Consumer Trends
Consumer trends, insights and preferences
Consumer Trends
Fast casual chains triumph over bad economy
While many restaurants suffered during the economic slump, fast casual chains prospered. As defined by The NPD Group, fast casual restaurants are upscale quickservice spots that offer more service, higher quality food and cost more than other fast food outlets.
Consumer Trends
Drive-thru windows drive takeout business
Drive-thru windows at quickservice restaurants are essential to the American eating style—and essential to QSR profitability. According to the NPD Group, there were 12.4 billion restaurant visits via drive-thru windows in 2011— a 2% increase from the prior year.
The natural food and beverage market—now valued at $127 billion—has reached a new stage in its maturity. “The world of health and wellness is changing dramatically and rapidly, and the natural products industry is positioned as a leading crucible through which we can watch this world unravel and rebuild itself,” says Carlotta Mast, chief author of NEXT: The Natural Products Industry Forecast, compiled by Nutrition Business Journal and the Sterling-Rice Group.
Among the U.S. Hispanic population, Millennials’ food choices reflect cultural preferences, according to the NPD’s NET (National Eating Trends) Hispanic research. This 22- to 35 year-old age group, which comprises 65% of the Hispanic population in the United States, includes Hispanic dishes in 7% of all meals. The research shows that they gravitate toward ready-to eat, fresh and from scratch foods both away from home and at home.