Consumers Seek Solutions To Help With Home Entertaining
The average American hosts approximately 18 special occasions in their homes, according to a new survey from Circana, which highlights the produced used and needed by consumers.
It is latest Kitchen Audit, Circana highlighted several trends that touched on the favored appliances used in today’s kitchens along with the generational differences in entertaining and cooking habits.
“The kitchen serves as the heart of many U.S. households, and brands that align their food and beverage offerings with the appliances and gadgets people already own will win,” said Darren Seifer, industry advisor, Consumer Goods and Foodservice, Circana. “As Boomers increasingly turn to social media for meal ideas, there is a unique opportunity to reach all generations with engaging content. By helping consumers feel more confident in the kitchen, especially for large gatherings, brands can enhance the overall experience and make special occasions more enjoyable for everyone.”
Among the key findings in the report is that the average U.S. consumer experiences more than one special occasion per month. Home entertaining, the report noted, can bring joy but also lead to stress most notably around food preparation and hosting. Special occasions differ from everyday meals, often involving guests, restaurant-sourced food, weekend gatherings, and dinner, leading to different appliances used during these occasions.
As for the appliances used in the kitchen, several including air fryers, griddles, and food processors are popular and reflect the need for speed and taste. Empty nesters prioritize versatile appliances such as coffee makers and griddles to accommodate their changing meal needs. Smart kitchen device ownership is also growing, but future interest is waning, and accomplished home cooks are twice as likely to own a device.
With meal preparation, consumers across the generations are focused on quicker meal prep, often using pre-cooked ingredients. As home cooking rises and dining out declines, reliance on social media for recipes has surged.
TikTok is Gen Z’s top online source but is used less often by other generations. Millennials and Gen Xers are expanding their skills through frequent recipe use, while older Gen Zers, who honed their cooking abilities during the pandemic, now see themselves as accomplished home cooks.
Despite fewer stock-up trips, consumers opt for just-in-time supplies due to cost pressures, creating new opportunities as digital platforms shape kitchen habits.
