Packaged Facts: Restaurant Patrons Want Menu Transparency For Meat and Poultry

Consumers seek meat that is all-natural, sustainably raised, and organic

News provided by

Jun 16, 2016, 09:48 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --For many consumers, choosing a meat and poultry dish at a restaurant revolves around "keeping it real": they seek all-natural choices that reflect their desire to keep human intervention they perceive as negative out of the process, according to market research publisher Packaged Facts in the report Meat, Poultry and Seafood: Restaurant Trends and Opportunities.

"Perhaps more than ever before, consumers want to know about what's in their meat and poultry, how it was raised and where it came from. This need to know taps a breadth of concerns related to food healthfulness and sustainable practices," says David Sprinkle, research director, Packaged Facts.

Meat, Poultry and Seafood: Restaurant Trends and Opportunities was released earlier this month. To view the report abstract and table of contents visit: http://www.packagedfacts.com/Meat-Poultry-Seafood-10096197/.

In the report, Packaged Facts data reveal that more than 6 in 10 (60%) restaurant meat and poultry eaters say that "all natural" is important to them when selecting meat/poultry dishes at a restaurant. But at least as prevalently, these consumers weigh whether the dish has no hormones, no antibiotics, and no preservatives.

Animal welfare and sustainability also play a role in their decision: some 45% of restaurant meat and poultry eaters say that "free range" is important to them when selecting meat/poultry dishes at a restaurant, and 47% cite "sustainability." How an animal is fed—grass or vegetarian, for example—is also relevant. In this respect, consumers are likely weighing the effect of feeding choice on the quality, taste and healthfulness of the dish.

Consumer demand for organic meat and poultry is arguably the most noteworthy trend of all. Roughly 40% of meat eaters cited organic as important to them. Organic meat and poultry usage tilts toward three key influential demographic segments: Hispanic, Generation X, and higher-income households. Each group is at least 50% more likely to use organic meat and poultry than the overall American population.

Restaurant chains seeking to meet the organic needs of their guests include a motley crew of brands, ranging from Sizzler to Five Guys to Burger King. Packaged Facts suggests that these chains drawing a disproportionate share of organic meat and poultry households should have at least a couple of offerings on the menu to meet potential demand for organic, even if they compete at different price points, and even if they are not known to be trend-forward in this regard.

Meat, Poultry and Seafood: Restaurant Trends and Opportunities (June 2016) focuses on five key aspects of restaurant menus: breakfast, burgers and sandwiches, entrées, seafood and international cuisine. In each case, the report trends and analyzes proteins on areas of the menu, and then looks closer at those trends to discover supporting themes influencing menu innovation, paying particular attention to menu items and limited-time offers. Purchase the report at: http://www.packagedfacts.com/Meat-Poultry-Seafood-10096197/.

About Packaged Facts – Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer market topics, including consumer demographics and shopper insights, consumer financial products and services, consumer goods and retailing, consumer packaged goods, and pet products and services. Packaged Facts also offers a full range of custom research services. Reports can be purchased at www.PackagedFacts.com and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com.

For more essential insights from Packaged Facts be sure to follow us on Twitter and Google+. For infographics, tables, charts and other visuals, follow Packaged Facts on Pinterest.

Press Contact:
Daniel Granderson
240.747.3000
[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150831/262421LOGO

SOURCE Packaged Facts