Consumer Trends
Consumer trends, insights and preferences
Consumer Trends
What draws restaurant visits
At a time of softening traffic, consumers say the old draws may not be what pulls them into one restaurant versus another. Here are the features they cite as actually turning their heads today.
Consumer Trends
6 casual-dining chains scoring well with takeout
Some of the chains with long waits are winning guests’ satisfaction with carryout.
Shoppers are continuing to buy products that are sustainable and eco-conscious, but few are familiar with the meanings of the terms on the packaging. Though words like “recycled” or “eco-friendly” are common to consumers, newer terms like “fair trade” or “wind powered” are more difficult for them to define.
When 1,013 Americans were asked by The Shelton Group, an advertising and researching firm, “Which is the best description to read on a food label?” 25% said “100 percent natural” and another 24% selected “USDA Certified Organic” or “100% organic.” Encouragingly, 17%, the next greatest voting category, selected “Grown in the USA.”
The government's new dietary guidelines are graphically illustrated in the MyPlate icon—a round plate divided into four quadrants, representing fruits, vegetables, protein and grains. The nutritionally-balanced quadrants guide eaters toward a healthy daily diet. But according to the NPD Group's National Eating Trends research, most Americans don't meet the guidelines.