Consumer Trends
Consumer trends, insights and preferences
Consumer Trends
New directions for breakfast
Consumers are looking for innovative breakfast foods at all hours of the day and in a variety of forms and sizes. Higher quality ingredients, new flavors and nutritious options are in demand as well. Here are seven trends to watch for on the breakfast front.
Consumer Trends
Natural and organic food and beverage market set to double by 2015
U.S. retail sales of natural and organic foods and beverages in 2010 rose 9% over the previous year and 63% higher than sales five years earlier. The market reached a value of nearly $39 billion in sales in 2010, states research publisher Packaged Facts in its report titled Natural and Organic Foods and Beverages in the U.S., 3rd Edition.
Once considered a specific culinary style found only in select restaurants, Mediterranean cuisine with Greek, Spanish and Middle Eastern roots is showing up on the menus of national chain eateries. There is a growing consumer interest in Mediterranean cuisine specifically, as Americans become more health- conscious and seek simpler and fresher alternatives that spare the fat.
The star ratings on consumer-generated websites, such as Yelp! and Chowhound, carry a lot of weight, according to a survey by the Dining Decision Ecosystem. The survey, conducted with 500 participants, found that after a friend’s recommendation, the Internet holds the biggest influence with patrons deciding where to eat.
Combined, the Hispanic and Asian communities now make up 22% of the U.S. population—a statistic that is having a huge impact on Americans' eating habits. Add to that the large number of additional Americans who embrace change and multicultural influences, and the result is a majority who seek out and appreciate authentic and flavor-forward global foods.