Consumers Seeking More Options To Prep Meals At Home
Consumers are looking for more opportunities to eat meals prepared at home, but are also seeking time-saving solutions that provide quality options that also allow them to stay within their budgets.
The Future of Food at Home report from 84.51 noted that the home cooking surge seek during the pandemic has evolved to home cooks looking for products and resources to make the meal-making process at home more convenient and enjoyable.
Additionally, the desire to save money is also top of mind for consumers. In the second quarter of 2024, 46% of consumers cooked from scratch or with limited pre-prepared foods, up from 38% in the second quarter of 2023. Simultaneously, 40% of consumers in Q2 of 2024 reduced the amount of time they ate out or ate restaurant-prepared food at home, up from 33% in Q2 of 2023.
Some retailers this year have recognized the opportunity to offer shoppers meal solutions. In January, Albertsons launched its Signature SELECT Mix + Match meal solution. Designed to save customers time both in the store and in the kitchen, this new line of frozen entrees, sides and veggies cook together in one standard oven at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes.
The shift toward home-cooked meals is expected to continue since food-at-home prices are forecast to increase 1% this year, while food-away-from-home prices are predicted to grow 4.3%.
“Inflation and higher costs of dining out, as well as the ability to control portion sizes and reduce waste have made home-cooked meals an appealing alternative for budget-conscious shoppers,” the report said.
Research from 84.51 also shows that shoppers would prefer to have more planned meals at home instead of purchasing food away from home. This is clear in the lunch category were 73% of consumers said eating lunch prepared at home would be “ideal” but 55% said that is actually what is happening.
“While many believe that eating at home is a good way to save money, they need help when it comes to planning, prepping and cooking,” report said. “This suggests a growing market demand for healthy, easy-to-prepare lunch kits and other solutions for making healthy choices within a budget.”
And as consumers seek to make more meals at home, they are also seeking inspiration for their meal-prep efforts. The 84.51 report found that 60% of those surveyed visit a store website or app to find a recipe, 46% use social media, and 37% turn the pages of cookbooks to find a meal they like.
