Kids meals have been the focus of legislative and health advocacy activities over the past few years and that focus is expected to continue throughout 2012. The continuing pressure on restaurant operators to improve the healthfulness of kids meals combined with increasing health consciousness among moms has resulted in children, younger than 13, eating more better-for-you foods like fruit, non-fried chicken, chicken wraps, cereal; and less of the not-so-good-for-you foods, like French fries, dessert items/frozen sweets, regular size burgers, and fried chicken, according to NPD’s Crest service, which continually tracks consumer usage of restaurants.
In general, healthy and lighter foods are faring better than many foods and beverages consumers have learned should be controlled in their diets. In addition to restaurant consumers eating more healthful food, another growing influence in the industry is the rapid growth in the Hispanic and Asian population in the US, which will continue to drive demand for more ethnically diverse foods this year.
Tastes will evolve, and consumers will seek spicier and more flavourful foods. The large Millennial and Boomer age groups will also influence restaurant foods. Based on NPD Crest information, juice drinks are also likely to grow, particularly among younger adults, along with food items popular among Boomers, like coffee, fish/seafood, and breakfast foods.
Other factors that will influence the restaurant industry in 2012 and beyond include:
Source: NPD Group
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