Peapod Releases Annual Meal Planning Predictions: Millennials And Families To Drive Rise In Home Cooking In 2018

CHICAGO, Jan. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Peapod, the country's leading online grocer, releases its second annual meal planning forecast today, predicting another busy year for the home chef. According to a national survey conducted on behalf of Peapod by ORC International, 73% of adults currently make dinner at home at least four nights a week and nearly one third (31%) are planning to cook dinner at home more often in the New Year.  Millennials are pushing that trend even further as 50% have intentions of making dinner at home more frequently in 2018. Teens, part of the generation dubbed Post-Millennials or Generation Z, look to be following in those foodie footsteps as four in five (79%) say they want their parents to cook more in 2018.

What's Driving the Trend?

Fueling the momentum to cook more at home are the desire to save money (72%) and eat healthier (52%). These were also the top factors in 2017, proving Americans see the financial value in shopping for groceries and planning ahead for meals as well as selecting ingredients tailored to their nutritional preferences.  An interesting shift for 2018 is that more Americans report cooking at home helps them spend quality time together as a family (43%); that's up 11 percentage points from last year. This is especially true for parents as 60% report cooking to spend quality time together. When parents are searching for dinner ideas, finding a meal the whole family will like/agree upon ranks second in importance (85%), surpassed only by "tastes good" (94%).

Getting Kids Involved

Perhaps most surprisingly, kids are big supporters of more home-cooked meals. Four in five teenagers surveyed (79%) want their parents to cook more at home in 2018, and over half of teens want to help their parents with the cooking process more often. Teens report having fun while cooking (59%) and they also see meal time as a way to spend time together as a family (55%). Along with family bonding, getting kids involved with cooking teaches them important skills and grows an appreciation for healthy food and nutrition; one in three teens (32%) who want to help their parents with cooking more express a desire to help their family eat healthier meals.

Meal Planning Made Easier

When asked what would make it easier to cook at home, Americans report the most valued shortcuts as ready to serve or cook mixes (41%), an example of which would be meal kits, followed closely by pre-chopped produce (38%). Pre-measured ingredients (34%) and grocery delivery (25%) are also perceived as adding value. Parents are significantly more inclined than non-parents to value ready to serve or cook mixes (49% vs. 38%, respectively), pre-measured ingredients (43% vs. 30%), and grocery delivery (30% vs. 23%). With respect to grocery delivery, Millennials are over twice as likely as Boomers to perceive this shortcut as valuable to them.

Peapod, helping solve meal planning for nearly 30 years, offers a selection of over 12,000 products including fresh produce, meats & fish, a wide selection of organics delivered right to your door. Along with exceptional customer service, Peapod is known for the quality and value of its products, helping Americans save time and money.

Responding to the way Americans shop, Peapod also provides helpful shortcuts including pre-cut vegetables and ready-to-cook meal kits. Giving shoppers the convenience of a full grocery store at your fingertips, Peapod's award-winning mobile app, voice activated Alexa skill and newly launched text ordering are making it easier than ever to order groceries online.

To shop Peapod, visit www.Peapod.com and visit FromthePod.com for shoppable recipes and how-to videos, or the brand's social channels: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Survey Methodology: ORC International conducted an online survey among 1,024 adults comprising 512 men and 512 women 18 years of age and older on November 27-29, 2017. The results reported for parents are based on parents or guardians of children under the age of 18 living in their home. An online survey of 508 teens ages 13-17 was conducted November 28- December 3, 2017.

About Peapod

Peapod, an Ahold Delhaize USA company, is America's leading online grocer with over 40 million orders delivered to date. Peapod's intuitive, inspiring website and award-winning mobile app allow customers to shop faster and smarter as well as save time and money with each order. Peapod is an easy and convenient solution for the busy consumer shopping for fresh groceries, pantry staples and meal solutions. Peapod offers delivery to both homes and businesses, and has over 200 pick-up locations.  Peapod is available in 24 metro markets across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia.

SOURCE Peapod

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