A study by British biscuit baker Thomas J Fudge’s, that surveyed 2,000 business workers, found that a quarter of them were more likely to close a deal in a meeting if the right kind of biscuits were offered. Forty per cent of participants said they felt disappointed if biscuits weren’t available during meetings, and a quarter said it affected their productivity and mood.
The study also found that having the right snacks in a meeting was more crucial to success than making small talk. Professor Robin Dunbar, an anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist, said: “Sharing food, even just a biscuit, is one of the most important social things we do. It makes us feel good, and it makes us feel more positive towards those with whom we do it. And the quality of even the biscuits we share says something about how much we value each other.”