Restaurants look to meet Millennials' needs without alienating others, according to Technomic

CHICAGO, Nov. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans born between 1977 and 1992 comprise the largest and most influential generational cohort since the Baby Boomers. As this group transitions into careers, marriage and raising children, restaurant operators and countless other businesses all want to know how to make important in-roads with Millennials, while continuing to appeal to other key segments of the population.

Technomic's unique report, Understanding the Foodservice Attitudes & Behaviors of Millennials, reveals critical insights on the similarities and differences between Millennial, Generation X and Baby Boomer consumers. It also examines differences within the Millennial cohort by ethnicity, age and life stage to help determine how needs evolve over time and what to expect for the up-and-coming Generation Z.

(View related INFOGRAPHIC -- Millennials: Understanding Their Influence)

"Millennials cover a broad range of life stages, from college years, to early career to starting a family. They are not one homogeneous group with constant needs so it is imperative that restaurant chains stay on top of their changing needs and expectations, particularly in the areas of health and wellness, ability to customize their order and atmosphere," says Sara Monnette, Director of Consumer Research at Technomic. "That said, Millennial consumers are only a portion of the total foodservice market, and it is important to meet their unique needs in a way that resonates across generational groups."

To help operators and suppliers better understand Millennials, Technomic combined secondary, qualitative and quantitative research to develop the comprehensive Understanding the Foodservice Attitudes & Behaviors of Millennials report. Interesting findings include:

• Let's eat: 41 percent of Millennials purchase food away from home at least twice a week compared to 38 percent of Gen Xers and 37 percent of Baby Boomers.
• Open to new foods: 48 percent of Millennials compared to 47 percent of Gen Xers and 31 percent of Baby Boomers strongly agree that they have a diverse social network. Of those Millennials, 67 percent say it makes them more interested in ethnic foods.
• Millennials are following you: A majority of Millennials (59 percent) say they look up restaurant menus online often or very often via a computer and 19 percent do so using a mobile device.
• Drink up: 20 percent of Millennials agree it is important  for restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages compared to 12 percent of Gen Xers and 10 percent of Baby Boomers.

Technomic's Understanding the Foodservice Attitudes & Behaviors of Millennials includes three separate deliverables: Phase I is based on comprehensive data mining of relevant secondary and primary findings; Phase II includes original qualitative research collected through online bulletin-board focus groups; and Phase III tests and synthesizes all findings into one essential resource using exclusive data from a custom survey of 1,500 Millennials and 600 Gen X and Baby Boomer consumers. To learn more about this report please visit Technomic.com or contact one of the individuals listed below.

Contacts:
Press Inquiries: Sara Monnette, 312-506-3848, or [email protected] 
Purchasing Details: Patrick Noone, 312-506-3852, or [email protected] 
Report Details: Kelly Weikel, 312-506-3830, or [email protected] 

About Technomic 
Technomic provides clients with the facts, insights and consulting support they need to enhance their business strategies, decisions and results. Its services include numerous publications and digital products, as well as proprietary studies and ongoing research on all aspects of the food industry.

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SOURCE Technomic