Survey reveals consumption of processed, packaged foods set to increase
industries, according to a survey conducted in the US by Madison
Direct Marketing. The results reveal that 82 per cent of parents
with children under five eat takeout or delivered meals a few times
a month and that semi-prepared meals are becoming more of a
mainstay.
The future looks assured for the food packaging and processing industries, according to a survey conducted in the US by Madison Direct Marketing. The results reveal that 82 per cent of parents with children under five eat takeout or delivered meals a few times a month and that semi-prepared meals are becoming more of a mainstay.
"In an age of shuttling kids to day care and play groups, increased pressures at work, and increasing complexity in other household management areas, we've seen parents are actively looking for ways to simplify and save time where they can," says Bruce Gold, executive vice president at Madison. "It seems the vast array of ready-to-go meal options out there is hard to resist."
According to the Madison survey, households are also big fans of semi-prepared meals from supermarkets and specialty food stores. Seventy five percent of parents with children under five are serving these easier-to-prepare meals at least a few times per month. Half of those, or 37 per cent of parents with small children, do so at least a few times per week.
With 92 per cent feeling they have less free time than before they had kids, it is now a common fact that these parents are spending less time in the kitchen, and are turning to takeout, delivered food, and semi-prepared meals to help feed the family at mealtime.
Results are based on responses from 285 representative households with children, 90 per cent of which included children younger than five.
