Technomic’s latest consumer survey shows that the top associations with fried foods include: tasty (89%), satisfying (86%), filling (83%), something I crave (80%), comforting (77%), and good value (71%).
Despite the fact that more than half of the consumers in Technomic’s survey describe themselves as “Fried Food Curtailers” or “Fried Food Avoiders”, the study predicts that, over the next three years, the growth rate of fried foods will decline, but will not differ substantially from that of the foodservice industry as a whole. Other findings from the study that indicate fried foods will hold their own include:
• Impulse is a major driver of fried food sales. About one in five consumers (21 percent) say that their purchases of fried food at restaurants are usually made on impulse.
• About one-third of respondents (32 percent) like to order fried foods at restaurants because they do not normally prepare them at home.
“We don’t foresee a large drop in fried food sales because they are widely available and are frequently bundled with value meal purchases.” says Bob Goldin, executive vice president at Technomic. “Fried foods are offered at a reasonable price point that has strong appeal across multiple consumer groups. The crispy texture and craveable flavor is something that they cannot duplicate at home.”
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