How Specialty Food Consumers Shop
SHOPPING AND MEAL HABITS OF
SPECIALTY FOOD CONSUMERS
Times in
% Past Month
Gone grocery shopping
Cooked or prepared a meal from scratch,
meaning not using packaged foods
but instead combining several ingredients
to make each meal item
Purchased takeout/delivery food at a
restaurant that they ate at home
Cooked or prepared a meal from a quick
option (e.g., spaghetti with pasta sauce,
meal kit such as a taco dinner kit)
Purchased ready-to-eat meals at a
supermarket or specialty food store
Used specialty foods or ingredients
to improve the taste of a purchased
takeout food
80
5.6
73
13.0
70
4.4
66
6.8
56
4.0
21
4.5
Base: 1,486 adults aged 18+ with internet access who purchase specialty foods
SOURCE: MINTEL
While specialty food consumers have varied meal habits,
they are most likely to prepare a meal from scratch, with
nearly three-fourths doing just that, an average of 13 times
per month. Two-thirds also cook or prepare a meal from a
quick option, although much less frequently at 6.8 times per
month. They also buy takeout food from restaurants and
ready-to-eat meals from retailers.
SHOPPING PREFERENCES
% Specialty
Food Consumers
I like to shop where employees are knowledgeable about the products.
I like to shop at stores where I agree with the company values or philosophy.
I like to shop where employees are knowledgeable about health and wellness issues.
I sometimes ask for advice about recipes and preparation techniques.
I like to hear about the story or heritage of the products that I buy.
I like to shop at stores where I know the owners.
I like to hear about the story or heritage of the stores where I shop.
I do not agree with any of the statements above.
Base: 2,000 internet users aged 18+
64
46
36
33
30
27
25
14
% Non-Specialty
Food Consumers
50
26
21
18
14
15
11
31
SOURCE: MINTEL
Interaction with retailers and products is important to specialty food consumers. They like employees to be
knowledgeable about the products, and nearly one-third enjoy hearing the story or heritage of the products they buy.
C10 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE
specialtyfood.com
