Sharpak Aylesham has released statistics which show more than a third of consumers (37%) cite a lack of availability as the main barrier to buying fruit-based snacks.

The survey, conducted by the plastic packaging specialist at Fruit Focus 2014, also reveals 27% of those surveyed say healthy snacks arent convenient.

Ruth Price, business development director at Sharpak Aylesham, says, "We found that respondents were more likely to choose a healthy snack if it was made readily available and easy to access. In fact, a third said they wanted fruit-based snacks to be available in small portion sizes that are convenient to eat on-the-go.

"In light of this, Sharpak Aylesham recently launched a new line of snack pots in order to stay ahead of the curve and meet the increasing demand for healthy snacks such as tomatoes, cherries and grapes.

"These pots are gathering interest across Europe thanks to design options including a closable or separate lid, ventilation to allow the product to breathe and holes at the base of the pot so that the fruit can be washed prior to consumption."