Thursday June 30, 2016
Huhtamaki, has continued its ‘Consumer Insights’ series with the commissioning of independent consumer research into food to go consumption within the UK. The new ‘Food To Go’ Market Factsheets further enhance the Company’s knowledge of the marketplace, and are a valuable tool that Huhtamaki is keen to share with customers!
2,000 respondents said ‘yes’ to buying food to go in the month prior to being questioned, the equivalent of 31.8 million* consumers. These respondents were then questioned on three main areas – frequency of purchase; what’s being bought; and the importance of packaging.
According to the research, almost three quarters of consumers (73%) buy food to go at least once a week. That’s equivalent to over 24 million* consumers! 10% of consumers buy food to go at least once a day.
Most consumers (19%) buy food to go from Greggs; although the research shows that Costa Coffee, Greggs, M&S Food and Pret a Manger are the outlets with the broadest appeal across the ages. Un-surprisingly, consumers are most likely to buy food to go from their preferred outlet because of its convenience (55%). 62% of consumers also buy a drink at the same time as buying food to go.
70% of consumers buy food to go to ‘takeaway’ (rather than ‘eat-in’); and this ‘on the move’ nature of food to go is reflected in the research – over half of consumers (55%) buy food to go which is served in packaging fitted with a lid.
When it comes to issues concerning the environment, 68% of consumers want to know about the ‘green’/environmental credentials of the packaging used to serve food to go and 70% of this group also think this information should be communicated on pack.
The customisation of packaging – a service which Huhtamaki is able to support customers with, thanks to its expert Design Team – is a necessary consideration. Three quarters of consumers (75%) buy food to go which is served in branded packaging, with hot food to go choices most likely to be served in branded disposables (52%).
