More than a third of Brits scoff four or more biscuits in one sitting, exclusive research for The Grocer reveals, and more than a quarter munch on them every day.

According to Harris Interactive, who polled 2,018 consumers, 33% of respondents admitted to stacking up four or more biscuits in a session compared with those who manage to stick to a more treatwise two (31%) or virtuous one (9%). A greedy 5%, meanwhile, confess to usually eating a whole packet of biscuits in one session, though nearly a fifth say they do this occasionally.

But who are the most enthusiastic biscuiteers? “It seems the North West is the region where biscuits are eaten every day by 33% of people – the same goes for those aged 25 to 34 years. But those most likely to admit they can eat a full packet of biscuits at a time are the under 25s, where 12% admit to scoffing a full pack to themselves in one sitting.” says Lucia Juliano, head of consumer and retail research at Harris Interactive.

Men are slightly more likely to eat biscuits every day or every couple of days than women, and are also more likely to make a meal of it; 6% of men say that when they eat biscuits they finish the packet, compared with 3% of women.

Dunking is still an essential part of the biscuit-eating occasion for many, says Juliano. “Thirty-three per cent of people agree that they only have biscuits when they have a cuppa to dunk them in,” she says. ”Dunking appears to be most popular among the over-35s and those in the North East and Wales.”

Thirty-two per cent of us might be convinced that homemade cakes and biscuits are better than shop bought (and another 29% rate in-store bakery versions over pre-packed), but the majority still mostly eat shop-bought biscuits and cakes. “Eighty-five per cent opt for shop bought rather than homemade, but homemade is preferred by the Welsh and those in the East of England. Londoners and Midlanders are least likely to make their own biscuits and cakes,” Juliano adds.

Cakes are consumed less frequently than biscuits, with 30% saying they rarely or never eat cakes at home and 12% reserving them for special occasions like birthdays and Christmas. But many of us are trying to eat less of both kinds of bake.

“Just over a third of us are trying to cut down on the amount of cake and biscuits we consume,” says Juliano.

Given the amount that some of us eat in one sitting, that shouldn’t be difficult. 

How often do you eat biscuits at home?    
  Total Male Female 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
Every day 27% 29% 25% 21% 33% 27% 27% 26%
Every couple of days 29% 30% 28% 32% 34% 30% 29% 26%
Every three or four days 12% 11% 12% 9% 10% 11% 10% 14%
About once a week 14% 13% 15% 17% 10% 13% 15% 15%
Rarely 16% 15% 18% 19% 12% 15% 16% 18%
Never 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 3% 2% 2%
How often do you eat cakes at home?    
  Total Male Female 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
Every day 7% 8% 7% 9% 11% 10% 6% 5%
Every couple of days 18% 19% 18% 20% 25% 20% 16% 15%
Every three or four days 16% 16% 16% 12% 19% 13% 18% 16%
About once a week 29% 26% 31% 22% 24% 31% 30% 31%
Rarely 27% 27% 28% 33% 21% 22% 27% 31%
Never 3% 4% 2% 3% 1% 5% 3% 2%
Do you mostly eat shop bought or homemade cakes & biscuits?  
  Total Male Female 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
Shop bought 85% 86% 84% 82% 89% 87% 86% 83%
Homemade 15% 14% 16% 18% 11% 13% 14% 17%
How many biscuits do you usually eat in one sitting?   
  Total Male Female 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
One 9% 10% 8% 5% 6% 6% 8% 13%
Two 31% 27% 35% 23% 28% 27% 27% 38%
Three 23% 22% 24% 17% 21% 24% 24% 24%
Four 15% 15% 16% 14% 13% 15% 22% 14%
More than four 18% 20% 15% 29% 22% 23% 15% 10%
The whole packet! 5% 6% 3% 12% 9% 5% 3% 1%
When it comes to cakes & biscuits at home, which of the following statements do you agree with?
  Total Male Female 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
I’m trying to eat less cake & biscuits 36% 30% 43% 32% 30% 37% 36% 41%
I only eat biscuits if I have a cup of tea to dunk them in 33% 31% 35% 26% 30% 36% 36% 34%
Homemade are far better than shop bought 32% 27% 36% 26% 29% 30% 34% 35%
Cakes & biscuits from in store bakeries are far better than pre-packed 29% 28% 30% 30% 35% 32% 32% 23%
I sometimes eat a whole packet of biscuits in one go 19% 23% 15% 35% 32% 22% 16% 6%
Baked savoury biscuits are healthier than crisps 18% 20% 16% 14% 18% 18% 16% 21%
I only eat cake at special occasions such as birthdays and Xmas 12% 12% 12% 14% 11% 11% 11% 13%
None of these 7% 9% 6% 5% 6% 5% 9% 9%

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