I just might have to qualify that. By saying their core menu is like their parents
but the search for food discovery remains high, as they seek new avenues of distribution,
new bolder flavors, and digital marketing.
So, COVID-19 has even forced Gen Z and
Millennials too spend more time at home and indoors, they have more control
over their food choices than ever, but have largely fallen into a food rut
according to a new survey from Y-Pulse. Let’s
see just what they found:
“With the lack of in-restaurant meals,
on-campus dining or social dining events to differentiate day-to-day eating
habits, 59 percent of survey respondents agreed with the statement "I find
myself eating the same foods every day." Yet nearly eight in 10 (79
percent) of these young consumers crave the variety they can get when dining
out.
"Young consumers are feeling both
inspired and exhausted by the conditions of the pandemic," said Sharon
Olson, executive director of Y-Pulse. "They're fluctuating between a need
for distraction and a quick fix to their everyday dining needs. That kind of
shifting perspective on dining needs to be met with dynamic ideas to captivate
young audiences."
While 57 percent of respondents prefer to
purchase fully prepared food over making food from scratch, 62 percent of young
consumers disagree with the statement "I do not like to
cook." In fact, cooking is on the rise among consumers who are
experiencing an increase in free time due to the pandemic disrupting their
day-to-day routines. Seventy-eight percent have found opportunities to
explore cooking new recipes during stay-at-home periods and 80 percent have
been inspired to learn more cooking techniques during their at-home cooking
forays.
In addition to looking for variety in
their diets, younger consumers are also vacillating between health foods and
indulgent options when they search for comforting foods. Sixty-nine percent
pointed to indulgent comfort food as their choice in recent months, while 83
percent are looking forward to returning to healthier eating, which implies
that indulgence needs to be balanced with fresh and healthy options.
However, this does not mean that younger
consumers are likely to adopt strict dieting rules, as 71 percent agree that a
little bit of indulgence was likely to become part of their daily routine and
76 percent say that life is too short to skip dessert. For younger generations,
balanced meals are a critical part of self-care and comfort, according to the
survey.
With 66 percent looking forward to
socializing at the farmers market, finding ways to accommodate open air and
outdoor dining can help reinvigorate social dining while maintaining safety
protocols, Y-Pulse noted.
Although the timeline for reopening is
different for everyone, younger consumers haven't forgotten their former
favorite restaurants, and the absence of restaurant dining has increased their
appreciation for dining out, as 77 percent say they have a greater appreciation
for all of the restaurant experiences they used to take for granted and 79
percent agree that chefs have become heroes serving their communities in these
difficult times.
Three out of four consumers plan to
patronize restaurants that were known for taking care of their employees during
the pandemic. In the meantime, the drive-thru window at younger consumers'
favorite restaurants feels like home for 48 percent of survey respondents.
Regardless of the pandemic, younger consumers will continue to support their
favorite eateries.”
Looking for
success clues of your own? Foodservice Solutions® specializes in
outsourced food marketing and business development ideations. We can help you
identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities,
technology, or a new menu product segment. Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche
visit us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter
No comments:
Post a Comment