Britain is Europe’s biggest savoury snacker according to a new report from market analysts Datamonitor.

In its report ‘The European market for savoury snacks to 2006’ Datamonitor said the UK accounted for almost half of the $4bn European savoury snacks market with consumers spending $28.40 per head in 2001, in return for this they received 3.4 kg of snacks each.

The total European market had grown by over $1bn since 1996, representing a 74.5% rise in value, due largely to innovation within this sector and is expected to grow to a value of $5bn by 2006.