GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF THE MAIN FACTORS THAT EXPLAINED THE CHANGING NATURE OF COMPETITION IN THE SNACK FOOD INDUSTRY UNTIL THE LATE 1970’s.DISCUSS THE NATURE AND THE CAUSES OF ANY CHANGES IN THE COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS OF THE INDUSTRY SINCE THEN

By European standards the British spend higher than average amounts on both savory snacks (principally crisps) and breakfast cereals. Snack foods are a central part of most weekly shopping trips for most consumers, although bagged snacks are a relatively new development. The potato crisps particularly had played a significant role regarding the English eating habits since 1950’s they have been a part of their lifestyle and English tradition. Nowadays (potato chips) are the most frequently eaten snacks in the UK.
Crisps began in this country in 1920 in London by Barrow of Cricketwood with Smith’s selling fried potatoes according to an American Indian recipe. For many years Smith’s was the leading crisp supplier and its small packet of salt in the bag was a well-known feature of the packs. Benson crisps PLC which is another well established UK supplier entered the market in 1941 and followed a few years later by Golden Wonder in 1947 and Walkers in 1948. By the 1950’s Smiths...