Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/173967
How Specialty Food Consumers Cook And Entertain PERSONAL ATTITUDES ABOUT FOOD % Specialty % Non-Specialty Food Consumers Food Consumers It's worth it to me if sometimes/generally I have to pay more for better-quality ingredients/food. I read nutrition-fact labels on food/beverage products most/ all of the time. I enjoy talking with friends/family about new or interesting foods I've made or eaten at restaurants. I am always looking for new ingredients to use in recipes. I make food choices primarily for health reasons. I am interested in learning more about genetically modified organisms (GMOs). I utilize social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) to talk/learn about food. Food isn't very interesting to me. For me, food is basically just fuel. Base: 2,000 internet users aged 18+ FOOD KNOWLEDGE AND SOCIAL HABITS 81 79 55 79 49 70 36 54 46 54 25 45 26 % Specialty Food Consumers 59 19 33 SOURCE: MINTEL Specialty food consumers live and breathe food. They pay for better ingredients, read nutritional facts on labels and enjoy talking about food with friends and families. And they are more than twice as likely to be interested in learning more about genetically modified organisms. I consider myself knowledgeable about food. I have shopped at a farmers market in the past year. I enjoy planning parties for friends and family. I often drink wine with meals. I entertain guests in my home on a regular basis. Sometimes I order exotic cocktails to try new flavor combinations. I have been to a wine tasting in the past three years. I have gone to an exposition/show that featured food. I have taken a cooking class within the past three years. 78 70 58 42 41 39 36 27 14 Base: 1,486 adults aged 18+ with internet access who purchase specialty foods SOURCE: MINTEL Food is an integral part of the lifestyle of specialty food consumers. More than three-quarters consider themselves knowledgeable about food. Home entertaining is on the rise, with 41 percent saying they host guests on a regular basis, versus 35 percent last year. Interest in wine seems to be growing too; 42 percent of specialty food consumers say they drink wine with meals, versus only 32 percent in 2012. More consumers also reported in 2013 that they have attended a wine tasting in the past three years. ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS ABOUT COOKING AMONG SPECIALTY FOOD CONSUMERS % 80 78 74 69 62 28 Family food traditions are important to me. I often experiment with new recipes. I am willing to spend more money for the highest-quality ingredients. I buy ingredients that are from different countries for specific recipes. I rely on standard or family recipes for most of my cooking. I really don't know how to cook but I try my best. Base: 1,486 adults aged 18+ with internet access who purchase specialty foods SOURCE: MINTEL Tradition and experimentation seem opposites, but not for specialty food consumers. Eight in 10 value family traditions and nearly two-thirds rely on standard or family recipes for most of their cooking. Yet 78 percent report that they often experiment with new recipes. And nearly one-third simply try their best. C12 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com