Glanbia Nutritionals’ weekly consumer survey is tracking shifts in consumer perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours around food and nutritional supplements.
In uncertain times, when anxiety runs high, dependability becomes more important than ever. Our recent consumer survey revealed evidence of this, with a number of changes in consumer trust emerging. Consumers tend to trust what they know - and this includes well-known food brands.
Well-known brands are gaining back trust from consumers, and food safety is at the heart of it. While 66% of respondents reported no change in their level of trust in well-known brands, 27% indicated that their trust had increased during the past week. 31% of respondents also have more trust now in the food safety of retail foods, compared to nine percent who have less trust.
Another food safety-associated attribute that increased in importance (for 33 percent of respondents) over the past week was country of origin. Global reporting on the status of COVID-19 has made it easy for people to track hot spots and has likely heightened awareness of goods that are imported from those areas.
Furthermore, several food attributes have become more important to consumers largely because they support stockpiling for quarantine and shelter-in-place preparedness. Products that are shelf-stable, are available in bulk or large pack sizes, or are on sale have become increasingly important over the last week to a large proportion of respondents.
Dining at restaurants has decreased during the past week for 67 percent of respondents. For consumers in certain areas, mandated restaurant closures have removed restaurants as an option altogether. However, where restaurants remain open but with restrictions (e.g., no in-restaurant dining but take-out is permitted), consumers still have a choice.
This is yet another area where we can expect consumer trust to influence food purchasing decisions. Fifty-nine percent of respondents in our survey reported spending more time cooking at home over the past week.
Visit the Glanbia Nutritionals blog to see regular updates of survey results as the COVID-19 crisis continues or contact Glanbia Nutritionals today to learn more about survey results.