Packaged dairy dessert choices - mousses, puddings and whips - have proliferated in recent years, but traditional custard still leads the pack according to the latest figures.
Lion's Dairy Farmers Custard is eaten by around 1 in 25 Australians in an average four weeks, making it one of the most popular products across all age groups over 14 years, according to the latest data from Roy Morgan Research.
However, the figures also show that consumers' taste for other on-the-go dairy treats changes with age.
Lion's Fruche, for instance, is among the top five across all ages, rising with age to peak at number two among the 50 and over age group.
Nestle's YoGo range and Nestle Milo, however, are most popular products among the under 25s, but decline, and fall out of the top five altogether, in the older age groups.
Nestle Mousse is the favourite among 25-34 year-olds but is replaced by Dairy Farmers Custard in both groups over 35, according to Roy Morgan Research.
Yoplait Le Rice from General Mills and Lion's Divine Classic Crème Caramel, in contrast, appeal more to the over 50s.
Supermarket brands have made less of an impact than in other categories, the researcher says, coming in at number five among the 35-49 year-old group and number four among 14-24 year-olds.
“With so many dairy dessert snack options on supermarket shelves, including an increasing array of smaller niche products, brands must differentiate themselves by pinpointing who eats them, how often, and who is their household’s main grocery buyer, Angela Smith, group account director, consumer products at Roy Morgan Research, says.
