenditure from most of these events, the more people crave a snack with dense nutrition and high protein. Cheese fits the bill perfectly.
Snacks are a huge, global business, cranking up annual sales pegged at around $100 billion, with roughly half of those dollars rung up in the US. Global market research firm Mintel reports that about 94% Americans snack at least once a day, with the average consumer enjoying 2.5 snacks daily.