Boulder, CO — Snack purchases are heavily influenced by in-store merchandising, according to Market Force Information.

In a survey of 6,000 consumers, 44 percent reported trying a new brand of snack in the past 30 days. Chex Mix, Ritz, Fiber One, Special K, Nature Valley, Quaker, Kashi, Archer Farms, Doritos, Pringles, Cheez-It and Lays rank as most memorable brands, the survey found.

When asked what influenced their decisions to buy CPG products, 39 percent of consumers said they “saw it on the shelf or display.” Promotions such as coupons were an influence for 31 percent, while 22 percent said referrals from friends sparked their interest. Eight percent said advertising was the reason they picked up the new products for trial.

Seven in 10 respondents chose crackers, popcorn, chips and pretzels as their favorites in the snack category. Snack purchases were driven most by merchandising, while buying in other categories, such as breakfast cereal, was attributed to promotions.

The survey covered other CPG categories, including beverages, cereals and cleaning products.