One of the main drivers for increasing online grocery shopping is personal safety; 35% of respondents cited safety as a key reason for choosing online over brick-and-mortar stores. However, convenience still dwarfs other drivers, with almost two thirds (59%) reporting this as the reason for choosing to shop online. 

Most analyses during the pandemic have focused on discerning its impact on consumer behavior and forecasting how this might change going forward. However, before the pandemic structural changes in the workforce and the aging population already contributed to a home-centric lifestyle, and COVID accelerated it, reports The NPD Group.

With open access to information, home cooking has never been more adventurous with kitchen cooks delving deeper into smaller regions across the globe to understand and adapt any nuance of spices or sauces that create something special to try.

Due to Gen Z’s influence over their Gen X parents on this issue, Gen X consumers’ preference to shop sustainable brands increased by 24% and their willingness to pay more for sustainable products increased by 42% since 2019.

Texture’s impact also is not limited to mouthfeel. It is relevant to a product’s flavor, appearance and even a related auditory sound. For these reasons, it plays a strong role in the entire eating experience.

Among flexitarians (those who usually but not exclusively follow vegetarian or vegan diets), trust in the safety of plant-based products is high, but concerns remain over cost and limited choice. Innova’s research does, however, show a widespread desire among European consumers of all types to sample more plant-based alternatives across a range of products.

When it comes to the Nutrition Facts label on the back of food packaging, sugar ranks at the top of what adult consumers look for on the label. Consumers look for calories after sugar on the label; 45% look for calories. Sodium ranks third, with 38% of adult consumers searching for sodium content.

For 90% of consumers, price continues to be the top purchase driver for fresh. The combination of recent inflation and the perception that frozen food costs less (held by 62% of consumers) is attracting more consumers to frozen alternatives.