Shifts in consumer purchasing patterns in the food and beverage industry is broader than many industry executives imagine, according to recent research. A preview of the research by Deloitte Consulting at the Grocery Manufacturers Association’s (GMA) Leadership forum last week showed higher levels of evolving preferences across all age and income demographics. Evolving preferences include topics such as health and wellness, safety and social responsibility versus the traditional preferences such as taste and convenience. “In terms of preference, more than half of the population identified evolving preferences over traditional preferences in relation to their purchase,” said Tom Phillips, director of Deloitte Consulting.
When results were separated by age, region of the United States and income level, evolving preferences won out, showing trends hitting a much wider income demographic than expected. The full results of the research will be released in September.
