Our busy lifestyle keeps many people from eating at home
on a daily basis. Gone are the days of the sit down dinner
with the entire family. When these occasions due occur it’s
usually a holiday or a special occasion.
What this means to you: People are looking for smaller
sized packages and are willing to pay a premium. An example
is the 3-pack baking potato; quality potatoes in a three
pack that can cost as much as a 3lb bag. Why? People don't
use three pounds of potatoes before they go bad.
Time is not on your side.
Consumers are looking for the quick fix. The ready to eat
or with minimal preparation market is booming. People want
products that require little or no work but still taste
good. You will notice the shrinking of the fresh meat counter
in favor of the pre-seasoned, easy to prepare, or ready
to eat meats. The proliferation of products is amazing.
Convenience is mandatory not just an issue.
Banquet, the longtime staple of frozen TV dinners, has introduced
new crock pot frozen meals. Grab-and-go packed carrots and
celery produced by California-based Ready Pac will appear
in grocery stores this summer. Ready Pac is also selling
ready-to-go “bistro” salad bowls Cobb salad, chicken
caesar, blue cheese. They keep meat and other protein separate
from greens. It comes with a fork and dressing and is ready
to tuck into a lunch bag. Del Monte makes grab-and-go cups
of fresh-cut fruit that are sold in convenience stores.
Important info: The prepared meals market will grow
by 16.5% over the next five years, forecasts research and
markets.
What this means: Products need to be simple to prepare
or almost ready with minimal food preparation time. The
easier you make someone’s life, the more loyal the
will become to your product. Keep thinking about all the
top tier restaurants that are offering take out service.
People are becoming more health conscious and really
are learning more about what they eat. How many diets have
you read about this week? Is the low carb craze in or out?
The low carp craze and the trans fat concern are just two
of the recent trends.
What this means: Products that contain unhealthy
fats or other ingredients are being scrutinized. Companies
are providing reduced calories versions in addition to regular
product offerings. People shop for healthier versions of
products they used o buy. Even fast food companies are taking
notice with healthy new product offerings. Watch for continued
growth in this category. Pay attention to ingredient panels
and special information tags such as “contains no trans
fats” or “only X carbs.”
People are looking for products they can access on
the run.
When was the last time you or your significant other went
to the store and purchased everything you needed for the
entire week? Make it easy to purchase. Consumers are buying
products in unconventional places like a drive though with
take out service; a convenience store with high caliber
products
What this means: Unconventional types of retail
outlets, such as convenience stores, are experiencing strong
growth.
People are spending money to treat themselves to a
little luxury.
Feeling a little neglected or sorry for yourself? You deserve
something special and you are not alone. Luxury purchases
are on the rise. People are willing to buy expensive treats
for themselves for daily use not just for special occasions.
Important info: Last year the typical luxury consumer
spent $33,188 on average buying luxuries, an increase of
33 percent over their reported spending in 2003 of $25,010.
While spending in all categories of luxuries rose in 2004,
increased spending on luxury automobiles resulted in the
greatest boost to overall luxury spending, according to
Unity Marketing's new Luxury Report, 2005
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