The UK market for savoury snacks, nuts and crisps is doing well despite the recession, according to a report from Nielsen.

Growth for the category in 2010 showed a hike of 5.6 per cent on 2009, reports the Financial Times, citing the figures from the consumer trends specialist.

The latest market data puts the value of the sector at £2.4bn.

A key driver for the buoyancy in the savoury snacks segment is the large sharing pack category.

The sharing packs saw a hike of 12.5 per cent on the previous year, with the category valued at £608m. And analysts argue that this good sales peformance can be explained by the increase in home-based entertainment - a long-term trend augmented by the recession.