Keywords : Food, food product, food away-from-home
Executive Summary This Key Note Market Assessment analyses consumer cooking and eating habits which have emerged over the past few years, as well as trends that are likely to arise in the near future. Key issues discussed include lifestyle; ethnicity; the environment and sustainability; food supply and the food chain; religious and cultural beliefs; celebrity culture and the media; and awareness of diet and health-related issues sur...
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Executive Summary
This Key Note Market Assessment analyses consumer cooking and eating habits which have emerged over the past few years, as well as trends that are likely to arise in the near future. Key issues discussed include lifestyle; ethnicity; the environment and sustainability; food supply and the food chain; religious and cultural beliefs; celebrity culture and the media; and awareness of diet and health-related issues surrounding food.
The increasing number of people now leading busy lives, juggling work commitments, leisure and family time, has had a significant effect on cooking and eating habits in recent years. This has resulted in rising demand for convenience food products, such as snacks, pre-prepared food packs and convenience meals, which allow consumers to prepare and cook food in a quick and easy manner, with little effort involved. Consequently, mealtimes have become increasingly fragmented, with many consumers eating on-the-go and in informal settings or at unusual times. Traditional dinner formalities, which usually involved families sitting round the dinner table together eating food prepared by mums, has become considerably less prevalent and many families now eat at much later times in the evening, often in front of the television and separate from each other. The added reliance on convenience has also driven demand for fast food and casual dining experiences within the restaurant sector, which have also become more popular following the ongoing economic instability in the UK; as such, dining establishments are often cheaper or offer discount meals at reduced prices.
However, this increasing reliance on convenience food products, along with the rising popularity of fast food, is one of the factors thought to be contributing to the high levels of obesity currently affecting the UK, with around 60% of the population now estimated to be either overweight or obese, according to the most recent figures published by the National Health Service (NHS). The growing concern regarding obesity, along with the health problems that the condition often causes, such as diabetes type 2, heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure and, in some cases, cancer, has resulted in the introduction of a number of Government-led initiatives to tackle obesity. These have included continued investment in the Change4Life scheme, which provides advice and tips on healthy diets and exercise; the implementation of the Public Health Responsibility Deal in 2011, which urged food operators to sign up and pledge to reduce salt, sugar and fats, and introduce calorie labelling on their products; and the continued efforts by the Government to improve school meals in order to provide healthier and more nutritious meals to schoolchildren. The growing concern regarding obesity has also boosted consumer demand for healthier food products, particularly healthy snack and convenience meals. This trend is expected to continue well into the future, with food manufacturers and retailers likely to step up their investment in developing healthier food products and pre-prepared meals.
The ongoing financial difficulties currently being experienced in the UK have also had a significant impact on cooking and eating habits in recent years, with many consumers now opting for value or own-brand products in a bid to save money and reduce household expenditure. Consequently, supermarkets have invested significant amounts in their private-label product lines, which have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years in response to demand for foods which provide value for money. The restaurant market has also responded to growing consumer demand for cheaper meal options by introducing discount vouchers or meal deal offers, while fast-food chains have continued to remain popular due to their cheap menu offerings.
Despite recent estimates by National Statistics, which suggest that the economy grew by 1% in Q3 2012 and has therefore exited recession, household finances are expected to continue to remain strained over the next few years. The tough weather conditions experienced by UK farmers during 2012 has also not helped matters, with some crop yields thought to have fallen to extremely low levels. As a result, consumers should expect significant increases in food prices over the next year or so, which have already been driven up following a rise in grain costs caused by a drought in the US and a heat wave in Russia during the summer season. Food prices in the UK have already increased by around 32% since 2007 — double the EU average — with a further hike of 15% expected over the coming months, according to figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), while economists have forecast the cost of a weekly shop to rise by around 4% year-on-year until 2022 at least.
The severe weather experienced during 2012 by the UK, along with other parts of the world, has also led to concerns over climate change and world food supply being voiced. While efforts have been made to increase recycling in UK constituencies by local authorities in recent years, much attention is now being turned towards large-scale food manufacturers and the supermarkets to implement new measures in order to help reduce food miles, improve food packaging and become more sustainable in terms of wastage and use of energy. At the same time, pressure has been put on supermarkets and other food operators to ensure that the food that they produce and sell is done so in an ethical way, and that fair trade is maintained. This has led to the rising popularity of Fairtrade products, with many supermarkets continuing to expand their Fairtrade ranges, while large-scale manufacturers, such as Cadbury and Nestlé, have changed some of their product offerings to Fairtrade items.
All of these factors, along with other issues concerning psychological relationships with food, the environment, cooking skills and food educations are all discussed in more depth within the report. Exclusive consumer research was also commissioned by Key Note to support the issues considered throughout, which analyse consumer opinions and attitudes regarding a range of topics currently affecting cooking and eating habits.
