Millennials and Gen Z Drive Grocerant Ready-2-Eat Fresh Prepared Food Sales Success

What’s the difference between a trend and a fad?  Well it just might be how old the consumers are that are migrating from one sector to another.  In the case of the Grocerant niche filled with Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food started by and fueled by time stared baby boomers it’s clear both Millennials and Gen Z have picked up the mantel of evolving the Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared grocerant niche ‘better for you food. 

In a new Y-Pulse Study focusing on Gen Z Preferences found that they that they preferred:

1.        Fruit and veggie smoothies

2.        Mexican foods
3.       Fresh, Fast and made from scratch 

All the while The NPD Group found that Americans' consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy and other fresh foods has reached levels not seen in 30 years, with younger adults leading the way. 

NPD found that “Over the past decade, adults aged 18 to 34 have increased their consumption of fresh foods the most out of all age groups. These results are a surprise, as millennials are in a life stage when people typically consume lower quantities of fresh foods in favor of more time-saving and convenient options”  

NPD’s  Darren Seifer stated; “As millennials returned to their homes to source more of their meals, they spent a little more time in the kitchen to make dishes like eggs/omelets, pancakes, vegetables and rice…This doesn’t mean they are becoming chefs or that they even enjoy spending time in the kitchen. Seifer added; “Younger adults have shifted from considering frozen foods as convenient to their focus now being on freshness, while getting out of the kitchen quickly” 

Turns out that Americans within both the Gen Z and Millennials groupings are taking the lead from or learned from their parents and grandparents that Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food is good, saves time and when you bundle fresh prepared meal components the meal is today’s homemade meal.  Things have not changes so much learning how to cook, how to cook fresh meals fast from at home from family members is what has gone on for generations.  

Sharon Olson, executive director of Y-Pulse. “As kids grow up their sense of culinary adventure increases with more interest in ethnic foods, fresh, and local offerings” our Grocerant Guru™ can only add that home cooking today is filled with Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food meal components that can be mix and matched into a customized family meal fast and that is a trend that is not fading away. 

Have you had Grocerant Program Assessment conducted for you operation? Do you sell food today have you had a Grocerant Scorecard conducted? Interested in learning how Foodservice Solutions 5P’s of Food Marketing can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization? Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit:  www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information.