Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news

Snacks have become a favorite of local young people, with the sales of some snacks even exceeding those of staple and non-staple food, according to a survey conducted by the Shanghai Business Information Center of local hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores, today's Youth Post reported.
Spending on snacks has increased rapidly, with the sales volumes of seven snacks (biscuit, cake, cornmeal, preserved fruit, inflated food, chocolate and beverages) two percent higher last year than the nine staple and non-staple foods such as rice, bean products, instant noodles and frozen food. Certain kinds of snacks have attracted more customers, said Qi Xiaozhai, vice director with the Shanghai Business Information Center.
Young people are the main consumers of the snacks. "Buying biscuits, cornmeal and beverages as breakfast," said Wang, a young woman, "has become my lifestyle, and preserved fruits and potato chips are my favorite snacks at the office.I am too busy to cook for myself and it is not clean to eat outside, so having biscuits and cornmeal is a good choice," Wang said.