Food Industry in the United Kingdom
Table of Contents
Foreword
Executive Summary
Introduction
BACKGROUND
DEFINITION
Strategic Overview
INTRODUCTION
FOOD PRICES AND FOOD SUPPLY
The Economy
Food Supply in the UK
Food Prices
HEALTH CONCERNS AND FOOD SAFETY
Salt and Sugar Content in Food
Trans-Fats
Obesity
School Meals
Junk Food Linked to IQ
Fish - Health Recommendations
Allergies
Food Poisoning
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Foot and Mouth Disease
Fortified Foods
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES
GM Crops and Other Agricultural Farming Practices
Food Waste
Animal Welfare
Sustainable Farming
Organic Food
The Weather
LIFESTYLE AND HOUSEHOLDS
Availability of Cooking Equipment
The Modern Family
Cooking Skills
Household Composition
Fad Diets
Eating Out
The Influence of Celebrity Chefs
CORPORATE STRATEGIES
Supermarket 'Dine In...' Deals
Eating Out Vouchers and Offers
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Aldi% British Aberdeen Angus Beef
ASDA Chosen by You Range
ASDA Extends Free From Range
Bertolli Premium Spread
Birds Eye Pastry Bakes
Birds Eye Rice Fusions
Dine In With Heston Ready Meals at Waitrose
Linda McCartney
Morrisons M Kitchen Range
Simply MandS
Tesco Everyday Value Range
Sainsbury's Extends Scottish Pork Range
Tastes of the World by New Covent Garden
Walkers Deep Ridged Range
MARKET DYNAMICS AND SEGMENTATION
Expenditure on Food in the Home
Expenditure on Food Outside the Home
Average Weekly Household Expenditure on Food
DISTRIBUTION
Place of Purchase
COMPETITIVE STRUCTURE
Supermarket Market Share
ADVERTISING
Main Media Advertising Expenditure
Advertising and Promotional News
Advertising to Children
THE CONSUMER
FORECASTS
Legislation
INTRODUCTION
FOOD SAFETY AND GENERAL FOOD REGULATION
Food Safety Act
General Food Law Regulation (EC)/
Food Hygiene Legislation
Food Standards Act
FOOD LABELLING AND INFORMATION
Food Labelling Regulations
Food Information Regulation (FIR) (1169/2011)
Food Labelling Consultation Launched by the Department of Health
FOOD SUPPLY LEGISLATION
Food Additives and Flavourings
Common Agricultural Policy
Common Fisheries Policy
REGULATORY AND ADVISORY BODIES AND PRESSURE GROUPS
British Nutrition Foundation
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department of Health
European Food Safety Authority
Food and Drink Federation
The Food Commission Research Charity Ltd
Food Standards Agency
Children's Food Trust
Growth Markets
INTRODUCTION
AREAS OF GROWTH
Snack Foods
Ready Meals
Vegetarian Foods
Online Grocery Shopping
Ethnic Foods
Fairtrade
Rainforest Alliance
Celebrity-Endorsed Food Products
Own Brands
Healthy Foods
Consumer Dynamics
MODERN LIVING
BREAKFAST
THE TEA BREAK
LUNCHEON AND SNACKING
Eating at Work
School Meals
THE EVENING MEAL
PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS AFFECTING EATING HABITS
Eating Disorders
Body Image Obsession
An International Perspective
GLOBAL EATING HABITS
GLOBAL COOKING HABITS
PEST Analysis
POLITICAL
Consumer Group Finds Government's Responsibility Deal 'Lacking'
Complete Ban on Trans-Fats Called for Following New York Victory
'Fat Tax' Proposed
Consistent Food Labelling System to Be Introduced in
ECONOMIC
Recession and Weather to Blame for Food Inflation
SOCIAL
Food Education in Schools Recommended to Fight Childhood Obesity
Concerns Raised Over Olympics' 'Unhealthy' Sponsorship Deals
United Nations Warns of Possible Food Crisis in
TECHNOLOGICAL
GM Crops to Solve Food Crisis and Growing Demand
Consumer Research
INTRODUCTION
DETAILED SURVEY RESULTS
Change in Disposable Income
Greater Awareness of Dietary Requirements and Effect on Health
A Desire to Lose Weight
Change in the Availability of Ingredients, Convenience Foods, etc.
Change in Taste and Preference
Change in the Amount of Leisure Time
Concern About Animal Welfare, the Environment and/or Free Trade Production
Change in Household Structure (e.g. Starting a Family, Children Leaving Home, Divorce, etc.)
Moving House, Which Has Meant a Change in Shopping/Eating Out Venues
Following a Television or Further Education Cookery Course or Buying New Cookery Books
Supplier Profiles
FOOD SUPPLIERS
Farmers/Growers
Fishermen
FOOD MANUFACTURERS/PROCESSORS
2 Sisters Food Group Ltd
Associated British Foods PLC
Cranswick PLC
Greencore Group PLC
Nestlé UK Ltd
Premier Foods PLC
Unilever PLC
FOOD RETAILERS
ASDA Group Ltd
The Co-operative Group Ltd
Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC
J Sainsbury PLC
Tesco PLC
Waitrose
FOOD AWAY FROM HOME
Foodservice Groups
Public Houses, Restaurants and Takeaways
FAST FOOD AND HOME DELIVERY
Domino's Pizza Group PLC
McDonald's
Yum! Brands Inc
The Future
CHANGING HABITS
FOOD AND HEALTH
Further Sources
Associations
Publications
General Sources
Government Publications
Other Sources
Key Note Sources
Key Note Ltd
Understanding Consumer Survey Data
Number, Profile, Penetration
Social Grade
Standard Region
Key Note Research
The Key Note Range of Reports
