Teens and tweens (preteen children) play a large role in the family’s decision of where to eat. Technomic and C3 have released data that suggests 58% of teens and 54% of tweens report that the family decides together which full-service restaurant to visit. This age group also impacts the dining-out decisions of their friends. Here’s more on the eating behavior of this influential demographic.
- Teens may be suffering from fast-food or brand fatigue; new and exciting foodservice concepts are most likely to appeal to them.
- 60% of 8- to 9-year olds report that they snack everyday, compared to 47% of those aged 10 to 12 and 38% of teens. Snacking tends to decrease in frequency as youth gets older, but the quantity of food eaten may increase.
- Because the attitudes and behaviors of tweens and teens reflect specific life stages, foodservice operators and suppliers may find success by tailoring menu offerings and marketing strategies to fit these stages. As an example, the majority of tweens report that they wish restaurants would provide a separate menu for kids their age.
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